Makeup trends come and go and that’s a good thing because it’s so fun to re-create them. One trend we are seeing is writing on the face, both intricate lettering and plain old words coming from people’s emotions. Let’s look at some of our favorite makeup lettering on faces and bodies!

It wouldn’t be fair to not go back to the 1960’s where body painting and sexual expression were not the trend. No one better demonstrated this that the cutest Queen of comedy, Goldie Hawn. Goldie was featured on Laugh-In, gogo dancing in a bikini with messages and icons painted on her body. This image has long inspired us here at Stencil1, the perfect party would be gogo dancers covered in our stencils!

As a graphic designer, the most impressive use of type on a person’s face that shook me back in my studies was Stefan Sagmeister’s album cover design for Set the Twilight Reeling by Lou Reed. He wrote on the print, lot on Lou’s face but wouldn’t this be a great look to re-create with makeup?

In present day, we are seeing a trend in face makeup, words written on the face. Words of expression, words simply as labels, words. Did it trend as face tattoos have become more popular in main stream? Who knows but it’s cool. The biggest celebs are getting in on it, look at Rhianna on the cover of British Vogue.

Before this cover, I saw makeup artist Sn0ok create this makeup look and I gagged, loved everything about it. I am a sucker for the OLD ENGLISH font and love the application, there’s no turning away from it.

We have created some custom stencils for one of the best in the industry, Michael Anthony aka Manthony783 for a Vogue Portugal shoot. He painted the models back, face, lips, she is very in Vogue.

And we are obsessed with Instant Influencer! Makeup Mogul James Charles puts artists to the test to find out who has what it takes to become a beauty superstar and win $50,000 and the title of Instant Influencer. All of the contestants are beyond adorable and talented.

Kailin Chase created a trend that you can put your SELF into, writing on one side of her face how she is perceived and on the other side, words describing her true self. Her vulnerability in beautiful and contagious, we are seeing people replicate the look all over Instagram.

Ashley, aka Strashme created a look inspired by brand Off-White where she did a minimal labeling on her face. Free hand lettering ain’t easy!

And look at Strashme’s recent lewk, putting her personal take on the Bad Girl RiRi shoot. YOU WON, oh, spoiler alert 🙂 Congrats Ashley!

We love the trend, it has a lot of freedom to do your own thing with it and express yourself. On our parent site, Stencil1.com, we offer letter stencils and also custom stencils. We will also introduce more letter stencils for the face and body.

Please share your stenciled face and body creations with us @stencil1fx and @stencil1