Kevyn Aucoin: The Artist and The Brand
Kevyn Aucoin's eponymous beauty brand is still in 2018 just as reflective of its founder and creator as it was at its formation in 2001.
Designed and carefully curated by Kevyn Aucoin himself, each product is inspired by Aucoin’s signature methods and techniques which arguably made him the most influential makeup artist of his generation.
Kevyn Aucoin: The Artist
Born in 1962, Kevyn Aucoin grew up in Louisiana. His sister was his first muse and Aucoin would spend hours applying her makeup, photographing her as a way of documenting the looks he created.
While the other boys in my school dreamed of travelling to the moon or winning the Super Bowl, I dreamed of glossy red lips and sparkling skin. By the age of eleven I knew I wanted to be a makeup artist
With no formal training, Aucoin simply experimented with makeup, constantly learning what worked and what didn’t – always developing his own techniques.
At the age of twenty-one, he moved to New York City to begin his career, applying makeup to test models for free to expand his portfolio. A chance encounter led Aucoin to be discovered by Vogue – and the rest is history.
The years that followed saw Aucoin become one of the most celebrated and in demand makeup artists of his generation. He was the makeup artist of choice throughout the nineties ‘Supermodel Era’ and painted the faces of countless celebrities for award ceremonies and noteworthy events. Naomi Campbell, Cher, Linda Evangelista and Kate Moss were amongst his most frequent clients and his work made each client look and feel beautiful.
Kevyn was not just a makeup artist, he was an artist in the broadest sense that could create and paint on any palette - Naomi Campbell
Following collaborations with many brands throughout the nineties, Kevyn Aucoin launched his namesake line Kevyn Aucoin Beauty in 2001. The line consisted of products which were so unique and so reflective of Aucoin’s own preferences and techniques that they quickly achieved cult status in the beauty industry.
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty
The existing Kevyn Aucoin Beauty line up still contains many of the products that launched with the line in 2001. Many of Kevyn’s original formulas have been preserved and continue to be indispensable to many artists, beauty editors and beauty lovers.
In line with Kevyn’s own belief in makeup ‘enhancing, defining and even altering your features’, Kevyn Aucoin places a real emphasis on beautiful skin and a sculpted, defined complexion.
Artistry is still at the heart of the brand with every new product being created with consumers, makeup artists and, most importantly, Kevyn in mind. With luxurious textures, innovative formulas and beautiful colour ranges, the collection continues to grow and is still loved dearly by anyone who loves beauty.
Emulate Kevyn Aucoin's Signature Techniques
1. Inner Corner Highlight
Kevyn is said to have been one of the first artists to add a subtle shimmer to the inner corner of the eyes to create the appearance of a brighter, wider eye. This simple technique instantly lifts the eye, adding subtle dimension to any eye look.
Simply take the Celestial Highlighting Powder in Candlelight on the Small Eyeshadow Soft Round Brush and pack the shimmering colour onto the inner corners of your eyes.
2. Lip Lining
Known to create the appearance of fuller, plumper lips, Kevyn would use flesh tone lip pencils to slightly accentuate and over-line his client’s lips. Before releasing his own line, Kevyn would blend pencils together onto the lips to create the perfect shade.
To achieve beautifully full, naturally plump pout, simply line your lips with The Flesh Tone Pencil from Kevyn Aucoin, slightly extending your lip line if you wish to.
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3. Contouring
If there is one technique Kevyn Aucoin is known for it is contouring. Adding depth and definition to the face allowed Kevyn to accentuate his client’s bone structure and create a truly dramatic look.
One of the first brands to develop a contour shade which combined red, grey and brown pigments to look as natural on the skin as possible. Where other products pulled too orange or too red on the skin, Kevyn Aucoin sculpting products were perfectly pigmented to flatter all skin tones.
For an ultra-defined, sculpted complexion, take the cult classic Kevyn Aucoin Sculpting Powder in the shade Medium and define your features. Light place the product underneath your cheekbones, along the jawline and onto your temples with the Kevyn Aucoin Contour Brush.
For a truly dramatic look, use the Kevyn Aucoin Contouring Wand before the Sculpting Powder for a richly pigmented, intense contour.
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Legacy
Kevyn Aucoin’s techniques are still as influential now as they were at the peak of his career. Celebrity makeup artists, such as Mario Dedivanovic, have inspired a whole new generation of beauty lovers to fall in love with Kevyn’s techniques.
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