Have you ever looked in the mirror while applying your makeup and realized that it’s more than just a routine — it’s a ritual, a connection to something deeper?
For many, beauty is more than skin deep. It’s an artistic expression of heritage, a daily affirmation of belonging, and a celebration of the cultures that shaped us. And for culturally fluid individuals — people like Maya Washington, Yassir Lester or Sabrina Mahfouz, whose lives blend different geographies, ethnicities and experiences — beauty routines can become a canvas for telling unique stories.
More Than Makeup: The Cultural Layers Beneath Every Stroke
From the bold red lips inspired by generations of South Asian brides, to the intricate hairstyles rooted in African traditions, beauty rituals carry meaning. For Third Culture Kids and those from multicultural backgrounds, the daily choices we make — the colors we wear, how we style our hair, what products we use — can help us honor our roots and explore our identities.
Take Maya Washington, a dynamic force in the creative world whose African American and Filipino heritage flows through her visual storytelling and fashion sense. Her bold makeup looks aren’t just about aesthetics — they reflect her blended heritage, using her face as a canvas to show pride in every facet of her identity.
Finding Power in Personalization
One of the best parts about embracing culturally diverse beauty is how personal it becomes. There’s no one way to look beautiful — especially when you come from many places at once. A celebration of culture through beauty means choosing what resonates: maybe that’s a skincare routine rooted in Korean heritage, or the way you contour like your aunties taught you in the Caribbean.
Lashes, for example, are a small detail that can carry big energy. Whether you’re aiming for natural elegance or dramatic flair, lash clusters offer you the freedom to design your own look — just like culture itself, they’re customizable, layered and full of personality.
For those with fluid or hybrid identities, this freedom is everything. You’re not boxed into one style. You’re free to blend, remix and create a look that honors all sides of who you are.
Everyday Routines, Lifelong Roots
It’s easy to think of makeup and hair as superficial, but when we look closer, they’re anything but. They’re gestures that link us to family traditions, ancestral pride and personal evolution. They remind us that we’re part of something bigger than trends — we’re walking legacies.
Even something as small as the scent of a familiar lotion, the feel of a traditional textile-inspired headscarf or the flick of a cat eye passed down through generations can ignite a sense of pride. And for culturally mobile individuals like Yassir Lester, who brings his Egyptian and African American heritage to his creative identity, beauty is just another way of blending worlds with authenticity and flair.
Your Beauty, Your Celebration
Whether you grew up between continents or cultures, or are just starting to explore your roots, know this: your beauty routine is yours to define. It’s your story, your history, your creativity. Let it be joyful. Let it be intentional. Let it be you.
So the next time you pick up a brush or select your shade of lipstick, don’t ask yourself what’s trending — ask yourself what honors who you are. Because when beauty becomes cultural expression, every day is a celebration.
