Studio 54 Inspired Makeup Is Trending—This Maximalist Brand Is My Secret Weapon

Welcome to The Great Beauty Try-On, where we seized the opportunity to test-drive the best-selling makeup products from some of your favorite beauty brands (plus some newcomers!) and documented the process along the way.

As a beauty editor, I've never shied away from bold makeup. Hot-pink eye shadow? Yes. Graphic winged liner? Sure. While I wouldn't necessarily wear these looks on a daily basis, I liked to experiment every so often, taking the time to apply intricate makeup for the sake of it. I'd wear it around the house while I answered emails or did chores, only to take it off a couple of hours later. For me, it was a fun way to flex my creativity. But somewhere along the way (or, more accurately, in the midst of the pandemic), I lost my maximalist makeup streak. The inspiration just wasn't there, so my most colorful makeup products sat in my drawer collecting dust. 

That recently changed, and I have two things to thank for it: The first is TikTok. While it might be best known for minimalist makeup, there are plenty of content creators sharing maximalist makeup looks as well—many of which have a bold, disco-inspired aesthetic. As someone who's obsessed with anything even remotely Studio 54 inspired, I can't help but be inspired to create my own looks after seeing others on the internet. 

The second (and most important) thing I have to thank is Half Magic Beauty, the makeup brand founded by Donni Davy, the award-winning makeup artist behind HBO's Euphoria. Just as fans of the show would expect, the brand is a kaleidoscopic collision of color and texture, and it totally reignited my love for look-at-me makeup. Keep scrolling to see my favorite products from the brand and the looks that I created with them. 

The Looks

As you can see, I jumped right in. With so many colorful products in front of me, I was too tempted to hold back. For the first look, I wanted to use one of my favorite color combinations: dark red and powder blue.

I was especially curious about the lip color, as I had heard so much about the brand's unique formula. It's called Mouth Cloud, and it's a soft matte lip cream that, according to people on the internet, offers all-day, non-drying color. I chose the darkest, vampiest one, which is called Edward's Fantasy (I sincerely hope that was a Twilight reference). I applied a couple of coats for the boldest color payoff. As someone who's prone to dry lips and creased lipstick, I appreciated how soft and comfortable the formula was. It didn't look or feel dry, and it even gave my lips a cool blurred effect. 

I paired it with the brand's sky blue eye shadow single, which is called Daydreamies. Just like the lip color, the eye shadow was easy to build and shape. I was ecstatic about that color payoff. 

The second look was all about the eyes. I used a liquid eye shadow that's somewhere between shimmer and glitter. Then, I applied a swipe of the brand's liquid eyeliner (which is insane, but more on that in a minute) and a few face gems for good measure. 

The Products

Here's the shade I wore for my first look. I didn't get full coverage from one application, but I like it that way. It allowed me to decide whether I wanted to blot it out for a more subtle look or build it up for full opacity. Obviously, in this instance, I went all out.

This powder-blue eye shadow is an absolute dream. I'm always looking for this shade, but it's hard to find—especially if you're looking for a high-quality formula with a real color payoff. 

This is the liquid eye shadow I used for my second look. The lilac color is on point, as are the finely milled shimmer particles that give it such a strong shine. I noticed that it's difficult to mess with once it dries down, so I worked quickly to create the shape I wanted. 

I'm a fiend for good liquid eyeliner, and this one, which is shaped like a calligraphy pen, is so good. You can use the fine tip for sharpness and precision (like I did), or you can flip it to the bold tip for thicker strokes. 

These face gems come pre-glued, so you just have to pop them off the sheet and press them onto your skin. It's easy as that; they actually stay put, too. I used the brand's Adornment Tweezers ($14) to pick up and precisely place the smaller gems. Otherwise, my fingers would have been fumbling with them. 

I love that face gems are becoming mainstream. I've used them for makeup looks in the past, but I always had to order chunky, plastic-looking ones from craft stores or Amazon. I much prefer these sleek and realistic ones. Plus, I love that each pack contains multiple sizes.

The Looks

I have to be honest—when it came to the next makeup looks, I had no creative vision. I just reached for whatever products caught my eye and went from there to create something that (hopefully) worked. 

For the third look, I knew I had to use the brand's Glitterpill Eye Paint Liner in Goblin. These glitters are no joke. They're super bright and sparkly, and they give bold color payoff too. I loved the green, so I paired it with a bright-pink lip to compliment it.

For the next look, I took the brand's neon face gems and applied them along my upper lash line in place of eyeliner. I love a yellow-orange combo, so I paired them with a brick-orange lip color. It definitely wasn't an everyday look for me, but it did make me feel like I was on my way to a rave or (ahem) Studio 54. 

The Products

Here's where the real glitter comes in. The Glitterpill Eye Paint + Liners are intense in color and shine—eye-catching in the truest sense. You can use them as eyeliner or you can apply them all over the lid for a bolder look. 

I wanted the lip color for this look to be bold and structured, so I started out by lining my lips with the brand's two-in-one lip liner. I used the darker of the two shades near the corners of my mouth, and the lighter of the two shades to define my Cupid's bow. The color is opaque and super long-wearing. 

Once my lips were lined and defined, I added a swipe or two of Mouth Cloud in this vivid pink shade. Normally, I'm not one for bright pink lipstick, but this one is different. It might just become one of my go-to shades for the holiday party season (and beyond). 

The neon face gems come in three colors—yellow, orange, and pink. Somehow, they're even more bright and eye-catching in real life than they look in the packaging. 

This brick-orange shade packs a punch. It's a step up from other neutral, brown-toned lipsticks. 

The Look

For the fifth and final look, I wanted to try a bold and graphic glitter shape, so that's what I did. I started out with a base of taupe shadow to add definition to my eyes. Then, I reached for another shade of the Glitterpill Eye Paint + Liner—an amazing marine blue color that I can't get enough of—and applied it in a wide sideways v shape. A peachy pink lip liner and a touch of gold highlighter on cheekbones, nose, and cupid's bow were the finishing touches. 

The Products

This is my favorite product, or at the very least, it's in the top three. Yes, the glitter is obviously stunning, but there's something about this shade of blue that really appeals to me. 

I love that the eye shadow singles come in compostable packaging. If you want to keep them in something secure and long-lasting, you can purchase The Forever Palette ($26). It's a customizable and modular palette that you can drop the eye shadow singles into. The magnetic backing will keep them secure. 

This brush has a unique pyramid-shaped head. Depending on what side you choose, you can use it to pack on shadow or blend it out seamlessly. Its fluffy vegan bristles are so nice. 

This is the liner I used for the final look. On one end, there's a peachy pink shade. On the other, there's a slightly darker, rosy brown shade. I ended up using a combination of them both.

Admittedly, I'm more of a cream highlighter person, but this powder looks really pretty on the skin and is easy enough to blend out for a subtle radiance or build for maximum glow. 

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