Y’all, can we just take a moment to appreciate Janelle Monáe’s futuristic makeup game? Seriously, she’s like 3010-level when it comes to her style. Every time she steps out, my jaw is on the floor, and honestly? I love it. Right now, we HAVE to talk about the way she’s serving looks that are so ahead of the current trends, it’s like she’s time-traveled directly from the year 3020, just to give us a little sneak peek.
Janelle is iconic for many reasons—from her boundary-pushing fashion to her love of mixing glamour with a little (okay, A LOT) of sci-fi vibes. She’s basically the queen of our dreams in terms of futuristic face-beats that combine bold creativity with otherworldly glam. And trust me, you don’t have to be going to some alien planet award show to pull off these looks. Let’s break down her best futuristic makeup, and I’ll show you how you can get inspired to recreate them… even if you’re just hanging out on Earth.
The Glass-Skin Goddess
One look Janelle does SO well is the glowy, glass-skin situation. Y’all, her skin’s usually so dewy and radiant, she’s like… reflecting light at different angles! It’s giving “ethereal space captain” and I’m obsessed.
To pull this off, it’s all about skin prep and highlighting like you’ve just bathed in beams of moonlight. Keep your skin hydrated AF by starting with a hydrating serum and a primer that lets your skin really shine (without looking too oily). Then, grab a foundation that’s more radiant than matte, because we are tryna glow to infinity and beyond. For highlight, liquid ones are gonna be your space-ship here; blend them on the high points of your face—cheekbones, brow bones, down the center of your nose. Basically, anywhere you want to look lit from within.
It’s all glow, no glitter—with a highlight that’s brighter than your future.
Pro Tip? Go easy on the powder though, or you could risk mattifying your full-on light-up-the-room glow. If you’re worried about getting too oily throughout the day, pop a little translucent powder just in the T-zone.
The Perfect Cat-Eye with a Twist
Now, let’s talk Janelle’s cat-eye—but like, her cat-eyes aren’t just regular cat-eyes. Nope, she ALWAYS has to take it up a notch with sleek AF, out-of-this-world details. I’m talking brushed chrome wings or graphic liner shapes that look like they’re straight out of a sci-fi movie.
To get a precision wing like hers, you have to invest in a good, high-quality liquid liner, something that’s sharp enough to cut through space junk. Honestly, the sleeker, the better; her wings are always razor sharp. But the trick to making it Janelle-level? Adding a little something extra. Try doing a double wing that floats above the first wing or draw tiny metallic dots along your liner for some cosmic cuteness.
And if you’re really going for it, chrome liners or metallic gel shadows will take your regular cat-eye straight into another dimension. Apply your chrome right over your liner or as an accent underneath to give it that futuristic vibe. Extra points if you match your liner with some holographic eyeshadow. You’re basically Janelle’s clone at this point.
Holographic Everything
Janelle’s futuristic makeup looks usually have one thing in common: holographics. If there is ONE futuristic trend that’s totally wearable but high-key statement-worthy, it’s this one. When she’s not rocking intensely defined eye looks, you’ve probably seen her rock all those holographic, multidimensional shades that shift color as she moves.
The easiest way to get the look? Holo lip gloss. Like, your lips aren’t just gonna shine, they’re gonna transform every time the light hits your face differently. Try layering a holographic gloss over a regular lipstick for that galaxy-brain color shift magic.
And don’t just stop at the lips—if you’re feeling bold (and you should!), grab a holographic highlighter to make your cheeks catch light in over-the-top, rainbow pastel shifts. Palettes like Fenty Beauty’s Killawatt Foils have shades that are so Janelle. Apply a small amount to your cheekbones and lids for a unicorn-on-an-alien-planet kinda vibe.
Lips that belong in a parallel universe. That’s the energy we’re manifesting.
Maybe you’re even gonna want to try adding a holographic pigment on the inner corners of your eyes to brighten them. This look makes it seem like your eyes are made of shimmering stardust. It’s one of Janelle’s lowkey flexes that’s subtle but still powerful, like… galaxy ruler vibes.
Statement Lips from the Future
Janelle LOVES a bold lip, and honestly, I think lipstick might be her secret weapon. But what makes her lip looks so unique is how she’s not afraid to go totally outside the box with color choices. Where most people go for a classic red or nude, Janelle will hit you with a blue metallic or some intergalactic purple.
We’re talking high-impact, borderline supernatural lip shades that just scream, “Welcome to the future, Earthlings!” If you’re feeling daring, blue and purple lipstick is where it’s at. These shades look unreachably cool, but don’t forget, for them to really pop, prep is essential. Scrub and exfoliate those lips, so they’re soft and smooth. Then arm yourself with a bullet-proof lip liner to avoid any feathering mess later on.
One of her more out-there looks that absolutely blew my mind was the weirdly awesome two-tone lips! Yeah, Janelle is THAT unapologetic. She’s rocked looks with a metallic purple on the top lip and bold red on the bottom… I don’t know how she makes that work, but I’m 100000% here for it.
Want to try it yourself? Use two super pigmented lipsticks in contrasting colors and channel your inner makeup rebel. Think bold, amplified blues paired with dark gothic plums or electric pinks mixed with black. Not gonna lie, it takes confidence and commitment, but YOU GOT THIS.
Glitter as a Power Move
Tbh, glitter has always been a thing, but with Janelle, she makes it a serious power move. And it’s not just tucked in her eyeshadow—no, this girl will coat her entire brows or use full glitter liner for that “robot queen from another galaxy” look.
If you want to follow Janelle’s glitter game, ya gotta let go of all your fears of too much sparkle and FULL SEND IT. Get yourself a glitter glue (trust me, you need this or you’ll look like a walking rave spill) and just pack that rainbow sparkle onto your eyes. Bonus? You can sweep a little onto your cheekbones for that festival vibe. And if you’re extra adventurous, go ahead and try the glitter brow thing! Brush clear brow gel through your brows, then tap glitter on with a clean spoolie. It’s a bit extra—but why settle for basic when you can slay?
Channel your inner sparkle and let your brows glow… because why not, right?
With glitter, I always say less is okay… but more is MORE. Just go wild! Glitter lips, glitter eyeliner, glitter brows. We’re in Janelle Monáe’s universe now.
Out-of-This-World Accents… On the Face?!
Another classic Janelle move is face jewels… and like, not your Coachella heart stickers. I mean serious, dynamic art pieces. When Janelle shows up, she often has little designs or rhinestones around her eyes or cheekbones that make her look like some kind of cyber warrior princess.
You can get this glittering alien queen look by applying silver rhinestones directly to your face using a little lash glue (don’t worry, it peels off easily). Create shapes and patterns around your eyes or go all in and make a cool matrix grid pattern on your forehead— just something symmetrical to give it that futuristic sci-fi edge.
PSA: Don’t be scared to mess it up either; it’s meant to be a vibe, not perfection! And rhinestone brows, anyone?! Janelle loves an extra brow!
Own Your Futuristic Fantasy
What I love most about Janelle’s makeup looks is how much they stand for individuality. She’s futuristic… she’s different… she’s a total trailblazer. It’s all about doing YOU with confidence. Whether that means glitter brows or glowing like the stars, take what you love about these looks and put your own spin on it. You don’t have to follow her exact steps—create your own world.
Maybe you want subtle vibes but still want to join the trend. Go for the glass skin with a dash of holo gloss! Or if you’re diving headfirst into the future with zero fear, try a full-on, otherworldly moment like glitter brows and two-tone lips.
The FUTURE is all about expressing yourself with flair because Janelle proves you don’t have to be subtle to be iconic.
