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.