My Queens Series Part 1: Nicki Minaj!

Hi raspberries! So I'm going to be doing a series on here of makeup looks inspired by various pop stars I love, and their looks from music videos. Today I'm doing one of my all time favorites, Nicki Minaj. Her makeup is so fun to look at, and really sets her apart visually from other "pop rap" artists. I love her music, but that's a whole other story for another day. For now, let's talk about the looks!

Super Bass (2010)

Moving in chronological order, "Super Bass", off the album Pink Friday, was Nicki's first huge hit. You might still picture this split wig and pink lips when you think of Nicki today. She rocks a couple of cool looks in this video, but this is my personal favorite, and one of her most iconic.
There's not a lot going on with her face or brows, so I focused on eyes, lips, and cheeks. I really struggled to find a single yellow shadow that was as true yellow as Nicki's. Most of the ones I found were too golden. Ultimately I went with Mellow Yellow from NYX, which I think may be discontinued. Their new color, Psychedelic, is similar. I recommend the Urban Decay Primer Potion to get the most impact for the shadow. I think the MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush would be perfect for packing on this pigment. Nicki is wearing some type of liquid liner in the video, but it doesn't provide much visual impact. Lastly for the eyes, I suggest the No. 6 lashes from MAC, which are really dense and spiky, just like the ones Nicki rocks here (and frequently).
For her cheeks, I recommend Gaiety by NARS, which is described as a "bright candy pink". It's hard to see in this picture, but Nicki actually has tiny pink freckle drawn on in the video, so I would suggest achieving this look by wetting an eyeliner brush and using a bit of the blush to dot on "freckles".
Lastly, the lips. Nicki almost always wears pink lips, and here she's wearing a barely purple-toned bright baby pink. I find it to be almost the exact color of Lime Crime's Great Pink Planet.
This is such a cute look. And people say it isn't wearable, but frankly, if Nicki can do it, why can't we!
Product Round-up:
Face
NARS Blush in Gaiety
Eyes
NYX Hot Singles Eyeshadow in Mellow Yellow (or Psychedelic)
Urban Decay Primer Potion
MAC 239 Eye Shader Brush
MAC No 6 Lashes
Lips
Lime Crime Lipstick in Great Pink Planet

Moment 4 Life (2010)

Nicki's next video I chose to do, "Moment 4 Life (feat. Drake)", had a very different look than Super Bass. This was another single off her first album, Pink Friday. In the video, Nicki plays a princess with a fairy godmother who's getting married to her prince charming. The look is glamorous, but much softer and less over the top than "Super Bass".
Again, there's not much going on with her face here, so I focused on other things. She has two different looks in this video, but I really loved this one. On her lids is a beige/gold glitter. I chose Make Up For Ever's glitter in Sand 11. Again, her top eyelid is lined, but it doesn't add much to the look, so I didn't select a product. Her waterline is lined with black, I chose Sephora's Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof (since it'll be on the waterline) in 01 Lace Black. Directly underneath her waterline, there's just a hint of teal. For this, I chose Urban Decay's 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Deep End. Her lashes here are flared, unlike the ultra-thick, spikey ones she usually wears. I chose The 016 False Lashes from Illamasqua.
For her cheeks, I decided to kill two birds with one stone and use the Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush in Something About Berry. This will give the rosy cheeks Nicki is sporting, and the healthy glow she has in the video.
Lastly, I chose the Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick from YSL in 7 Lingerie Pink. Nicki is almost always wearing pink lips, but they're always slightly different. This is a very innocent, youthful baby pink, suiting her princess role in the video.
Product Round-up:
Face
Too Faced Perfect Flush Blush in Something About Berry
Eyes
Make Up For Ever Glitter in Sand 11
Sephora Contour Eye Pencil 12 hr Wear Waterproof in 01 Lace Black
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Deep End
Illamasqua False Lashes 016
Lips
YSL Rouge Volupte Silky Sensual Radiant Lipstick in 7 Lingerie Pink

Beez in the Trap (2012)

"Beez in the Trap" was one of the singles released off of Nicki's second album, Roman Reloaded, in 2012. She wears a few looks in this video as usual, but I liked the simplicity, yet abrasiveness of this one. (This is also one of my favorite songs by Nicki.)
Her eyes are the center of this look. I've chosen to recommend NYX's Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk to use as a base for the shadow, since it's such an intense color. (Milk is bright white, and makes colors appear much brighter when applied over it). I struggled to find a color like the one she wears in the video, but I think I got pretty close with Mochi by Sugarpill. I would recommend using a piece of tape to get a precise line with the shadow when applying. Next, I suggested my personal favorite liquid eyeliner, Stay All Day by Stila in Black, to achieve Nicki's dramatic cat eye. To finish the eyes, Try the Supreme False Eyelashes by Sugarpill. (These actually look a lot like a lot of Nicki's lashes.)
For her cheeks, I've suggested Dior Rosy Glow Blush in Petal, which is a pastel baby pink.
Her lips in this video are like, abrasively pink. In your face, baby pink. The most in your face baby pink lipstick I've ever seen in Saint Germain by MAC, so I selected it for this look.
Product Round-up:
Face
Dior Rosy Glow Blush in Petal
Eyes
Sugarpill Pressed Eyeshadow in Mochi
NYX Jumbo Eye Pencil in Milk
Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Liquid Eye Liner in Black
Sugarpill Supreme False Eyelashes
Lips
MAC Lipstick in Saint Germain

Pound the Alarm (2012)

"Pound the Alarm" is a dance-pop-ish single from Nicki that was also off of Roman Reloaded. In the video, she dances around Trinidad, her home country, during Carnival.
For her face, I suggest the Step-by-Step Contouring Kit from Smashbox. There's quite a bit of contouring going on in this video, with a focus on highlights. It's mostly matte though. Her cheeks are pink, as usual. I chose the CARGO Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza, which is kind of cute since this video takes place on an island. Go swimming in your blush!
Her eyebrows are pretty on-point in this video, and you can really see them since her hair is back. I suggest the Dipbrow Pomade from Anastasia Beverly Hills. You can use whatever color suits you best. Her eyeshadow in this video looks entirely matte, so I recommend Illuminating Nudes Collection palette from Bobbi Brown.
Her lips here are pink (of course), but a light pink with a hint of a peach to them. I chose the Round Case Lipstick from NYX in Narcissus. Summery and simple!
Product Round-up:
Face
Smashbox Step-by-Step Contouring Kit
CARGO Swimmables Water Resistant Blush in Ibiza
Eyes
Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Pomade
Bobbi Brown Illuminating Nudes Collection Palette
Lips
NYX Round Case Lipstick in Narcissus

The Boys (2012)

This is one of my favorite looks from Nicki. "The Boys" was release with Cassie as a single off of Roman Reloaded, the Re-Up, in 2012. There's a lot going on in this look, but the main focus is her eyes. Pink and sparkly! Very Nicki,
For face products, I suggested Candlelight by Too Faced, which is an illuminating powder. Nicki has very bright skin in this video, and this powder will give that effect. For her cheeks, I suggested Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush (which has a great color payoff) in Natural Beauty. Her cheeks are pink here, but they're not overly baby-pink. I want the focus to be on the eyes and lips.
On to the eyes! (Oh boy.) For the lighter pink shades, I suggest the NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Bouthan, which has a shimmery medium pink, and light ballet pink for the inner corners. For the cut crease, I recommend using the deep pink S908 Mauve Satin Artist Shadow from Make Up For Ever. Next, you'll want to go over the light pink parts with a glitter. Try Hot Pants from LIT Cosmetics (they specialize in glitter). Make it stick with the Glitter Helper from Lime Crime.
To finish, I suggest Geradium from Lime Crime, which is a bright peachy-pink. Pink overload!
Product Round-up:
Face
Too Faced Candlelight
Tarte Amazonian Clay Blush in Natural Beauty
Eyes
NARS Duo Eyeshadow in Bouthan
Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in S908 Mauve Satin
LIT Cosmetics Glitter in Hot Pants
Lime Crime Glitter Helper
Lips
Lime Crime Opaque Lipstick in Geradium

Anaconda (2014)

"Anaconda" was the first single off Nicki's 2014 album, The Pinkprint. The video was met with a lot of controversy (which is a bunch of bunk if you ask me), but regardless, the makeup in it is great. The video takes place in a jungle and was released in August, and the makeup has a summery look that reflects this.
There's a lot going on here, even though this is one of Nicki's most natural looks. Her skin looks very dewy, so I recommend Clinique's Supermoisture Makeup for foundation, in whatever color suits your skin. The contouring on this look is very intense, so I suggest the Make Up For Ever Sculpting Kit, which comes in several colors to suit different skin tones. Her blush is a rosy-plum color, so I recommended one of my favorite blushes, the NYX Powder Blush in Desert Rose.
Her eyes are gorgeous in this video, and require a lot of different shades, which I believe can be found in the Naked 2 Palette by Urban Decay. This small photo doesn't really do them justice, but I'd suggest using Half Baked, Tease, Snakebite, and whatever other colors you think would work. You could achieve the dramatic cat eye here with a gel or liquid eyeliner, but I'm going to take a chance to recommend the Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner from Smashbox in Black. I really love this liner and thing gel liners work really well for these exaggerated cat eyes. Finally for the eyes, I'm suggesting MAC's lashes in No 48. They're very full and plush, without being too spiky.
For her lips, I chose the Tinted Lipglass from MAC in Please Me. There's a lipstick in this same shade that you could wear as well, but definitely go glossy with this look!
Product Round-up:
Face
Clinique Supermoisture Makeup
Make Up For Ever Sculpting Kit
NYX Powder Blush in Desert Rose
Eyes
Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette
Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner in Black
MAC No 48 Lashes
Lips
MAC Tinted Lipglass in Please Me

Only (2014)

The last look I'm doing is from Only (feat. Drake, Lil Wayne, & Chris Brown) off of The Pinkprint. This is one of Nicki's most interesting looks because it's so different from what she's known for. Red lips? No wig? (Well it's probably a weave or a wig, but it's black.) I think this video and look shows Nicki's new direction and demonstrates what a lot of her new music is like on The Pinkprint. I love Nicki's bright and crazy looks, but she looks gorgeous like this as well.
Her face in this video is very matte, unlike the dewy and highlighted look she usually goes for. I've selected my favorite foundation, Chanel's Perfection Lumiere, which has a gorgeous matte finish. Her skin looks just flawless here, so I suggest one of my favorite concealers, the Creamy Concealer Kit from Bobbi Brown. I suggest the Stay-Matte Powder from Clinique to set your liquid makeup to make sure it's not dewy.
For the eyes, I think the Natural Eye Palette from Too Faced would be great. You may need a few extra shades, but most of them are in there. She's mostly wearing slightly shimmery taupes and nudes. The other thing I noticed here was her eyebrows. They look powdered, so I recommend the Brow Powder from Anastasia Beverly Hills, and the MAC 266 Small Angle brush for application.
This is one of the only times I've ever seen Nicki wear red lips, so I paid a lot of attention to the shade. Ultimately, I went with the Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb. It's a classic red that looks fantastic on darker beauties as well as paler.
Product Round-up:
Face
Chanel Perfection Lumiere Foundation
Clinique Stay-Matte Powder
Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer Kit
Eyes
Too Faced Natural Eye Palette
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder
MAC 266 Small Angle Brush
Lips
Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in F-Bomb

Whew! Well that took forever and a day, but I hope you guys enjoyed it. This is by no means all of the products you need to create these looks, obviously you need to wear face makeup, eyeliner, mascara, etc. I just mentioned the things that I thought were really central to the look. I plan to do more of these with other pop stars and looks based on videos. Enjoy!