Glow Up: Britain's Next Make-Up Star (2019–…): Season 3, Episode 4 - Social Media: TikTok - full transcript

[Maya Jama] It's time to Glow Up.

[ethereal music playing]

Today, we're here at The O2,
the iconic venue which has played host

to some of the world's
most incredible performers.

But if your name's not big enough
for the main stage, don't you worry,

as it's also home to the Selfie Factory,

an interactive space

with all the backgrounds
for your social media needs.

And this is where
the MUAs will be taking center stage.

It's gonna be fun.

[camera app shutter clicking]



[Maya] But this professional assignment
isn't just about having fun.

Morning, MUAs.

[all] Morning.

[Maya] Makeup on social media
is big business.

Every day, beauty vloggers
generate millions of views

by posting online videos.

Today, it's your turn to create
a makeup video that will later appear

on one of the world's fastest-growing
social media platforms...

TikTok.

Today, we'd like you to create
a makeup look on yourselves.

You have two hours
to create a short makeup video

which must show us different stages,
from bare face to full beat.

But, as usual,
Val and Dom will not be judging alone.

This week, they've only gone and got
a makeup superstar and glamour sensation...



Oh, my God!

Please welcome Abby Roberts!

-[all cheer and applaud]
-[Ryley screams]

[dramatic instrumental hip-hop playing]

[Maya] With over 16 million followers
across the globe,

Abby Roberts is
the biggest makeup star on TikTok.

Psych.

I completely taught myself how to do
makeup just from watching videos online.

[Maya] Abby has grown her online presence
into a full-time career,

with lucrative merchandise
and sponsorship deals.

[Abby] That's what is so great
about social media.

Anyone can become a star overnight.

Just gotta have the passion, be unique,
and someone will connect with it.

I can't wait to see your looks today.
The MUA who creates the most original,

entertaining,
and technically impressive video will have

the opportunity to create
an online makeup video with me.

-[Abby laughs]
-[all applaud]

I cannot believe...

Meeting Abby Roberts was just...
[mimics explosion]

Because I've been such a fan
of her for so long,

and, you know, I'm in the same work.
We both do TikToks and stuff.

I always look up to her videos.
Seeing her in person was overwhelming.

[sobbing] I'm just so happy. Like...

I've ruined all my makeup.
At least we're doing our own makeup today.

Let's get cracking.

[energetic synth-pop music plays]

[Maya] Online makeup has changed
the face of the beauty industry.

[sneezes]

You want to get ahead in the game,
social media is everything.

[Maya] With over a billion
users worldwide,

TikTok sees MUAs upload short videos

featuring incredible makeup looks
filmed in stages.

[Dominic] For a makeup artist,
online presence is like having

an online portfolio.

It's a chance
to show the world your talent.

The prize today, doing a video with Abby.

I mean, she's got 15 million followers.

That could really start your career.

[Craig] Wow.

[Maya] Each MUA has been
randomly assigned a different backdrop...

That is banging. You got a good one!

[Maya] ...together with a variety of props
to enhance their video.

Oh, my God!

I've never done a makeup video
for social media before,

so this is totally new territory for me,
and it's frightening.

Take advantage of the space and create
a look that incorporates the setting.

-You have two hours to create your videos.
-Ring lights at the ready? Off you go.

[funky house music playing]

[Abby] What I'm looking for
from the artists today is technical skill.

It's really key
to create a look step by step

so that an audience
at home can follow along

and learn how to create it themselves.

[Maya] To achieve
the boldest transformation,

the MUAs must start with a bare face.

First you record is your face bare,
because you wanna get that wow factor

of the beginning of the look,
then the end.

[Maya] To go viral,
it helps to create a buildable look

that people want to copy and share.

I think my look is gonna really
complement the room and be bold.

This is what I do for a living.
I do makeup looks on social media,

so I'm confident
just 'cause my experience,

but I could let nerves
and other things get in the way. [inhales]

[driving electronic music plays]

[Maya] Like her idol Abby Roberts,

beauty influencer Ryley
is a self-taught MUA,

who, at 19, already boasts
over two million followers.

Makeup changed my life.

My first post on social media
including my birthmark

is where the whole career started.

Prior to that moment,
I would never post it.

I tried to just cover my birthmark.
I was living a lie.

My friends said,
"Just post a picture with it in, girl."

Because that picture went viral. [laughs]

I can go out without makeup now

and know I am who I am,
and people like that.

[groans]

Oh, my God.

[Maya] Not everyone is
as experienced as Ryley.

Right, okay. Okay.

[Sophie] The videos I've made before
are me already in the makeup.

So I think what I'm concerned about
is showing the process of it.

I find this really cringey.

So this'll be the hardest challenge
throughout the whole thing for me, 100%.

Creating online content
is about confidence,

but confidence in who you are.

Because if you're not confident
in a video, people will turn off.

I won't do a usual glam,

I'll do something that's out there
and incorporate the colors that's here.

[bouncy electronic music plays]

I'll start painting my skin
all white so it's a cow print.

What sets videos apart is,
I think, they have to have a concept.

Using props, background,
lighting, the right music choices,

everything that you need
to convey that story.

The MUA should create
a character around their look,

because selling that fully realized
character connects with an audience.

I need more powder.

[Maya] As a retail MUA,

creating bold character makeup
is also a far cry from Samah's day job.

[Samah sneezes]

It's a bit of a tricky one,
to be honest. [sighs]

It's seeing what goes with the scenery

and trying to make it work
with, like, your look.

There's a lot all in one go.

I'm just gonna go with it
and just hope for the best.

All right, MUAs. Thirty minutes gone.

An hour and a half to go, my honeys.

Ooh. How you finding it?
You active online?

I'm working in the care home, so I never
have time to go on social media.

I'm gonna go for some kind
of fun, watercolor-y clown vibe

with like, some fun eyebrows.

-I'll chill out for a while and enjoy.
-Yeah, chill there. Stay there.

[Jack chuckles]

[Alex] When I saw the supermarket,

I instantly thought
'60s kitschy housewife.

So, I'm gonna paint meself pink.

I didn't have a pink body paint,
so I've put in red and white cream paint.

[intense house music plays]

[Maya] Taking inspiration
from his bank vault background is Craig.

I'm doing eye bags because my character
has been in debt for a few weeks now,

and he's getting... He loses sleep.

So, he decided to rob a bank. And also
they are a current trend right now.

I actually love Craig's concept,
he's doing like, the eye bags.

-I don't know if you've seen that trend?
-I haven't.

Everyone's kind of drawing on eye bags
rather than concealing them lately.

I think it's people's way
of kind of embracing natural beauty.

I'm literally using three concealers
to cover my tiredness.

If it's a trend
to be knackered, I'm winning.

So I'm just trying to look like a cow.

So, I'm just copying
the patterns that's on the seats.

I love Dolli's look. It's super bold,
it's matching her background,

super creative, and not, kind of,
your traditional makeup video.

[Dolli] The only thing I'm worried about
is I'm doing something a bit out there.

Maybe they want to see
something more serious.

-Hi, Ryley.
-Hi!

-How are you?
-I'm really good.

-What look are you doing today?
-I'm going for a graphic, bold-eye look.

So I'm gonna try and recreate
the pattern that's on the walls...

-Amazing.
-...on my eye.

So, do you make
a lot of these videos, Ryley?

Um, yeah, this is what I do
for a living as well.

Feel like I may have
seen your face before.

[laughs] Don't tell me that,
I'll faint. Oh, my God.

It's not every day
we see a pink face and a ginger mullet.

They said big and bold,
so, Maya, I'm going big and bold.

You're going massive. That's what we like.

Last week was
a bit rocky for you, wasn't it?

I don't wanna talk about it.
Margaret Thatcher cursed me.

-[laughs]
-Today it's about me.

It is. Forget Marge. I'm happy for you.
I feel like you're in the zone.

Alex's backdrop
is very pink and very intense.

And her look is completely pink,

which I think is great
that it's super eye-catching,

but I'm worried that it may blend
a little bit too much into the background.

So, I'm interested to see what
she's gonna add on top of the pink skin.

-She could just end up being blend-y.
-Yeah, camouflage.

Yeah, that's not what you want.

[Ryley] I'm using aqua paint so they won't
all smudge together, hopefully.

What she's doing, is that complicated?

[Abby] It's really intricate work.

I saw she's using
a tiny liner brush to do that.

I mean, it's looking great so far.

I just hope
that she can finish it in time.

[suspenseful music plays]

[sighs] This is hard
to do in this time, man.

[Dolli] I'm doing okay at the moment.
I'm trying to have fun with it.

One hour down, one hour to go.

I'm trying to incorporate all the colors
of the background, including the umbrella.

I don't think you need
every process in the video.

So, as long as I've got me
without makeup on and the first few,

then I don't think it's really necessary
to have everything in there.

I'm just shaping out a mod, '60s shape

using green, which is
a complementary color to pink.

[Abby] Alex is adding green now,
so I'm happy about that.

[Maya] What you wanted, contrast.

Half an hour to go now, guys!

Time's a-ticking!

[dramatic instrumental hip-hop plays]

I'm applying my blush. I want it to look
very messy, but, like, purposefully.

[brushes clatter]

Starting to get the shakes now.

[Craig] Wanna give myself
a square in the middle.

In a prison cell, you only have
a wee square on the door to look through.

That's what you see here.

Oh, that was a flop, wasn't it?

I need to get on my knees.

[Samah grunts]

I'm getting old for this.

Ten minutes left.

[driving electronic music plays]

[balloons popping]

Oh, my God. What was that?
It made me shake.

My nerves can't take this.

Don't give me balloons
and not expect me to use them.

[balloons popping]

Are you trying to give
an old queen a heart attack?

Nothing is impossible, guys,
one minute left.

Hurry up, hurry up!

[Ryley] I've done the pink birthmark
'cause it goes well with green,

and the black lip just to make it bold.

Mm-hmm.

Time's up, everyone!

[sighs]

Please be enough.

[Maya] Their videos have been shot,
but the MUAs must wait until tomorrow

to find out whose work wowed the judges
and who missed the mark.

I think it was fun.

But let's see what they say
for me tomorrow, hmm? [laughs]

[Ryley] This is my career,
so let's hope I pulled it off.

If not, it'll be
very embarrassing. [laughs]

[dreamy electronic music playing]

[Alex exclaims]

[Maya] The next morning
at Glow Up Studios,

the judges must decide
which videos delivered the entire package

and which two MUAs least impressed

and will start today
in the Face Off chairs.

[Maya] Would you like to see your videos?

[Craig] Oh, my God.

-[all] Yes!
-Exclusive preview!

-[all exclaim]
-[Ryley squeals] Oh, my God.

[Maya] The judges are looking
for an original video

with an easy-to-follow look
that people will want to copy.

First off, let's have a look at Jack.

[dark new wave music playing]

[pops]

-[Samah] Jack, you gave us a heart attack.
-The balloons shocked everybody.

I showed a bit of my personality
and had fun with it.

Technically,
the makeup is a little bit messy,

but it kind of goes
with that circus-themed backdrop.

[Dominic] Jack has thought
about the background,

thought about the makeup,
and put it together.

Overall, though,
I don't think it's unique.

Ryley, are you feeling good about today?

There's so much pressure
because, obviously, it's what I do,

and I am really nervous,
because who knows?

[groovy synth music playing]

[imperceptible]

I had very high expectations for Ryley.

I do feel she could've gone even further
and really pulled out all the stops.

The makeup could have been bigger.

This is where she could've pushed herself,
delivered something bigger and grander.

'Cause she can do it.

Let's have a look at Sophie.

[mellow instrumental hip-hop plays]

Yeah, so I thought she spent
a little bit too long on the base.

It was a little bit slow
in the beginning of the video.

[Val] The makeup is incredible.

I would have liked to have seen
a bit more of the transition

through the actual makeup look.

Next, we have Samah.

[driving rock music plays]

[imperceptible]

[laughing]

I feel seasick.

There was so much movement.

I found it difficult to keep up
with what was actually going on.

[Val] It's beautiful skin,
it's a lovely eye, it looked nice.

Is nice enough?

Nice is never enough in this room.

All right, so next up is Dolli.

[spacey percussive music plays]

[Val] Wow.

[Samah] She said, "Moo."

[Jack] So good.

I loved that video.
It was so fun and so creative.

It incorporated the props.

She made the most
of the background as well.

I love the fact she's gone for this black
and white, then gone for the pink,

which marries up
to the background with a neon light.

She used a white water-activated paint
and really managed to blend it

and make sure that it wasn't
patchy at all. It's really impressive.

Tick, tick, tick.

For me, it was just boom-shaka-laka.

-[both laugh]
-I absolutely adored it.

All right, next up, we've got Alex.

[rousing electronic music plays]

[judges laughing]

-Oh, I love it.
-Gosh.

-[all laugh]
-[Samah] Your outfit goes with the look.

-I love the end so much.
-So good.

It was very chaotic
in both good and bad ways. [laughs]

We asked for unique,
and I think this is unique.

But is the makeup unique? She's pink.

She's just blended
right into that background.

[Dominic] If we do zoom in,
we see the unsymmetrical lip,

very unsymmetrical eyebrow.

But in the chaos of the video,
I really love it.

Moving on to Craig.

[driving soulful music plays]

Ah! This is a video
I would expect to see online.

It feels current.

The eye bag trend
and the over-the-top blush and freckles,

which is very social media.

I don't think he needs
to show himself shaving.

He could've put more time
in showing us the makeup.

How did he get the lines so straight?

I don't know
if I could recreate this at home

based on the video content he showed us.

[suspenseful music playing]

So, we've got an amazing winner,

and also some definite options
for the Face Off chairs.

[Maya] If an MUA finds
their name on a red chair,

they're headed for the Face Off
elimination at the end of the day.

[sighs] Okay.

Thank God.

[groans softly]

Oh, my God. [scoffs] "Samah."

So, Samah and Alex, sadly,
you're in the Face Off chairs today.

You know how it goes.

You'll have 15 minutes less
for your creative brief.

Samah, your video was confusing.
There was no clear story,

and you didn't utilize the setting
and props to engage the audience.

Alex, your video was chaotic,

and the makeup was a bit basic.

We wanted more impact from you.

[melancholic music playing]

But there was one video
that we absolutely loved.

It was imaginative, it was dynamic.

The music, the background,
and the makeup came together.

The winning MUA and the person
who's gonna get the chance

to create a makeup video with me is...

Dolli.

[house music plays]

What?

-Wow!
-[all cheer and applaud]

-[Ryley] Well done!
-Thank you, thank you!

I'm so shocked. I'm so excited.
I really didn't think it would be me.

[Dominic] Well done, Dolli.

So, for today's creative brief, we'll be
continuing the social media theme.

One of the most popular tools
on social media are filters.

So today, we want you to create a look

that appears
to have gone through a face filter.

You can create any style of filter.

Your look must be original, imaginative,

and well-executed.

So, are you ready?

[artists] Yes!

Bring in the models!

[upbeat music plays]

[Maya] The MUAs have been allowed
to prepare for the creative brief,

and have been supplied
with a model to suit their look.

All right, honeys, you have
two and a half hours. Good luck.

Alex and Samah,
I'll let you know when your time starts.

Off you go!

We're gonna put
some mushrooms on your face.

[both laugh]

[driving electronic music plays]

[Sophie] The look I'm doing today

is a filter to make it look

like she's been in a fight.

Filters often make you look better,

so I wanted to do something
that would make someone look worse.

The technical elements
in this look involve prosthetics.

Getting panicky now.
I'm trying to impress with this one,

so it will upset me more
if I don't do well.

[Maya] As the other MUAs get to work,

all Alex and Samah can do is wait.

-What's your name, babe?
-Hannah.

-Nice to meet you, I'm Alex.
-And you.

[Maya] Though a relative newcomer
to the world of professional makeup,

it's played a key role
in Alex's personal life

since she was a young teen.

I grew up on a council estate.
I was an emo, and I'm gay.

Without getting out me tiny violin,

at school I used makeup
to hide that I'm gay.

I didn't want to be "othered" even more.

You put concealer on and a pair of lashes,

and no one really knows
what you're feeling.

Makeup makes me feel...

free.

-You all right, Alex?
-Yeah.

I just hope that if I get to stay,

we get to do something that's
a bit more in my bag, 'cause I just...

I wanted to do so well while I was here.

A bit emoshe.
Come, let's have a little squeeze.

-Don't want to get it all over your top.
-You're all right.

We're halfway through the competition,
you've made it this far.

As much as it's disheartening
when you get these lows,

we know how talented you are.
It's just time to showcase it.

You've got time to think, plan it out,
and I can't wait to see your filter.

Thank you.

I'll just get you to face me.

Literally, I'm drawing
on your face. Sorry.

I've created my own unique filter today,
and it's based off geometric shapes.

They're kind of golden ratio type thing.
The golden ratio is the perfect face.

So my lines and the way I've
structured them, it's similar to that.

Sorry, you'll get me double-checking.
Look straight forward.

Sorry if it's quite tight.

Do you think
she's done a bald cap before?

-It's well south right now.
-[judges chuckle]

[Dolli] I'm creating a caricature
of the human face,

so exaggerated features.

I've definitely taken a risk today
because I've never done this before.

Alex and Samah, you can start now!

[mellow house music plays]

Go, go, go, go!

[Maya] For Alex and Samah, there is only
one way to avoid the Face Off elimination...

by blowing the judges away
and beating the seat.

My look is based on pixelation filters.

At the end of the day, all a filter is,
it's pixel and distortion.

[Maya] Having survived
the Face Off last week,

Alex is hoping
her ambitious, pixelated filter

will be strong enough
to keep her in the competition.

I'm just blocking the model's brows
because I'm in the red chair

and I've got to pull out all the stops.

What's going on here?

I'm actually going to be gluing
mushrooms to the face.

-Okay. Why?
-Yeah.

[Jack] I wanted to have
something growing out of the face

to give the illusion
that it's growing from something,

a new thing that's evolving.

-I'd use that filter.
-Yeah.

-Thank you.
-Mushroom face, why not?

I'm a "fungi."

[laughs] Oh, the "fun guy." I get it.

I'm just rolling the shapes.

This is scar wax.

[Maya] Also getting to grips
with unfamiliar materials

is two-time Face Off survivor Samah.

[Samah] My filter today is inspired
by sirens and mermaids.

The siren is basically
the mermaid's evil stepsister.

[laughs]

She's creating gills.

[both] Yeah.

I feel like scar wax is maybe
not the best option to go with for gills,

'cause you can't really get
much volume there.

It just looks like
four locks of spaghetti.

Do you think
she might be... gilling the lily?

[blows raspberry]

Thirty minutes down, everybody.

-[gasps] Thirty minutes!
-[Maya] Thirty minutes gone.

Wow. I'm worried because
it's already half an hour,

and I've not got the base
that I'll be following down.

[glitchy electronic music playing]

Ryley's is beginning to look interesting.

Just look to the right for me, please.

And now look to the left.

[Dominic] Oh!

-Nice.
-She has done mirror imagery.

So, on the left side
is a replication of the right side.

So, I am gonna get
my tape measure out on this.

I'm trying to make sure it's symmetrical,
but where I've kind of got carried away...

I'm struggling to remember
what I've done on each side.

[hair dryer whirring]

Dolli, congratulations.

Thank you.

Social media star.

-A star.
-It's off now.

-Started with a cow, and now we're here.
-[laughs] Literally.

And you've gone straight in
with a bald cap.

Hopefully I'm doing it correctly,

this is the first time
I'm ever using a bald cap.

-[Maya] Oh, wow.
-I want it to be more runway avant-garde.

-Massive lips.
-[Dolli] Yes.

[Maya] You'll look like a whole new woman.

Too tight, or are you all right?

Oh, another bald cap.

I'm just playing with the mushrooms.
I'm actually gonna put a bit of glue down.

[Maya] Almost an hour has passed,

and Jack is attempting to attach
real mushrooms to their model's face.

-[Jack] I don't think it's gonna work.
-Come on!

[Jack] I think we'll have
to do something different.

[suspenseful music playing]

I don't know what's going on.

Amazing.

I was gonna use mushrooms, but I found
that actually they were quite wet.

So they wouldn't stick on
with the glue properly.

I was thinking about what would look
as close to a mushroom as I could find.

A cotton bud.

That works. I don't know
how much they're gonna stay though.

[Dominic] What is that?

It's a Q-tip.

What's it meant to be?

A unicorn?

Coat hook?

Hour gone, guys.

An hour and a half to go.

[Jack] I've done nothing in an hour.

Never seen papier maché
on a bald cap before.

It could be really clever.

-Hi, Craig.
-Hello, Abby, how are you?

-Good, how are you?
-Not bad.

Stressed and blessed, you know?

-So what is going on today?
-Yeah.

So, I took inspo
from the icon Marilyn Monroe.

I'll have all her newspaper articles
coming down the face.

So, they have hair.

Her signature winged liner
on a signature bejeweled red lip.

You know, filters are done
so many different ways.

-Definitely. Very unique.
-You haven't seen this before?

No, I haven't.

It's rough when I first drew it on,
but I'll try to clean it up

when I actually paint the foundations on.

I just really, really, really want
the judges to be proud of me,

and know why I'm here.

It's looking pretty good.

But you know what?
She needs a bigger brush.

She needs a brush
the size of those squares so she can...

Yeah. Just easily.

[intriguing electronic music plays]

I've mixed white and yellow
and, like, a jade green.

[Dominic] Samah is going big.

[chuckles] That is a big brush.

[Maya] If Samah or Alex beat the seat,
it will have to be filled by another MUA

who fails to impress the judges.

I'm gonna have to copyright this color.
[exclaims and laughs]

[Ryley chuckles]

[Sophie] It's exactly
what I didn't want to happen.

The prosthetic piece
just folded in on itself.

That could have been a nightmare.
I don't know why it wasn't.

Maybe luck is on my side...
I won't say that. Is there any wood?

Sophie's prosthetics
appear to be blending in really well.

I'm just using scar wax now
to build up her features.

[Val] Scar wax really needs
to blend into the skin.

If it doesn't,
it's just gonna look like Cheesy Wotsits.

[Dolli chuckles] Sorry.

That scar wax is too pale.

She hasn't tried to get
any coloring or texture within that.

When she then puts the foundation on,
it will not blend in.

One hour left, everyone.

[bold electronic music plays]

[Dolli] You know what?

I'm taking these off.

She's going to remove it.

-She's giving me anxiety.
-She's got an hour.

I don't like the way they look at all.

Just layering up the colors.
Then I'll go over with more shading.

She's rushing it. Them lines...

-They're not even.
-No.

I'm trying to get it on, but I don't know
if it looks messy rather than glitchy.

Um... And that's scary.

[suspenseful music playing]

-[Val] Ooh!
-[Dominic] Ooh, hello.

[Abby] Oh!

-Glitterati.
-Hello.

-Bejeweled lip.
-Is that crystal?

[Abby] Mmm.

-That looks nice.
-[Val] That looks beautiful.

The problem that he's got is
he's come from the right-hand side,

and I would've started
in the center to get symmetry.

Thirty minutes left, guys.
This is your 30-minute countdown.

[Craig] Oh, Jesus.

I was planning
to go over the lines and stuff,

but I reckon now it's more of a case
of just getting it on and getting it done.

Okay. Time to move on now. [sighs]

-[Samah] Cover your head. And hold it.
-Mm-hmm.

-Oh, no. No!
-Samah. Don't do it.

Don't do it.

I'm just using fishnet tights
just to create almost, like, scales.

-It's an easy way.
-It's an easy option.

[Dominic] We've all stuck
a fishnet over our face.

Absolutely.

Sometimes for makeup,
sometimes just for fun.

But it's basic and it does not look good.

Kind of going in now
and just, kind of, adding a bit of depth

to the fact that
it's growing from something moist.

-Ooh, Maya.
-Very crowded in there.

-Yeah.
-Not mushroom left.

[both laugh]

Oh, my God, Maya.

[ethereal percussive music playing]

When I look in the mirror,
I can then feel the pain.

-Really?
-Really weird.

It looks like... a bit like a crime scene.

[Val] I don't know.

I don't know if that's the sort of filter
that people would want.

[Dominic] When I use a filter,
I'll go classic. I'll get the dog face.

Like, give me a dog face. Give me hearts.

But I don't wanna look like a bruise.

Feel like a fish?

Yeah. [laughs]

What about, like...

[Maya hums rapidly]

Ten minutes left.

Oh, my gosh.
I'm not sure if I am going to finish.

Gonna put on paper lips.

Is that too big? Yeah, it's too big.

The lips represent how filters
can really just change our face.

I'm more of a glam makeup artist,
so this is just not what I do at all.

Check first.

Look straight.

Just get in there. Oh, sorry!

[chuckles] I'll get you tissue, gorgeous.

One minute left!

[cheerful ethereal music playing]

[Jack] Close your eyes for me.

Little brush, where is the brush?

Okay, time's up.

Brushes, sponges, and anything else down.

-Oh, my gosh. [sighs]
-[model mouthing]

Please go next door
to get your model photographed.

[groovy percussive music playing]

[suspenseful music playing]

Craig, please step forward.

[Craig] I was inspired by
the iconic Miss Marilyn Monroe.

At her time, it was only
the newspapers and the magazines,

so I wanted that
to be a big part of the look.

[Val] I love your concept.

The overall look is incredibly beautiful.

I think you've done a fantastic job.

[Dominic] I think it works really well.

I mean, I can see myself in this filter.

-Got the same head shape.
-[laughs]

Let's look at the lip.
There's an issue with the symmetry.

Always start in the middle, and work
your way out, and you will get there.

You've got the skill, just finesse it.

Because if you do, concepts like this
will see you go far in this competition.

Thank you.

Ryley, please come forward.

It's very clear that there is
a lack of symmetry or precision.

I think where the mistake went was
you went straight with a black marker.

You can't hide it.

I like to go around with, like,
a nude pencil and map it all out.

It might not be perfect grayscale,

but, in the room, it was so impressive.

It's a great look,
you could see it as a filter.

-Thank you so much.
-[Dominic] Ta-ta.

Samah, please come forward.

[Samah] For my filter, I wanted
to base it on sirens and mermaids,

and play with different textures.

By attempting to add the gills, it's nice
that you tried to add an extra texture,

but maybe it would've been better
to use a prosthetic piece

just to build on that volume.

-Scar wax can be tricky to work with.
-Yeah.

The texture that you created around
the temple and around the cheek,

that layering of the dots,
just really beautiful.

But if we take away the bulk of it,
which is this strong aqua,

what we're left with
is actually quite a basic eye line.

Mmm.

And we're left with quite a basic lip.

-[judges] Thank you.
-Thank you.

Jack, please step forward.

-Well, this is a very striking look, Jack.
-[laughs]

I've not seen anything like this before.

I love that it's 3D.

I get the sort of, like,
wetness at the roots.

Who knew a cotton bud could be so cool?

The metallic base gives this rootage,
this... It's growing from the skin.

-Very creepy. I really like it. Well done.
-Thank you very much.

Sophie, you're up next.

[Sophie] Today, I wanted to do a look

went against the beauty filters
that we see on social media.

I think this makeup is amazing.

You can't tell that it's prosthetics.
They're blended so seamlessly.

But why would people use this as a filter?

It is quite gruesome.

That's the point. [laughs]

I wonder if you could have
taken this idea and exaggerated it

and made it a bit more of like,
"Oh, I want to do the Halloween filter."

Not "I wanna do the,
'I've just been in an accident' filter."

-Cool. Thank you.
-Dolli. Please step forward.

I liked the flat paint

and the embellishment
of the lashes and the lips.

This is fun.

This is very much in the land of filters.

The over-exaggerated aspect of it,
I like that.

It reminds me of drag queens like Milk.

I just wish you had more time
to properly execute that,

because you can definitely tell
in areas it was rushed.

Thank you.

[whispers] Oh, my God.
It's awful. It's so bad.

Alex, please come forward.

[Alex] When I thought of filter,

I thought of something
that was like distorted pixels.

Sort of like how they blur criminals
on Crime Watch.

I thought it was a really promising idea,

but when it came to the execution,
they don't seem to be in line.

[Dominic] When you started,
I was really hopeful

because you started mapping out
those first two rows of lines.

The whole eye is...

It's almost like you lost your confidence
in what you were doing.

I'm gonna tell you a little secret.
This job is 50% skill

and 50% confidence.

You've got the skill,
I need you to start believing in yourself.

-Yeah.
-You have to do it.

I promise, if I'm here next week,

I'm gonna come in oiled up
like a body builder. Like, confident.

-[laughing]
-[Alex] I am.

That's it, get the confidence.

Okay. Thank you.

Thank you so much, everyone.

If you'd like to go next door,
myself, Val, and Abby will discuss

who will be going
into the Face Off elimination.

[suspenseful music playing]

Should we start with the two
that started in the red chairs?

Absolutely. Let's talk about Alex.

This was so disappointing for me
just because the concept was so good

and had so much potential.

[Val] I'm getting
the idea of pixelization,

but not really.

So the other MUA that started
in the Face Off chairs was Samah.

-[Val] Something fishy about this.
-[Dominic and Abby laugh]

This base is so thick it is cracking.

She chose to attempt
a really difficult look for her,

and I give her props for that.

I don't know if Samah's done enough
to get out the Face Off chair, but

one artist
I do want to talk about is Dolli.

She spent all the time doing the... playing
with the scar wax and the bald cap,

she didn't have enough time
to do a great, finessed makeup.

She needed time and ideas.

I think the idea is there.

[tense music playing]

So, Samah and Alex.

You started the day off
in the Face Off chairs.

Alex, your look was good and on trend,
but the execution just lacked detail

because your pixels were different sizes,
and then the illusion just wasn't there.

Unfortunately, you will be the first MUA
going into the Face Off elimination.

Samah.

We were looking for something special
to get you out of that seat,

but your application was
just a bit heavy-handed.

So Samah, you will be the second MUA
going into the Face Off elimination.

[Maya] Thank you, judges.
I'll bring them through.

[Val] Okay.

I'm sorry.

Alex, Samah, say your goodbyes,
as one of you won't be returning.

[Samah sighs heavily] It's all right.

[Alex sobs]

[Alex] I'm back again.
Doesn't feel great, I'm not gonna lie.

Samah is an incredible, incredible artist
and a Face Off assassin, so...

[chuckles nervously]

I want to kind of put the blinkers on.

I'm just gonna give it me all and try
to be the makeup artist that I know I am.

[Maya] It's gonna be okay. Okay?

My natural response
in a fight or flight is fight, so...

I just know how to get in,
focus, and do what I need to do.

I've got still so much more
to learn and to give.

[tense music playing]

[Maya] To level the playing field,
the MUAs will face off

over a pair of identical twins.

This week has been all about social media.

A big trend on social media
is illusion makeup.

For your Face Off elimination today,

we would like you to do a pop art lip.

A pop art lip is a cartoon-style,
three-dimensional lip.

I would start by drawing
the outline of the lip in black eyeliner,

making sure the outer edge
is nice and clean and sharp.

We want to see a bright color choice,

so I'm gonna grab a liquid lipstick
and fill in that lip.

Now it's time to put in
those comic-book effects.

We're gonna start by using a liquid liner

to draw in some curves,
creating three-dimensionality.

The final stage is adding
some white strokes

to give the illusion of lip gloss.

But placement is key.

The white lines should go
where light would naturally hit the lip

if it was glossy.

If you get it wrong,
it looks like two white lines on a lip.

You'll have 15 minutes
to complete the challenge.

Good luck, my loves.

Your time starts now. Off you go.

[suspenseful music playing]

Five minutes down. Ten to go.

Intriguing.

Samah's lip line
is too thick to begin with.

She didn't let the liquid lipstick dry.

So then when she went in
with that black, it spread out.

Where's the white gonna go?

But then on the flip side,
you've got Alex.

She's lost time perfecting that red lip
that's now gonna get covered with black.

It's neck and neck.

-It could go either way.
-Let's go have a look.

One minute remaining.

Five, four, three, two, one.

Brushes down.

Judges,
I know you wanna have a closer look.

-Absolutely.
-Yeah.

Let's go.

[ethereal music playing]

[Val] Conflab?

-Yeah.
-Let's go.

[tense percussive music plays]

[softly] Face Offs...

My heart.

There's positives and negatives for each.

One MUA, there is some smudging

and blending of color into color.

[Dominic] Yeah.

Another MUA's highlights
are in the completely wrong place.

-It looks like front teeth.
-Front teeth.

[Dominic chuckles]

Alex, your line was thin and crisp,

which is a good place to start
because it allows you room to build.

[Val] Samah.

You got your liquid lipstick on
really quickly,

which gave you time
to perfect your black outline.

[Dominic] But Alex,

the highlighter was in the wrong place.

So please pack up your kit,
you'll be going home.

[Samah sighs]

Oh, my God, I'm so sorry.

I know. It's not... It wasn't my time.

[Alex] I can take away from this

amazing people I've met,
and I'm really proud of them.

It just wasn't my time.

It's sad 'cause it feels
like me story's unfinished.

But at least I can walk away
and say, "I tried my best."

I'm sorry about that.

-Look, why are you saying sorry?
-Stop apologizing.

You did really well.

You beat thousands to get here.
You've got a really bright future.

Stand proud.
You're a makeup artist, goddamnit.

Hope so. Thank you.

-Come on, girl.
-What's wrong? Come on.

-Oh, my God.
-[Ryley screams]

[all exclaim and laugh]

I'm really proud of myself
for being able to handle pressure.

This really tested it to another level.

There is so much talent.

It's really going to be
a fight to the finish.

And we have got front-row seats.
I can't wait.

Me, neither.

[percussive music playing]