Makeup artist defies reality with terrifying optical illusions

Her incredible photos leave her thousands of followers asking how its possible. Photo / Mimi Choi Instagram

A makeup artist has left her Instagram followers in disbelief with her mind-boggling optical illusion effects.

Mimi Choi, 31, from Canada, is a professional makeup artist who can spend up to five hours turning people's faces into incredible works of art.

Using nothing but makeup to achieve her surreal creations, Mimi often posts videos to prove to her 388,000 dumbfounded followers that she doesn't digitally alter her photos, according to the Daily Mail.

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What's a face? 🤷🏻‍♀️ • This is #makeup • A FACELESS makeup illusion inspired by #SalvadorDali's Bronze Sculpture - Surrealist Newton. If you look closely, you will see my features disguised in the black and red paints. This is not photoshopped - I will post a video after. Used @kryolanofficial Aquacolors and @makeupforeverofficial Flash Palette for this piece. This took 1.5 hours. @oakridgecentre @chalirossoartgallery #definitelydali

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Sep 17, 2017 at 11:11pm PDT

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You make me #melt like butter on toast. 🍞 • This is #makeup • EXTREME MELT makeup #illusion using @kryolanofficial Supracolors and Aquacolors. I felt very inspired after seeing Salvador Dali's original masterpieces at @oakridgecentre today. This was inspired by #Dali's famous #meltingclock. ⏱ #halloweenmakeup #halloween2017 #mimleshalloween #meltingface

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Sep 13, 2017 at 10:47pm PDT

From painting hyper-realistic holes in her face, to completely covering a man's face and scalp with a grid of scary eyes - there seems to be nothing that Mimi can't do.

Though many of her photos make unsettling viewing, many of them actually carry an inspirational messages and quotes.

She actually suffers from anxiety and sleep paralysis and says that she uses her skills as a way to express herself.

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❗️JENGA❗️This is #makeup • I spent 4 hours "swatching" all of my @makeupforeverofficial Ultra HD Foundations this way. This was definitely a brain game. Not sure if I got smarter or dumber from doing this. 😵 Sometimes I surprise myself with the things I do for a complicated bitch #selfie. 🤷🏻‍♀️ @makeupforeverca #jenga #halloweenmakeup #halloween2017 #2amshenanigans #mimleshalloween

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Sep 12, 2017 at 2:47am PDT

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Who feels this way when you see fried chicken and ice cream? 👅💦 Painted this long ass #tongue using @kryolanofficial Supracolors, shaded with Kryolan matte eyeshadows. I was baking a cake for my parents and I got annoyed by how my tongue wants to taste everything when I shouldn't so I decided to paint a tongue. Inspired by a digital art piece by Oleg Duo. _________________________________ What are some of the #Halloweenmakeup looks you'd like to see from me this year? ❤️ #halloween #halloween2017

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Sep 2, 2017 at 2:14am PDT

Mimi was once a school teacher, but after enrolling on a course at her local beauty school, she now works full time as a professional makeup artist.

As well as sharing her art online, she also offers tutorials in her local area of Vancouver for budding artists to learn the tricks of her trade.

With her fan base growing by the day, Mimi's authenticity is constantly questioned.

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My chopped body #makeup digitally animated by @theglitch.og 🔪🔪🔪 • Model: @r.mac

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Aug 18, 2017 at 9:24pm PDT

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She's a bitch. 🐕 • This is #makeup • Dog #muzzle makeup using @kryolanofficial Aquacolors and Supracolors. Inspired by the photoshopped images by surreal artist Sabastian Niedlich. Just a normal dog with human eyes, hair, body and 0 top teeth. 😛 Thought this was funny, not meant to be realistic. 🙃 Had to paint something on myself after a long week of working on others, even though it's 2AM and my body is telling me to lie my ass down and sleep. 🐶 #dothingsforyourself

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Jul 15, 2017 at 3:40am PDT

On almost every photo she stresses that she does not use Photoshop to alter her images.

Along with her chilling designs, she also does stunning makeup for brides and models - showcasing a true variety of talent.

And yet, with all of that thick makeup on her skin, she somehow still has flawless complexion.

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CTRL C + CTRL V 👁👃🏼👄👂🏼 • Working on a recreation of my old face #collage makeup from 2 years ago on Maxwell. #bts #sneakpeek #makeup • Assist: @evelynaffleck

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Jul 26, 2017 at 2:31pm PDT

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CHUNKY 🔪 A chopped #makeup illusion done on @eliseritzel for a secret collaboration using @kryolanofficial Aquacolors and @mehronmakeup black face & body paints. • Assist: @evelynaffleck

A post shared by ＭＩＭＩ ＣＨＯＩ (@mimles) on Jul 30, 2017 at 4:55am PDT