It seems that these days, carbonated drinks, root vegetables and even toilet paper qualify as beauty products.
Several unconventional beauty techniques and looks have popped up recently, going viral on social media and with a handful even making it onto the fashion runway.
Think dousing your hair in bottles of Coke then blow-drying it for a tousled look, mincing up a beetroot to make a natural lip and cheek stain and sticking bits of toilet paper on your lips for a textured look.
Drawing fake freckles with an eyebrow pencil is also a new trend, popularised by a barrage of YouTube beauty tutorials and celebrities such as Kendall Jenner.
The faux look also made it onto the runway for American fashion designer Marc Jacobs' Fall 2017 fashion show.
Others are experimenting with eye make-up, eschewing the regular brushstroke and adorning their eyelids with clusters of small dots for a pop-art-inspired look instead.
The Straits Times tries out five weird and unusual beauty looks.
1 Polka dot eyes
This whimsical trend first appeared on Instagram earlier this year when 25-year-old American make-up artist Molly Bee created a blue-and-lilac cut crease look - where eyeshadow or liquid lipstick is applied to the eyelid crease in a defined line - with dots. The look quickly gained popularity.
What you need: An eye primer, cotton buds, tape, an eyeshadow palette
Get the look:
1. Place a piece of tape on the back of the hand and peel it off so that it retains its stickiness while being easy to remove. Place the tape below the eye to prevent eyeshadow from staining the lower lashline.
2. Starting with a clean face, apply eye primer on the eyelid so the eyeshadow adheres to the skin and lasts longer.
3. Using a cotton bud, apply eyeshadow to the upper eyelid by pressing it down on the skin. Sprinkle the dots across the eyelids for a quick pop of colour, or dot a cat-eye-shape across the eyelid crease for a more dramatic effect. Use complementary colours to create a colour contrast, or use analogous colours (hues that sit next to one another on the colour wheel) for a softer, ombre look.
Rating: 3 stars
Verdict: I went for a polka-dot pattern in yellow, orange, sky blue and navy, which turned out looking like a colourful leopard print.
The result was pretty, but also resembled something a five-year- old would have crayoned, as I am not what you would call a dab hand at make-up.
Using a cotton bud with eyeshadow produces rather fuzzy dots. If you prefer more defined polka dots, liquid lipstick might work better.
One quibble I have is that excess eyeshadow falls onto my cheeks and makes a mess. One tip is to apply a thick layer of translucent setting powder under your eyes to catch the eyeshadow fallout, then brush the powder off afterwards.
Though the look was tricky to create, it was fun to wear colourful make-up for a change. I received baffled stares in public, but was pleasantly surprised when two strangers complimented me on my look.
Given more time and practice, I would recreate this look for a party or a festival.
2 Beetroot lip and cheek stain
Beauty fans and make-up gurus are looking to do-it-yourself projects to make their own moisturisers, facial scrubs and lip stains, in line with the increasing popularity of organic and natural make-up.
Multiple tutorials on YouTube and beauty blogs have recommended the use of beetroot to make a beautiful Merlot-coloured lip and cheek stain.
What you need: One beetroot, several drops of olive oil or coconut oil, a sieve, filter paper, a blender or food processor
Making the stain:
1. Cube and blend beetroot for a few seconds. The end-product should have a chunky texture and not be a puree.
2. Sieve the blended beetroot twice to remove pulp.
3. Put two tablespoons of beetroot juice into a bowl. Reduce it in the microwave for about 10 seconds until it takes on a thick, gooey consistency that stains the skin. Repeat the process until there is no more juice.
4. Add olive or coconut oil.
5. You may want to add a drop or two of your favourite essential oil, especially if you do not like the smell or the taste of beetroot.
Note: The stain must be kept in the fridge and can last for up to two weeks.
Rating: 3.5 stars
Verdict: I was sceptical at first, but was pleasantly surprised. The stain is easy to make and took me only 20 minutes.
It is sheer and easily applied on the lips with a lip brush or cotton swab, creating a beautiful plum shade. The added oils not only help to moisturise the lips and create a glossy finish, but also ensures that the stain is not sticky.
The downside is that the stain lasts for only a couple of hours. Applying multiple layers and blotting them with a tissue in between will darken the look and help the stain to stay on longer.
The taste of beetroot might be off-putting for some, but that can easily be fixed with a few drops of essential oil. I like the sweet taste.
