The energy was electric backstage at Luar’s spring/summer 2025 runway show. In a small room just below Rockefeller Plaza, the makeup artists, hairstylists, and nail technicians moved in a jungle-like frenzy—which was fitting, as the dynamic makeup looks featured leopard-printed eyelids and scaly python leather eyebrows to express the powerful, yet whimsical nature of the collection.
The brand, helmed by Raul Lopez, is known for sitting at the intersection of fashion and culture, infused with a palpable degree of sexiness. As far as beauty goes, makeup artist Yadim Carranza drew from “drag, punk, and different iconic subversive communities within the queer lexicon.” Additionally, as a Latino-American, he cited “many prominent Latin female archetypes,” as makeup is woven into the culture.
While some models kept their look fairly muted, many leaned into exaggerated eye makeup. The aforementioned bold eyebrow was made of faux python leather fabric scraps from Luar’s studio. “We slicked down the brows using glue—which is a classic drag beauty secret—then covered the brow with concealer before placing the leather eyebrows over top,” Carranza says. And that leopard-print eye? Turns out, it was created by screen-printing one of the distorted leopard-print patterns from the collection and turning it into a temporary tattoo. Long eyelashes, white eyeliner, and bold black lipstick rounded out the looks for a dramatic finish.
In terms of hair, Evanie Frausto riffed on the sculptural look that he and Lopez showed last year. Glass skin has dominated recent trend cycles—and now, the stylist is hoping to make glass hair the new standard. By using the TRESemmé Thermal Keratin Smooth weightless Fortifying Heat Protection Spray and TRESemmé Mega Hold Gel, he created a reflective, almost wet-looking shine. Pristine stitch braids and ultra-straight, glossy hair also made an appearance, and then there was the more artistic, final style: Using resin coated extensions, Frausto twisted a handful of the models’ hair into literal works of art reminiscent of 1920s-era swooped styles. “We prep the extensions beforehand, creating different shapes, and then I go a bit Picasso to form the different sculptures,” Frausto says. The look was then finished off with the TRESemmé Keratin Smooth Weightless Silky Shine Spray.
Finally, nail artist Naomi Yasuda tapped into nostalgia by using ’90s-inspired nails designs painted onto long square nails. Chrome colors and dangling beaded appliqués completed the entire look, solidifying Luar’s forward-thinking vision.
Tasha Nicole Smith is ELLE Magazine’s beauty assistant. She loves all things hair, makeup, and skincare so you’ll find her talking about it here. She enjoys Marvel movies, a good pair of vintage heels, and lemon drop martinis and also shares a birthday with Beyoncé, which is her go to fun fact.