I’m one of the select few of the population who enjoys doing a full face of makeup before she gets to her 9 to 5. The other day when I stepped out, my younger sister remarked that I looked like an ‘office siren’. Now despite me practically living on the Internet, it isn’t easy to keep up with all of the new terms Gen Z keeps throwing our way. Turns out, the office siren is the corporate version of the siren trend that took over our feeds last year. Just as fierce as its original counterpart, this trend takes massive inspiration from the ’90s and the ’00s.
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The office siren is who everyone aspires to be—she’s driven, fierce and she has it all. With a wardrobe that everyone at the workplace is envious of, she’s set to conquer everything. The fashion element of the office siren features perfectly fitted trousers and skirts, a suggestively unbuttoned shirt, a sexy waistcoat and of course, chic glasses. However, I’m a tad bit more fascinated with the makeup associated with the office siren. It’s all parts sultry and smouldering but still subdued enough to sport at the office.
Here’s how you can hop on the office siren makeup bandwagon with ease.
The Base
Clean girl makeup makes a comeback with the office siren. The base is always soft and clean. Begin by prepping your skin with a hydrating moisturiser such as d’you’s in my defence barrier-building moisturiser. After this opt for a sheer foundation that has minimal coverage because the office siren loves her natural-looking skin. Maybelline New York’s Super Stay Lumi Matte Liquid Foundation has a soft finish and is extremely light on the skin. Instead of using tools such as a beauty blender or a brush, use your fingers to apply the foundation for a natural effect on the skin.
The Eyebrows
The office siren’s brows look sharp yet fluffy at the same time. The Brow Definer from Anastasia Beverly Hills does a stellar job of filling in your brows and adding a sharp look to them. Pair it with an eyebrow gel that will add some fluffiness to the sharpness. Use the Bobbi Brown Natural Brow Shaper for this effect.
The Eyes
The office siren loves using her eyes to emote and talk. She stays away from pops of colour and loves her neutral hues, yes even for eyeshadows. An eyeshadow palette with neutral and cool tones will be the perfect match for this look. Huda Beauty’s Pretty Grunge Eyeshadow Palette features an array of hues that fit into this aesthetic like a dream. Use a cool matte brown for a wash of colour all over the eyelids and blend it to ensure that there are no sharp edges around. Siren Eyes is all about the sultry wing which adds a classic sexiness to the overall look. A pen or liquid eyeliner will allow you to achieve a clean and precise flick. Use the Fenty Beauty Longwear Liquid Eyeliner to draw a sleek wing on the outer corner of your eyes and if you’re looking for a sexier version, draw a small flick on the inner corner of your eyes.
The Waterline and Lashes
Some of us love taking the dramatic route with our eyes, especially when the eyes are supposed to be the hero for the office siren makeup look. Dark kohl will be the perfect accessory to tight-line your eyes for this look. Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock ‘N’ Kohl Eyeliner gives your lower lash line and upper waterline great definition. Siren eyes give out some intense feline energy, so for the lashes, it’s best to opt for a lengthening mascara like Lancôme’s Lash Idôle Mascara.
The Cheeks
Unlike usual beauty trends that involve going all out with blush, the office siren makeup trend uses a slight wash of colour and warmth on your cheeks and cheekbones without making it look too bold. Use a subtle tint such as the Benefit Cosmetics Benetint for a fresh wash of colour on the cheeks, and dab it on your cheeks in an upward motion for a sculpted look. Instead of choosing a sharp contour, opt for a warm bronzer to add slight warmth to your face. The Pixi On-The-Glow Bronze Stick gives your cheekbones a radiant sun-kissed look.
The Lips
Since the office siren’s eyes happen to be a tad bit dramatic, the lips are almost always on the muted side. A slightly darker lip liner such as M.A.C’s Lip Pencil in Chestnut is the ideal colour you should be going for. Line your lips and diffuse the colour with your fingers or a brush and then use a clear gloss like Huda Beauty’s FAUX Filler Extra Shine Lip Gloss all over your lips.
