I’ve been a fan of Halsey, AKA Ashley Frangipane, ever since they released their debut studio album “Badlands” in 2015, and it blew up on Tumblr. I was out-of-my-mind excited to learn they’d be fronting a beauty brand called about-face in January 2021. The products are all about messy self-expression and making up the rules as you go along. The packaging is gritty, futuristic, and industrial, which fits Halsey’s music style, especially with the recent release of “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power,” produced by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross of Nine Inch Nails. The makeup has been lauded by beauty editors, and (unsurprisingly) a few products have reached cult status. Here are the 14 best about-face products to try.
Halsey has a second beauty brand called AF94 that they recently unveiled. It’s aimed at Gen Z and is less expensive than the about-face line–everything is $10 and under. You can click here to learn more.
Best About-Face Makeup Products:
- Matte Fluid Eye Paint
- Shadowstick
- Fractal Glitter Eye Paint
- Cheek Freak Blush Balm
- Light Lock Powder Highlighter
- Shadow Fix Eye Primer
- Light Lock Lip Gloss
- Fractal Glitter Dust
- Light Lock Highlight Fluid
- Teal Mascara
- Paint-It Matte Lip Color
- Fractal Large Cosmetic Bag
- Light Lock Body and Brush Set
- Prime + Set Bundle
The best place to start to give you a clear idea of about-face’s high-quality lineup of products is the Matte Fluid Eye Paint. It’s the ultimate way to play with pigment. Each paint is bright, buildable, and dries down for a smooth, no-smudge finish. The color choices are out-of-this-world cool, from neon purple to pale yellow to the most primary blue I’ve ever seen. One reviewer called the paints “life-changing,” saying they lasted 14 hours, including sobbing at a Halsey concert. That’s impressive.
Another Allure Best of Beauty winner (along with the Matte Fluid Eye Paint), the Shadowstick takes the stress out of creating show-stopping eye looks. The bullet tip provides a precise way to line, draw and smudge as much or as little as you want. There’s also a built-in sharpener, so you never have to worry about the tip getting dull. Choose from 16 matte and pearl finishes–the possibilities are endless!
Next up is the Fractal Glitter Eye Paint, a mousse eyeshadow with an intense pearlescent finish. I own this product in the shade Fracture, a cocoa brown color, and it makes for a long-lasting eyeliner wing that always gets compliments. The thin, futuristic packaging slips right into any travel bag or purse and comes with a doe foot applicator. The formula includes mica pearls that give it that extra shine.
Feeling flushed? The Cheek Freak Blush Balm is a recent release, but makeup lovers are already giving it five-star reviews. The creamy, lightweight balm has a cushiony texture that applies seamlessly whether you’re using a beauty blender or brush. It’s infused with hyaluronic acid and meadowfoam seed oil to nourish your beautiful skin.
About-Face package has the early 2000s, new millennium vibes with an industrial look, especially the Light Lock Powder. I prefer powder products to liquids when it comes to highlighter; I think they’re easier to apply and look better on my oily skin. The Light Lock Powder is lightweight, doesn’t look cakey upon application, and delivers serious shimmer. Each compact comes with a mirror, which is always a win in my book.
The Shadow Fix Eye Primer is an eyeshadow palette’s best friend. The light beige formula locks in eyeshadow for intense and crease-proof looks. The tube has a small doe foot applicator, which I love because it’s much more sanitary than squeezing the product right on your finger. Be sure to let it sit for 20 seconds before applying shadow.
About-Face labels this next product as sheer genius, and we couldn’t agree more. The Light Lock Lip Gloss is made with coconut oil, peppermint, and lavender for a buttery formula that smells and looks irresistible. Reviewers rave about how the gloss isn’t thick and sticky and instead goes on smoothly without caking. It comes in 17 (!!!) gorgeous shades.
Fractal Glitter Dust might be the most stunning makeup item I’ve ever laid eyes on. The formula contains a large percentage of pearls for a luminous finish that plays with the light. It melts into a liquid-like consistency, meaning applying it with a beauty blender will be a snap. The jar reminds me of the glitter containers I used for art projects when I was a kid. Sweet, sweet nostalgia.
Need yet another makeup bag to add to your collection? The Fractal bag is oversized and spacious, ready to hold all the new About-Face products you’re excited to try. Designed by Halsey, it’s waterproof, easy to clean, and foldable, making it the coolest travel accessory you’d ever want. The bag also has an AF zipper in a gunmetal grey color.
The Light Lock Highlight Fluid will leave you straight beaming. The molten, pearly highlighter has over 3,000 reviews on the about-face website with an average of 4.7 stars. The new “Roses in the Walls” shade, a rose gold, features an elderly model on the product page–we love to see that representation. Wear the fluid alone or mix it with moisturizer, sunscreen, or any other prep product for the ultimate glow.
Shake up your makeup routine with the Teal Mascara in the limited edition shade “Edge of the Earth.” Now, you may be thinking of ColourPop’s colored BFF Mascara (which did not actually show up on my eyelashes) and doubting the About-Face mascara’s effect. This one is the real deal. The review photos show ultra-bold colors on people’s lashes for a statement look every time.
Another powerful paint product, the Paint-It Matte Lip Color, is all about endurance. No need to worry about your liquid lipstick drying out or smearing during the next happy hour. Choose from 23 shades, including the blackest black, a cherry red, and a bright coral orange. The Matte Fix Lip Pencil complements this product, and it comes in most of the liquid lip colors to match.
Shimmer isn’t just for your face–make the rest of you glow with the Light Lock Illuminating Body highlighter in five glistening shades, from bronze to lavender to deep brown. It provides a sunkissed glow any day of the year. The second half of the duo is the Light Lock Body Brush, a curved kabuki brush for flawless and even application every time. Mix with sunscreen in the summertime for the ultimate glow-up!
What’s a makeup routine without efficient prepping tools? The Prime + Set bundle includes a spray with an oil-absorbing formula and mattifying properties (plus, it has an on/off lock function to prevent spillage). Use it before makeup to prep or after to set the look. The black sponge has a pocket for your fingers to slip into while applying the product. It’s also latex-free and antimicrobial.
