INSTAGLAM: the club kid MUA defying censorship

As the cultural tide has turned, narrow definitions of beauty are being thrown overboard. The work of Tommy Hayes, known on Instagram as @lustsickpuppy, is testament to this. Featured in the likes of Vogue and Paper, her work as a makeup artist avoids standard definitions in order to champion an aesthetic that’s eccentric, eclectic and just plain weird. With an art school by way of glam-rock sensibility, she uses Instagram to showcase the kind of high octane, technicolour looks that we’d love to see more of IRL. We enter Tommy’s brave new world to hear about her idiosyncratic approach to makeup, influences and what makeup means to her. 

Describe your beauty in three words.

Scary, messy, vicious.

Who or what has inspired you the most?

‘80s glam, punk rock, sci-fi movies from the ‘80s and ‘90s and cartoons. 

What’s the wildest look you’ve ever created?

Probably a blue demon I did with full blue face prosthetics and large blue wings to match.

What is one piece of makeup you couldn’t live without?

Any suede lipstick by NYX. I use it as eye shadow, lipstick, blush…literally whatever. The colours pop really brightly, blend really well and stay on forever.

How vital is Instagram to what you do?

IG is where I started really showcasing my art. The connectivity between other artists and myself has definitely shown me how many amazingly talented people there are in the world. I have my own website just in case this app crashes or kicks me off because often times there are a lot of limitations to how I can express myself on this website. On my own site, I have the freedom and liberty to showcase all of my art without anyone censoring me.

What does beauty mean to you?

To me, beauty is doing what you want, how you want to do it, without anyone telling you what’s okay and what’s not okay about your expression. Beauty is and should always be freedom.

Check out more of Tommy’s work at her website.