In the age of the clean girl, it’s rare to find a makeup look that truly pops.
Enter Emily Wood, our knight in shining lime in such taupe times. She is more than a beacon of hope, though. As the sister of English actress Aimee Lou Wood, notable for her recent performance in the hit-series The White Lotus, Emily has established herself as a self-proclaimed face decorator, crafting a version of glam isn’t about achieving perfection but more-so about being daring.
Unfazed by color and fearless in mixing and matching shades, Wood does more than create Euphoria-core looks. She uses color to express her vibrant individuality. With her signature kaleidoscopic, dreamlike looks standing starkly against today’s subtle, neutral beauty trends, she isn’t just one of the most captivating new faces reshaping beauty in the digital age—Wood is undeniably the budding Brit beauty phenom to keep your eyes on.
Below, V talks with the artist on everything from her go-to makeup look to what beauty means to her.
V: How did you fall in love with makeup? Was it something you’ve always been drawn to?
Emily Wood: Makeup was a tool I used when I was younger to look pretty and feel accepted. I had spinal fusion for scoliosis when I was 13, and makeup was one of the few ways I could assert control over how I appeared. It didn’t start off as a bold act of self-expression, it was very much about conforming to beauty standards and fitting in. My relationship with makeup has changed completely. It’s now a way for me to express myself more truthfully and personally. I love feeling powerful in my skin, even if it’s not what others find palatable.
V: Your Instagram bio says you’re a face decorator. Can you elaborate on that?
EW: “Face decorator” is how I see my makeup practice. No matter where I am, my face is always there to use as a canvas.
V: What are you saying or trying to convey with your makeup?
EW: Makeup is a paradox for me. It’s spontaneous because I have a deep resistance to planning. I love being on the move and creating in the moment, it feels like a true reflection of who I am. But beneath that, I’m constantly grappling with perfectionism. My beauty looks might seem impromptu, but they’re a conscious effort to let go of control. Sharing my work publicly feels uncomfortable at times. It often feels cringey because it’s just makeup. But for me, it’s how I process inner chaos and regain a sense of control when I don’t feel good. The fact that others connect with my work and that my approach resonates with them means more to me than I can put into words.
V: Who are your top three (beauty or not beauty-wise) icons that shaped your makeup approach and style?
EW: My mum. She is my greatest icon. I’ve always known her strength, but as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to understand it in a deeper way. I now get why she holds onto certain routines and cherishes simplicity. I see so much of my mum in me. Watching her do her makeup the same way every day, with her signature frosted pink lip, I realise how much that routine means to her. She’s also the funniest woman alive and it’s unfathomable how lucky I am to have her as my mum. Frida Kahlo. I connect with her deeply. Like Frida, I’ve had my own experience with spinal fusion, which has been a significant part of my life. Frida’s battles with chronic pain were not only part of her reality but also the foundation of her art. She channeled her physical and emotional pain into vivid, surreal paintings, turning her suffering into a deeply personal form of expression. Pat McGrath. She is a true pioneer in the beauty world. A technical master, who has reshaped the industry by making beauty more inclusive and accessible to all skin tones. She is fearless and innovative and I love watching her continue to push boundaries.
V: What is beauty for you?
EW: Beauty is the feeling of encountering someone so real and unapologetically themselves that you can immediately unmask. There’s no need for any explanation or backstory to understand them. It’s that effortless connection when you don’t have to try too hard to explain who you are because the other person just gets it.
V: If your makeup style had a theme song, what would it be?
EW: Weird Fishes/Arpeggi by Radiohead captures the yearning to be understood without fully explaining. The imagery in the lyrics gives a sense of drowning and its haunting, ethereal quality stirs something in me that I can’t quite put into words. Its sense of alienation and being submerged resonates with how makeup helps me process both my inner world and my body.
V: What’s a beauty rule you love breaking?
EW: I love embracing my natural skin texture, even when wearing a full, maximalist look where coverage would typically be expected.
V: If you could only live with 3 makeup products, what would they be?
EW: They’d have to be Revolution’s IRL lip liner in Americano Brown because its creamy texture and versatility are heaven. It defines my lips and adds depth and warmth to my face. Then, I’d have to have Tweezerman eyelash curlers because they provide an instant eye opener and can change my whole mood in a second. Vieve Mascara is a must because of its power to transform a look. It’s buildable, so I can keep it subtle and awake with one layer or go bold and dramatic with five layers.
V: What’s your go-to makeup look for any occasion?
EW: Comfort is everything to me. If my skin feels off, my whole day feels wrong. My go-to is fresh skin, curled lashes, lots of blush, and a smudged, defined lip.
V: What’s your favorite beauty trend right now?
EW: I’m loving the faux sunburn flush and metallic accents.
V: Would you consider yourself part of a new beauty movement? Or do you reject the idea of ‘movements’ in general?
EW: I’d like to think I’m part of the movement that challenges traditional beauty standards and breaks free from the pressures.
V: If you could collaborate with any makeup artist or brand, who or what would it be?
EW: Developing a multi-use liner range with Pat McGrath would be magical.
V: Do you have any tips for beginners who may be intimidated by makeup but want to start experimenting?
EW: I’ve recently started working with watercolors again after not using them for years, so I know how frustrating it can be when a painting doesn’t go as planned. But maybe it’s about challenging yourself each week to perfect a specific technique, like blending eyeshadows or mastering winged liner. When it comes to technique, the key is to layer and pack on your eyeshadow. Use bases so the pigment has something to cling to. If you want to create a mascara-focused look, curl your lashes (multiple times if you can) and coat each lash with mascara for that bold, dramatic effect. Use a lash comb to unknot any hairs. For your skin, hydration is essential to make your makeup sit beautifully and last all day.
Photography Tami Aftab
Makeup Emily Wood using Pat McGrath Labs
Hair Angel McQueen using Kérastase
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