Beauty

Meet Hannah Murray, Bobbi Brown’s First-Ever Global Artistic Director

British makeup artist Hannah Murray talks about her “flawless but light-handed” approach….

Even on Zoom, Hannah Murray has great posture. The British makeup artist comes by her enviable body mechanics honestly: As a lithe teenager growing up in Gloucestershire, England, in the mid-’90s, Murray trained rigorously at the English National Ballet School in London, where Diana, the Princess of Wales, was famously a patron. “I was determined and a perfectionist. I was blinkered and focused,” she says of her ambitions to become a professional dancer, until a debilitating injury sidelined her at age 19 and subsequent injuries forced her to hang up her slippers for good. But ballet’s loss has been the beauty world’s gain. In her nearly 20-year career, Murray has channeled that same discipline into a skin-focused natural approach to minimal makeup that has earned her countless magazine covers and one very exciting new contract: Today, Murray officially begins her role as the first-ever global artistic director for Bobbi Brown Cosmetics as the brand celebrates its 30th anniversary.

“I’ve always loved the products. I remember when I first bought the pro face palette; it had every color you could possibly imagine, every foundation, corrector, and concealer—even the darkest espresso in 1992,” says Murray—a nod to an ethos that has always prioritized what she describes as “approachability, artistry, and the celebration of real beauty.” Although Murray has never met Brown, the pioneering founder who stepped away from her New York–based company in 2016 after 25 years at its helm, she has long admired her legacy, which she hopes to imbue with a “fresh eye” toward everything from product development to building a presence backstage: At Gabriela Hearst’s spring show in Paris, Murray multitasked Bobbi Brown’s Crushed Shine Jelly Stick in Honey, a blendable cream, on eyelids and lips for a wash of tawny color. This technique—as well as frequently reaching for the brand’s translucent Lip Balm to dab onto cheekbones for a “gorgeous glow”—offers stealth, Zoom-friendly tricks for perking up tired skin. (For anyone still hoarding pieces from Topshop’s well-loved and now discontinued makeup collection, which Murray developed in 2010, those cult-favorite cheek gels serve a similar purpose).

“Ten layers of makeup, that’s not me,” Murray says, emphasizing her attention to subtle details, such as an extra-thin brushstroke of Bobbi Brown’s Long-Wear Gel Eyeliner along the upper lash line to define eyes “without looking like you have any eyeliner on,” and a fluffy brow courtesy of the brand’s Natural Brow Shaper & Hair Touch Up, which creates separation and adds a tint but never feels makeup-y. (“Brush, brush, brush the hairs upward,” she advises.) Murray hopes that this kind of focus will help strengthen the brand’s authority with artists while also speaking to what she sees as the “flawless but light-handed” direction that beauty is heading—a boon to the work from home lifestyle that many of us have adopted in the COVID-19 era (and may never give up).

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Celebrity

Lizzo’s Bold Transformation and Powerful Message Ignite Fan Debate

Grammy winner Lizzo is back in the spotlight this time, not for her music, but for a new chapter on a different path in her life. The “About Damn Time” singer sparked a flurry of comments when she took to Instagram over the weekend, showing off a noticeably trimmer figure. But she wasn’t just turning heads with her transformation. It was the statement she made alongside it.

In the clip, Lizzo spray-painting the words “Bye B####” across the cover of her Special album felt like a bold yet symbolic move. Alongside the clip, she wrote, “End of an era.” The four words reverberated across social media, leaving fans and critics alike wondering. What era was coming to a close, and what’s next?

Lizzo’s body positivity and self-love advocacy have long been central themes of her work, which makes this moment all the more provocative. Several fans lauded her evolution, viewing it as a sign of natural maturation. Others were unsettled, wondering if her transformation changed the message she had long promoted.

Social media erupted in response. Some commended her for calling her own shots in a changing era, while others debated whether this decision was consistent with the fearless body-acceptance philosophy she had long personified.

The Special era was a watershed moment for Lizzo, cementing her place among the industry’s heavy hitters. From songs of self-empowerment to adrenaline-infused performances, she clearly illustrated that confidence isn’t about a stain on a scale. It’s about knowing who you are. By spray-painting the album cover, she appears to be closing a chapter to clear the way for something else.

Artists evolve. As musicians do, Lizzo is trying her skills out on fresh sounds; her evolution physically, emotionally, and artistically is hers to narrate. Whether this moment is a rebrand, a shift in perspective, or an artistic expression, one thing is certain: Lizzo is fully owning being Lizzo.

With an “end of an era” declaration, fans eagerly wonder what comes next. Will she bring in a new sound? A new way to think about body image? An utterly wild card project? If Lizzo has a specialty, it’s ensuring that the world never knows what to expect.

Whether you love, hate, or celebrate it, her latest move shows she still owns her narrative and is not afraid to rattle the bones.

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Celebrity

Kendrick Lamar’s “Not Like Us” Dominates Spotify’s Global Chart for Ninth Consecutive Day

Kendrick Lamar’s powerhouse hit “Not Like Us,” is showing no signs of slowing, spending its ninth consecutive day atop Spotify’s Global Chart. The track, which debuted on top on the strength of dethroning The Weeknd and SZA, shows no signs of losing momentum. Lamar’s blistering anthem has fended off all challengers, racking up 11.4 million streams this week alone, despite fresh competition from Drake and PartyNextDoor’s new album, $ome $exy $ongs 4 U.

This newest milestone only enhances the song’s already historic run. Before this week, “Not Like Us” spent two weeks at the top of the Billboard Hot 100 and a record 20 weeks at No. 1 on the Hot Rap Songs chart. The track also solidified its legacy on Spotify’s Billions Club, crossing a billion streams on the platform earlier this month.

The series, it turns out, has also been involved in a legal battle that continues to roil the industry, beyond its streaming success. (A Model Company)/Duckwrth With Allure Records, Drake Accuses UMG of Defamation, Alleges Payola Tactics at His Expense Previously, Drake Filed a Federal Lawsuit Against UMG Earlier This Year Drake Filed a Federal Defamation Lawsuit Against The Label This Year (image) Drake filed a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group (UMG) the label that allegedly used payola tactics at his expense. UMG has vigorously denied the accusations, which adds an extra layer of intrigue to the current feud between the two rap titans.

K. Dot, you’ve done it again, and with “Not Like Us” still topping the charts and making headlines, your influence in the music world is as formidable as ever. Whether it’s record-shattering streaming figures, contentious rivalries, or cultural relevance, one thing is for sure this song isn’t leaving the chat anytime soon.

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