The Wicked Makeup Brush Set That Could’ve Existed
Okay, confession time: I’m a massive Wicked fan. Like, soundtrack-on-repeat, know-every-lyric, cried-during-“For Good” level of fan. Over the years, I’ve seen all kinds of Wicked merch — keychains, mugs, even Lego sets — but somehow, there’s still no Wicked-inspired makeup brush set. How is that even possible?
To me, that felt like a huge missed opportunity. Especially for Glinda, the definition of glam — bubbly, radiant, and confident. She’s literally the queen of transformation. So the idea that there wasn’t a beauty product inspired by her world in this way, at the very least, didn’t sit right with me. That’s when I decided to explore what Wicked make up brushes could look like.
Designing Glinda’s Glow
I started playing around with ideas and experimenting with prompts and visuals that could bring Glinda’s personality to life. I wanted something that felt light, sparkly, and elegant — not over-the-top, but still magical. The handles ended up being this soft pearlescent pink with gold accents (because of course they are), and the fibers are cloud-soft, echoing that sense of “uplift” Glinda always brings.
It became this really joyful creative exercise — part fan art, part product design experiment. It made me realize how much room there is for fandom-inspired design that’s actually thoughtful. We don’t just want logos slapped on things; we want objects that carry the same magic that made us fall in love with the story in the first place.
Behold:
Introducing: The Upland Collection Vanity Brush Set
The Upland Collection is my imagined makeup brush set inspired by Glinda’s light, optimism, and sense of self-assured style. The brushes feature elegant, pearlescent pink handles with embossed calla lilies, while the central hero brush is a magical replica of her wand.
Brilliance Made Real(ish)
The process became this fun mix of fandom and design. It made me realize how much storytelling potential lives inside Wicked. We don’t just love these characters; we see ourselves in them.
I’m not selling anything, but this concept was my way of saying: if no one’s going to make it, I’ll just imagine it myself. Because Glinda Upland deserves her own brush set — and honestly, so do we. Hope you enjoy these as much as I enjoyed creating them!
One detail I’m especially proud of: the wand-shaped brush is the highlighter brush.
It felt symbolic. Glinda’s wand has always been a tool for light. And what does a highlighter do? It brings light back to the face. It catches the glow you already have and helps it shine even brighter.
That connection made the whole concept click for me. The wand isn’t about power; it’s about radiance. And I loved the idea that, in this imagined set, anyone could hold a little bit of that energy in their hands.
The Thropp Brushstick Collection
And of course, I couldn’t stop at Glinda. Here’s Elphaba’s broom-inspired brush set — a little more wicked, a little more wild. I tried to capture that “Defying Gravity” energy — something mysterious, grounded, and foresty, like the feeling of flying through midnight air. Dark, powerful, and unapologetically different, just the way Elphaba would want it.
The Bloopers
Because no creative process is without its chaos, here are a few of my favorite “how did we get here?” moments from designing the Wicked brush set. Each “oops” moment brought me closer to what felt right.
The Real Magic
This project started as a “what if?”, but it became something more meaningful. It reminded me why I fell in love with design in the first place — to bring imagination into the real world — with a story I’ve loved since forever.
This brush set probably will never sit on Sephora shelves, but that’s okay. It exists as a love letter: to Wicked, to Glinda, and to every creative who’s ever looked at a gap in the world and thought, “Why can’t we?”
Because that’s the real magic: not waiting for someone else to make it, but daring to imagine it yourself.
