Organic alien meets futuristic glam—how M.A.C.'s Romero Jennings is transforming the world of beauty

There are two ways to approach make-up: finding what works for you, and sometimes, stepping outside the borders of convention to explore new artistic techniques. The latter is where Romero Jennings—director of make-up artistry at M.A.C.—shines. His technique has often been described as futuristic, which might be a trend today, but the artist clearly did it first. His take? Paper eyelashes, wide eyes, high cheekbones, and moonlit cheeks. 

The Jamaican-born make-up artist describes his artistry as more than just technique—it’s an exploration of his roots, his love for nature, and gardening, and his appreciation for technology. His style, often characterised as “organic alien”, is vibrant, inclusive, and evocative. As someone who leans into technology to innovate, Jennings is redefining what make-up in 2025 can be. 

During his recent visit to India, Brides Today caught up with Jennings to talk about his artistry and how his multi-ethnic roots inspired his urge to innovate, his favourite trends from the ‘90s, his experience with M.A.C., and more! 

Brides Today: How has growing up in Jamaica and New York influenced your make-up artistry?  

Romero Jennings: In Jamaica, I was surrounded by nature and colours that were so vivid and bright—Jamaican people love sparkle and bright hues. I incorporate a lot of colour into my make-up, in a more understated way sometimes. Nature has always been a huge source of inspiration for me. I love gardening because it allows me to connect with the earth; I feel like I get to nurture something and I see endless shades of green, which inspires my creativity. At the same time, I’m drawn to technology and I love blending it with nature in my work. 

So having the two is a great balance because I can innovate and use pieces for the face like paper eyelashes or sculptural eyebrows—something that's out-of-the-box or futuristic. But nature remains a base that drives my creative art. 

BT: Your style is often described as "organic alien." Do you think futuristic make-up is the next big thing for artists?  

RJ: I think technology is an incredible thing, and it's all around us. Look at how India is growing—every time I visit, there's something new, whether it’s a device or an innovation. Technology is here to stay, and if you don’t embrace it, you risk being left behind, especially as an artist. I want to embrace technology but I also get inspired by nature. Some artists might not be as interested in technology, but during Covid, it became essential for me. I didn’t have access to models, but social media helped me continue working. That period also pushed me to learn a new skill: applying make-up on myself. I was never good at it because I never did it enough. And I realised that it's such a great skill set to have.

BT: Could you tell us some of the skills you learnt while doing make-up on yourself during Covid? 

During that time, one of the most important things I learnt was to start with mascara first. If you mess up, it'll be easier to clean up and move on to the rest of your make-up. If I get powder on the mascara, I just top it with a second or third coat. Another thing is applying false eyelashes. Because my eyelid is very round, it's hard for the false eyelashes to stay in place and it becomes very messy, plus it can mess up your eyeshadow. The easiest thing to do is to cut the lashes in half, apply them half at a time and put them on with nothing else on. Then proceed with your mascara and then your eyeshadow. 

BT: You've been working with M.A.C. since the '90s. What attracted you to the brand back then in the '90s, and how did it shape your career? 

RJ: You know back in the '90s, not a lot of brands were inclusive. They didn't have products for people of colour (like me) with golden undertones. Back then, the standard of beauty was foundation with a pink undertone. But M.A.C. was inclusive—and they thought, 'Let’s match the tone'. We realised some people had a warm tone, some were cool, and some golden tones. We have a lot more categories today, but back then that's what we started off with. This was groundbreaking and I was so grateful to work at a place like M.A.C. because it taught me to cater to diverse clients and gave me the platform to innovate and create trends like the '90s nude. 

BT: M.A.C. is celebrating 40 years, and you’ve been with the brand for a long time. What keeps you connected to M.A.C.?  

RJ: M.A.C. is turning 40 this year and the iconic VivaGlam range turns 30. What I love most about M.A.C. is how VivaGlam lipstick gives back. In the '90s, when no one else was focused on supporting underserved communities, M.A.C. led the way, raising over $540 million from the VivaGlam collection—$140 million from the lipstick sales alone. That sense of purpose drew me to the brand and it made me feel like I was doing something really good. Today, I love that M.A.C. continues to motivate people like me who have been with the brand for 30-plus years.

M.A.C. has always stood for inclusivity, creating products for all races, genders, and ages long before it was a trend. Their customer might have been one audience, but they were thinking multi-ethnic. Today, many brands are claiming that, but M.A.C. started it; they championed it 40 years ago. I always felt like being part of the M.A.C. community, being part of the community, and also embracing the community around us. I loved knowing that every customer could find their shade—whether it was deep brown Chestnut, lighter tones like Subculture and Spice, or the iconic Stone during the '90s “greige” lip trend.

Being part of M.A.C. means more than just make-up. It’s about celebrating individuality and staying connected to a diverse community. That’s what makes M.A.C. timeless—it championed these values from the start, and it’s still leading the way today.

BT: Do you believe in keeping up with the trends or do you prefer to do whatever comes naturally to you?

RJ: A little bit of both. It's important to know what people are talking about, but I also want to innovate. I love knowing what’s trending, but it's my job as an artist to create trends. Back in the '90s, I helped to create trends like the '90s nude. Sometimes I get inspired by the product. I am like, wait a second; I can use the M.A.C. M·a·cximal matte lipstick on my eyelid or the cheek as well. It's dual purpose, and it's things like these that help me to create trends and I love that. 

BT: Do you have a favourite current trend?  

RJ: Yes! I incorporated many of these backstage at New York Fashion Week and London Fashion Week. One of my favourites is the soft goth look—it's such an approachable, everyday way to wear goth. It’s essentially a softer take on the smoky eye, but what I love most is its wabi-sabi essence—it’s all about embracing imperfections. Instead of feeling the need to conceal everything, you celebrate the natural beauty of your skin. This trend works beautifully on everyone!

Another trend I adore is '90s nude, which I also showcased at Kim Shui and other London shows. It’s all about pairing a slightly grey-toned lip pencil—think stone or greige—with muted matte lip shades like the Call It Cozy shade. This combination nails that nostalgic yet chic vibe and is surprisingly versatile for everyday wear.  

Lastly, I love this almost alien-like highlight done with cool blue or opalescent tones rather than warm shades. This could be a stunning look for Indian weddings. Imagine icy blue cheeks paired with a bold red lip, like Ruby Woo—it’s a striking balance of warm and cool tones. It’s like reinventing the classic sunset blush into a moonlit cheeks look, that's perfect for celebrations.  

BT: Is there a trend you hope never comes back?  

RJ: The one where people are parting their brows! It makes me wonder if it is a feather or an eyebrow, because often, it actually looks like there's a scar. I love that scar brow trend though—it looks cool like a tough girl, tough guy look.  

BT: Who’s your dream celebrity to work with?  

RJ: Cher or Grace Jones!

BT: What’s the weirdest thing in your make-up bag?  

RJ: A flashlight! Light is everything. If you have great lighting, your make-up ends up looking so much better. I created a TikTok video with an influencer in Ibiza for M.A.C.'s Studio Radiance Concealer and even though I have another light behind her, I'm holding the flashlight as I'm doing her make-up. This allows me to look at my mistakes and clean them up immediately so that she looks flawless and filtered. 

BT: What is one beauty ritual that you swear by? 

RJ: When I'm removing my make-up at night—I use M.A.C.'s Hyper Real cleansing oil—I massage it into the face around the cheeks, which lightly exfoliates and polishes the skin. The oil is hydrating and gentle, and I feel like giving yourself that light massage helps rejuvenate and improve blood flow. And I feel like my skin looks so much better after I wash it! 

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