lucia pica- “what even is an imperfection?"

The beauty industry is at it's peak right now - being considered one of the most advanced and innovative sectors but yet it has such high standards that make up can only be applied one way and should always look a certain way.

It only takes a quick search on youtube to discover everyone is doing their make up the same way, with thousands of 'tutorials of exactly the same looks - setting high standards and an 'ideal' as to what young girls should look like.

Lucia Pica is Chanel’s Global Creative Make-up and Colour Designer. Born in Naples in 1976, the budding makeup artist moved to London in 1999, where she assisted Charlotte Tilbury. Her passion for big, bold colour quickly put her to the forefront of the beauty industry, where she continues to shape the future of makeup at Chanel.

I think what Lucia stands for and her push for an individual, expressive and inclusive beauty industry is pretty refreshing. “We shouldn’t feel like we have to make our nose thinner, or abuse contour and highlighter, there’s

so much more to play with. If someone’s uniform is a bare face, then let that be, or if it’s a monochromatic look with three different shades of blue, that’s great too.” So whether that means neon pink cheeks, sculptural red eye shadow or even just a balm-coated lip. In Lucia’s world, anything goes.

Pointing towards social media Lucia believes the beauty industry is guilty of projecting the idea that there’s one look that works for everyone, and Lucia is calling time on it. “It plays with people’s insecurities. We all have our own something that makes us different and we should feel we can embrace that. Why does it have to be called a ‘flaw’?,” she asks. “What even is an ‘imperfection?’ Why do freckles have to be bad? I have a birthmark, so what? You want me to cover it the entire time? No, I like it. Everybody has a little thing that makes them unique.”

Through Lucia's work you can really see her creative side, and her love for beauty and I really admire how she's pushing her message. I feel like sometimes make up can be seen negative and that it's better to wear no make up than heaps of make up - but Lucia appreciates and acknowledges that make up can be used by everyone to create a piece of art.

One final thing I love about Lucia which i think makes a huge difference - how she talks! I have followed her on instagram for a while and read/watched interviews with her and she seem's unbelievably down to earth! We've all experienced the intimidatingly gorgeous girls at the beauty counters! I personally avoid them as I can't help but feel judged by their perfect eyebrows! But Lucia is trying to promote the idea of make up being whatever the hell you want it to be and I think Chanel is a perfect platform for her to voice this on!

I just feel like this is such a refreshing way to feel about the beauty industry and I hope more people, especially young girls get to hear what Lucia has to say about imperfections.