In Promising Young Woman, makeup isn’t just about beauty—it’s about power, perception, and disguise. Cassie, played by Carey Mulligan, becomes a different “character” at a different bar each time she pretends to be blackout drunk, using hair, makeup, and wardrobe to completely transform. This isn’t just for the sake of her act—it’s also to protect her real identity. In her everyday life, Cassie wears minimal makeup and a girlish wardrobe, a stark contrast to the bold, striking looks she crafts for her nighttime persona. The disguises allow her to slip between worlds unnoticed, ensuring that the men she confronts never recognize her in the daylight.
One of the film’s most clever moments is when Cassie, needing to blend into a new environment, casually grabs a set of makeup brushes and poses as a makeup artist. In an instant, she becomes invisible—protected by the assumption that a woman holding beauty tools belongs, unquestioned. It’s a small but sharp detail, highlighting how beauty can be both a mask and a weapon.
From her perfectly painted lips to the way she manipulates expectations, Cassie’s story is a haunting reminder that makeup is more than vanity. It’s armor, camouflage, and, in the right hands, a tool for unsettling the status quo.