X Factor 2014 Final: Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s Make-Up Artist Defends ‘Pink Eye’ - EXCLUSIVE

She received a mixed response when she showcased Cheryl Fernandez-Versini’s The X Factor final make-up.

But Chezza’s personal make-up artist has defended the star’s controversial ‘pink eye,’ saying she wanted to ‘push the boundaries.’

Despite a barrage of criticism on Twitter, celebrity MUA Karin Darnell told us that the 31-year-old’s beauty look was actually BETTER received than she expected.

“I loved it! I thought 90 per cent of people would hate it and 10 per cent would love it, but actually 70 per cent of people loved it and 30 per cent of people hated it!” she told us at an exclusive make-up masterclass in central London.

Mum-of-two Karin added that the reason she went overboard with the pink eyeshadow is because she wanted to give Cheryl a ‘modern’ look for the final.

“The reason why we chose it is because Cheryl’s dress was quite boring and on the catwalk, it had a smokey eye with it,” she said.

“We thought it would look too old-fashioned if we teamed the dress with matching lips and smokey eyes [so] we wanted to make it more modern.”

Karin, who’s worked with Jessie J and Rihanna in the past, also suggested that it was a joint effort between herself and the acclaimed X Factor judge.

“Make-up artistry is a two-way street. [My clients] aren’t models, they’re real people ready to push the boundaries,” she said.

“So what if people don’t like it? Go outside of your comfort zone!”

As much as we admired Cheryl’s X Factor finale beauty look, some joked that she resembled a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle and Rimmer from Red Dwarf.

What do you think? Let us know in the comments below.

[X Factor judges pull out all the stops for glam final]

[See ALL the X Factor looks]