I Tried Amaya Papaya’s Cover Shoot Makeup

Keeping up with all things pop culture is a vital part of my job, which can be a bit overwhelming – except of course for the craziness of Love Island USA. I watched a dating show for the first time last summer and loved all the fun it offered. One of my favorite contestants is the winner! Amaya Espinalbetter known as Amaya Papaya. Although some have misunderstood her, I have always understood her. She's from Brooklyn like me, our birthdays are exactly one day apart, we have the same middle name (Elizabeth), and she's confident, acting authentic despite all the odds stacked against her. Naturally, when I found out she was going to be a spokesperson for Popsugar.”Good Person of the Year“Cover star, I'm very excited.

I had the privilege of working behind the scenes on the day of filming and realized that Espinal is even more gorgeous in person than she looks online and on TV. Her radiant personality shone throughout the day, but that was also thanks to her glam done by her makeup artist. Tinna Wagenblast. Because Espinal is in tune with her emotions, she is known as “sensitive gangster(honestly, same thing) so I decided to test her makeup for tears.

While Wagenblast created three stunning looks on set, I settled on the one that stood out to me—a soft, glamorous shade highlighted by dewy elements like pink blush and shimmery highlighter. “I worked closely with the team to make sure the glam was right for Amaya—she gravitates towards a softer glam rather than an over-the-top look,” Wagenblast told me after a day of shooting. “My favorite element was the way the blush and glow played together; they imparted so much warmth and femininity while maintaining a radiant, elevated feel.” From Anastasia Beverly Hills Wagenblast Brow Gel, which Espinal used to keep her brows intact all day long, to her favorite lip liner from Make Up For Ever, these products definitely made me feel like a sensitive gangster. Continue reading to read about my full experience below.

How to do regular Amaya Espinal makeup

After finishing my skincare routine with primer, I knew I'd be spending most of my time on my eyes (Wagenblast called this the standout feature of the look). I started with Makeup by Mario Master Pigment Pro Eyeliner Pencil ($26). Wagenblast used the shade 'Perfect Brown' which really lives up to its name and suits my skin tone well. I followed Patrick Ta Major Dimension Eyeshadow Palette ($70) and used the shades Devotion and Unfaithful on the lids to create this pink, dewy look. I started shaping my eyebrows using Anastasia Beverly Hills Freezing Eyebrow Gel ($26).

Wagenblast used a mixture as a base Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Luminous Matte Foundation ($42), so I chose the shades Butterscotch and Gingerbread to create a shade that was closest to my skin tone. I entered with Patrick Tha Major headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo ($38) in the shades “She's So LA” and “Oh She's Different” to give my face volume followed by Shan The Liquid Blush shades ($22) for additional color. To really achieve that “Amaya” glow, I used Wagenblast's outstanding technique: pressing the button. Patrick Ta Mayor Radiance Balm ($50) on the high points of my cheek.

No great makeup look would be complete without a good lipstick, so I was super excited to use Make Up For Ever Artist Color Pencil Long Lasting Lip Pencil ($25) in Dimensional Dark Brown with clear glitter for added shine. As a finishing touch to the glamorous effect, I added a light layer Urban Decay 24/7 Moondust Glitter Eyeshadow ($25) on my eyelids and MAC Prep + Prime Fix+ Spray for fixation ($34).

What I love about Amaya Espinal's makeup

To my surprise, the eye makeup turned out to be my favorite part of this Amaya-inspired glam look. I loved how Wagenblast gave her the soft, natural look they were going for, highlighting her stunning features with pink accents. And while I'm usually shy in my approach to eye makeup (I never want to look like a clown), I found her style to be relatively easy to recreate.

I also loved the radiant glow I got from the routine. “I took inspiration from Patrick Ta's blush technique—I wanted her complexion to have a soft, glowing flush that seemed to glow from within,” Wagenblast said of her creative process. After doing the Wagenblast program I definitely felt that inner glow and more.

My makeup after the tear test

Being a “sensitive gangster” like Espinal, I had to make sure that her glamor for the shoot really stood the test of tears. And, as I thought, it is so. I didn't know what to expect, but by installing sprays that kept me from looking like a raccoon after crying, I was impressed with the results. What aspect of the Wagenblast routine did I particularly enjoy? MAC Fix+ tuning spray. This really helped set my makeup and not only gave it a matte finish, but it also helped my makeup stay intact regardless of contact with water. All I had to do was pat my face with a blending brush and my makeup looked like new.

I used to be wary of eye makeup, but now I can definitely see myself using the Wagenblast technique for future glamorous makeup looks – from everyday makeup to a night out. For other “sensitive gangsters” like us, you should follow this makeup method.

Rating:
★★★★★

Naomi Parris is an assistant sales editor at Popsugar magazine, based in New York. With over eight years of experience and previous roles in beauty and brand operations, she loves telling stories that connect fashion, beauty and Black culture. Naomi also lent her expert pen to Essence Girls United, Elle, Bustle and Elite Daily. When she's not writing shopping reviews, scoops, beauty features, or trend guides, you can find Naomi on her blog, Eli-Nay, where she inspires readers with style guides, culture pieces, and innovative content on her Instagram.