Somewhere Beyond the Rainbow: Makeup Inspired by 8 Different Pride Flags

by Victoria Vallecorse

Published Jun 19, 2021

In 1978, San Francisco artist Gilbert Baker designed the universal emblem of love and solidarity that we know today as the Pride Flag. Flying proudly throughout the month of June (and all months afterward!), the rainbow flag is a classic representation of the LGBTQ+ community and the most recognizable.

However, there are over 20 different pride flags that feature various colors and designs. Whether you identify as LGBTQ+ or want to show your allyship, paint the town rainbow with a variety of eye shadow combinations inspired by flags that symbolize different orientations of the LGBTQ+ community.

The Transgender Pride Flag

Did you know that San Francisco is home to the first legally recognized transgender district in the world? Compton’s Transgender Cultural District in SF’s Tenderloin is filled with pink, blue, and white-designed flags! The light pink and blue hues symbolize the gendered colors associated with baby girls and boys. A white stripe appears in the center to highlight transitioning and gender neutral individuals. Create trans flag-inspired eye looks with the Jawbreaker Eyeshadow Palette’s matte and shimmer white, pink, and blue shades.

Jeffree Star Cosmetics Jawbreaker Eyeshadow Palette

Snack: light pink with a glitter finish
Virgin: bone yellow-white with a matte finish
Brain Freeze: baby blue with a matte finish

The Non-binary Pride Flag

Non-binary folks often prefer the pronouns they/them to signify fluctuations in their gender identity—and the Non-binary Flag pays tribute to different distinctions. The bright yellow stripe symbolizes genders outside of the male-female binary. White recognizes individuals who identify with multiple or all genders. The bold purple color highlights the blending of male (blue) and female (pink) to represent genders that identify as a combination of the two. Black represents those who do not identify with gender. The Alyssa Edwards Eye Shadow Palette holds the blendable shades needed to recreate the Non-binary Flag on your lids.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Alyssa Edwards Eye Shadow Palette

Brick Road: Vibrant yellow with a matte finish
Headliner: White with a matte finish
Believe: Bright purple with a matte finish
Beast: Deep black with a matte finish

The Intersex Pride Flag

Intersex refers to individuals whose reproductive anatomy does not fit within the medical distinction of “male” or “female.” The purple circle design on the flag celebrates completeness and endless potential. The attention-grabbing gold color symbolizes the liveliness, visibility, and confidence of the Intersex community. Wear the Intersex colors on your eyes by adding a bright gold shade to your tear ducts and smoking out your lower lash line with a rich purple shadow.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Riviera Eyeshadow Palette

Inheritance: Gold with a metallic finish
Cannes: Rich purple with a matte finish

The Pride Flag for the Asexual Community

The combination of black, gray, white, and purple form the Asexual Flag with colors that represent asexuality, demisexuality, sexuality, and community (respectively). Asexuality is defined as a lack of sexual attraction with a subcategory of individuals who identify as gray asexuals or demisexuals. Demisexuality is characterized by lack of sexual attraction unless there is an emotional bond. Show your pride by decorating your eyes with matte color versions of the Asexual Flag using the Viseart PRO Volume 1X palette.

Viseart Grande PRO Volume 1X

Carbon Black: Natural black with a matte finish
Souris Grey: Deep grey with a matte finish
Blanc White: Pure white with a matte finish
Bougainvillea: Bright fuchsia purple pink pigment with a matte finish

The Bisexual Pride Flag

Featuring pink, purple, and blue, the Bisexual Flag symbolizes different forms of attraction. The magenta shade represents same-sex attraction, the deep blue shade represents attraction to the opposite sex, and the plum-purple shade highlights attraction to both sexes. Find spot-on color matches in the Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol.1 to create a variety of eye looks that pay tribute to the Bisexual Flag.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 1

C4: Mauve plum with a matte finish
B5: Deep cool plum with a matte finish
D4: Primary blue with blue reflects and a matte finish

The Pansexual Pride Flag

The tri-colored Pansexual Flag represents attraction to all genders and identities. The bright pink stripe stands for women, the yellow band symbolizes non-binary genders, and the sky blue represents men. Find these shades in the Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2 and pair together for vibrant eye looks that celebrate the Pansexual community.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Pro Pigment Palette Vol. 2

A1: Rich magenta with a metallic finish
A2: Chartreuse with a matte finish
C2: Cerulean with a metallic finish

The Pride Flag for the Lesbian Community

With a newer 7-stripe version of the flag, the Lesbian Pride Flag’s many stripes is comprised of orange and pink shades, with a white band in the center. The first three orange shades represent gender non-conformity, independence, and community (respectively). The last three pink shades symbolize serenity and peace, love and sex, and femininity (respectively). The middle white shade symbolizes unique relationships to womanhood. Create pink-orange makeup looks by combining shades from Natasha Denona’s Love and Sunrise Palettes. Add an icy white sparkle with Jill Stuart’s Jelly Eye Color in 01.

Natasha Denona Love & Sunrise Palette

Clove (Sunrise Palette): Dark earthy brown with a creamy matte finish
Citrine (Sunrise Palette): Bright yellow with a creamy matte finish
Carnelian (Sunrise Palette): Deep orange with a creamy matte finish
Giving (Love Palette): Coral with a pink duochrome finish
Pure Love (Love Palette): Warm plum with blue reflects and a duochrome finish
Trust (Love Palette): Deep plum with a creamy matte finish

The Gay Men Pride Flag

This green, blue, purple and white pride flag features 7 vibrant stripes that encompass varying identities within the gay community. While there aren’t official terms associated with the stripes, a viral Tumblr post attributed the following meanings to each color in order from top to bottom: community, healing, joy, gender nonconforming-non-binary-trans men, pure love, fortitude, diversity. The shades in the Blue Blood Palette deliver pigmented options with high pay off to show your pride!