Snooping through the kit.
I’m a notoriously nosy person when it comes to beauty products. I want to know whether you double cleanse at night, how often you wash your hair and exactly what you’re using. I want to know if there’s some special facial tool or pair of tweezers that have (hyperbole warranted) changed your life.
In short, I adore products. This is why I’ve asked some of our favourite Australian beauty experts to share the ‘top three’ they can’t live without. The scope is broad – it can genuinely be anything, as long as they’re the three they value the most.
Want to snoop inside the beauty regimes of other creatives? Head here.
Joining us this week is Australian makeup artist, Kaydee Kyle-Taylor, AKA I Think She a Freak. A proud First Nations woman, Kaydee’s interest in makeup grew from her love of art and storytelling. “I come from a background in visual artistry, which is deeply rooted in both my Aboriginal and Māori cultures, so working with colour, texture, and storytelling has always been second nature,” she tells me.
“I’ve always used makeup, along with fashion, as a personal form of expression. It felt inevitable, like the next canvas I was meant to work on.” Her passion became a fully-fledged career, one which saw her working regularly backstage at Australian Fashion Week and MFW, gracing an iconic Vogue cover, and making the move to New York City to pursue opportunities.https://www.instagram.com/p/DKdYgeKoz3v/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ffashionjournal.com.au&rp=%2Fbeauty%2Ftop-three-kaydee-mua%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A0%2C%22os%22%3A3791%2C%22ls%22%3A2410%2C%22le%22%3A3740%7D
Since relocating eight months ago, Kaydee has been busy establishing herself as an international makeup artist and soaking up the new scene. “Being immersed in the US beauty industry, particularly in a place as culturally rich as NYC, has given me the opportunity to closely study how diversity is not only acknowledged but actively celebrated and marketed to with intention,” she says.
It’s the perfect playground to hone her style, which she describes as “subjective, empowering and freaky.” To clarify, “”Freaky doesn’t mean messy, it means to be free, unapologetically original and embracing your differences. I lean into beauty that pushes boundaries.” Having seen glimpses of Kaydee’s colourful makeup kit online, we had to know the top three products she swears by.
Product one: Fashion Fair Set It Loose Powders
https://www.instagram.com/p/DGONXRypCxn/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ffashionjournal.com.au&rp=%2Fbeauty%2Ftop-three-kaydee-mua%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A1%2C%22os%22%3A3792.0000000000005%2C%22ls%22%3A2410%2C%22le%22%3A3740%7D
How did you first discover this product?
I had the opportunity to work with Fashion Fair products on a recent magazine shoot for Afropolitain. It was such a full-circle moment, as Fashion Fair is a Black-owned legacy brand founded by two powerhouse entrepreneurs, Desiree Rogers and Cheryl Mayberry McKissack. Their vision for creating luxurious, high-performance products specifically for deeper skin tones is still very necessary today.
What is it, what does it do and why do you love it?
While I loved working with the full range, it was the loose setting powders that really stood out. They left the skin looking airbrushed but still alive — no dulling, no flatness. On medium to deep complexions, a lot of setting powders can mute the skin’s natural radiance, but Fashion Fair’s powders enhanced it. They gave this beautiful sheer glow with a soft velvet finish that held up under studio lighting and still looked skin-like. It felt like the perfect balance between performance and respect for the richness of the skin tone.
Who would you recommend it to and where can you find it?
I’d recommend all artists familiarise themselves with more black-owned brands that do extremely well in complexion products. Within the US you can shop it online or at select Sephora stores. Outside the US, they ship internationally via their website.
Product two: Laneige lip balms
https://www.instagram.com/p/Ctt30hcuRi4/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ffashionjournal.com.au&rp=%2Fbeauty%2Ftop-three-kaydee-mua%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A2%2C%22os%22%3A3793%2C%22ls%22%3A2410%2C%22le%22%3A3740%7D
How did you first discover this product?
I actually discovered the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask by doing what any sister does – stealing it from my sister’s skincare stash. I tried it once and instantly understood why she was obsessed. The Laneige Glowy Balm, on the other hand, was a happy accident. My cousin came to visit me in New York back in January, left hers behind and… let’s just say it’s found its true forever home with moi.
What is it, what does it do and why do you love it?
The Sleeping Mask is great for overnight but I actually use this anytime of the day, and over the top of my lipsticks and liners. I’ll carry the Glowy Balm with me and apply it throughout the day, it’s a lot more lightweight but still gives great shine and hydration. It’s become a non-negotiable for me. Whether I’m prepping clients’ lips or just needing my own to come back to life, it always eats. In fact, you almost want to eat it because it smells incredible too.
Where can you find it?
From Sephora, Ulta, Mecca… or your little sister’s skincare bag.
Product three: Travel-sized makeup minis
https://www.instagram.com/p/DAKnUv1vLg3/embed/?cr=1&v=14&wp=1080&rd=https%3A%2F%2Ffashionjournal.com.au&rp=%2Fbeauty%2Ftop-three-kaydee-mua%2F#%7B%22ci%22%3A3%2C%22os%22%3A8154.999999999999%2C%22ls%22%3A2410%2C%22le%22%3A3740%7D
How did you first discover them?
I know it’s not one product, but I started leaning more into travel-sized makeup products when I was building out my artist kit and needed to maximise space without sacrificing quality. Then, while traveling for work (and let’s be honest, carrying makeup on-the-go for touch ups), I realised minis weren’t just practical, they were essential. Think mini setting sprays, blushes, lipsticks, powders. Laura Mercier mini translucent powder or the Hourglass HD powder live in both my kit and personal makeup stash.
Why do you love them?
Again, they’re great for on-the-go and fit snug into my full pro kit. It saves space and it’s budget friendly, as it also gives me the chance to ‘try before I buy’. Plus, they remind me of the Coles mini shoppers, super cute.
Where can you find it?
Sephora, Mecca and Adore Beauty stock a great range of minis.
Keep up with Kaydee here.