Your foundation might survive brunch, but at sunrise in Grenada—when feathers, sequins, and soca fill the streets—Carnival makeup has to last until the next sunrise. That kind of staying power is no accident. It’s the work of Caribbean makeup artists like Grenada’s Tanie Layne, who books up a year in advance for Spicemas, the island’s 12-day celebration, where Carnival Tuesday is the main event.
“Many of them are repeat customers,” says the self-taught artist, whose clients include Real Housewives of Atlanta star Porsha Williams, soca icons Destra Garcia and Alison Hinds, and publicist Yvette Noel-Schure (yes, Beyoncé’s publicist). This year, she’ll see about 60 people over just a few days, and around 30 percent of her annual income comes from Carnival season.
