I Recreated Josie’s Fierce Look on Riverdale With 5 Drugstore Makeup Products

The news is out: I’m officially obsessed with Ashleigh Murray’s version of Josie McCoy (of Josie and the Pussycats). Never mind the fact that she plays Josie as an unapologetically black woman who is proud of her roots and doesn’t take no for an answer, her makeup and style fit her fly personality. When I was growing up, I didn’t have many role models in the media to look up to. It was hard to find someone on a TV show or in a movie that looked like me and spoke to my own experience.

Riverdale Official Facebook/The CW

I couldn’t even find one character or actress who rocked her fro like me! That’s one of the many reasons why I love the show Riverdale. It isn’t just a modern retelling of the Archie comics. It’s a very diverse show that incorporates a cast that we can all relate to, regardless of what race or gender we are. Every time Josie comes on-screen with a protective hairstyle and celebrate her natural beauty, I feel more connected with my culture. Representation matters.

I’ve been trying to imitate Josie’s fierce makeup since her first appearance on the show. Her everyday makeup look usually consists of a darker eyeshadow, a natural lip, and bold brows. It’s simple but trendy at the same time. I decided to imitate her beauty look using the five drugstore makeup products that I use everyday. Here’s how I did it.

1. The Fuller the Brow, the Better
Josie’s fuller eyebrows are purr-fect. Because I have naturally thick eyebrows, I tried not to mess with them too much. Instead, I used the dark grey shade from e.l.f’s Flawless Eyeshadow in “Smoky” to gently define my natural arch and fill in the middle of my brows. Here’s a tip: Use a small angled brush to fill in your brows. It cuts your chances of creating awkward, unnatural lines in half.

2. Hello, Dark and Mysterious Eyeshadow
There’s something about her purple, grey eyeshadow that is very alluring. I admit that I tend to stay away from these colors because I’m afraid that they’ll emphasize my lovely dark circles, but I have to say I’m kind of feeling this look! I used Wet N Wild’s Color Icon Palette in “Petal Pusher” and blended three shades of mauve.

3. Brown is the New Black
I am a total sucker for a nude lip. It took me years to find a lipstick that was actually nude, and matched my shade. L’Oreal makes a great nude lipstick called Spice that is stunning and lasts all day! Unfortunately, luck was NOT on my side today.I lost half of my favorite lipstick to the bottom of my bag so I had to improvise. Here I am wearing only one layer of Colourpop’s Limbo since it’s a much darker shade than my natural lip color.

4. Stop, I’m Blushing
Okay, here’s the thing. I’ve never been a blush person. For some reason, the rosy hue doesn’t look natural on me. I grabbed my blush palette from Physicians Formula that’s been sitting on my dresser for awhile and blended a darker pink onto my cheeks. Although you can’t really see it, I do like that it added some color to my face without being overwhelming.

5. Dot Those Eyes with Mascara
Now for the main event. There is only one mascara that I trust to make me look like a bonafide diva: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara. While I like to save my mascara for special occasions, I thought that this was the perfect moment.