The New York celebrity make-up artist Kevyn Aucoin is a legend. The make-up enthusiast developed the first nude collection in the 1980s, propagated ‘sculpting’ and was a trendsetter for a natural beauty philosophy. He influenced countless catwalk looks, campaigns and photo spreads, as well as the beauty industry. In the 1990s he was one of the most sought-after make-up artists and worked with icons such as Madonna and Cher. To share his passion, he launched his personal make-up series in 2001 - a legacy of his experience and extraordinary talent.
Beauty belongs to the brave - Kevyn Aucoin was far ahead of his time and is considered one of, if not the greatest make-up artist of the modern era. There is no doubt that Aucoin's technical skills were unparalleled. But his philosophy and penchant for celebrating individuality are what set him and his art apart. At a time when the beauty industry was considered impersonal, he was the first to personally welcome beauty enthusiasts backstage. He also made his methods accessible to millions in his best-selling books - The Art of Makeup, Making Faces and Face Forward. In 2001, Kevyn Aucoin launched his eponymous brand, which, even after his death, still reflect his artistic expertise and philosophies deeply rooted in the values of empowerment, originality and inclusivity.
KEVYN AUCOIN
PHILOSOPHY
ICONIC
Kevyn Aucoin developed many iconic products for contouring, sculpting and highlighting. In the 1990s, he was largely responsible for the sculpted look of many celebrities and top models, including Whitney Houston, Cher, Madonna, Cindy Crawford, Liza Minnelli, Courtney Love, Tina Turner, Janet Jackson and Naomi Campbell. He also used contouring when it was still relatively unknown in pop culture and was mainly used in drag culture and stage make-up.
According to Aucoin, there are no rules when it comes to make-up. Trends come and go, but true beauty is timeless. His skin-care products - e.g. The Foundation Balm, The Sculpting Book and The Contour Duo - are considered bestsellers today.
KEVYN AUCOIN
PHILOSOPHY
REVOLUTIONARY
On a social level, his products and techniques are also considered revolutionary. Already in the 80s, he worked on designing make-up for all skin tones. The idea was to emphasise natural beauty - no matter what its origin - and not to cover it up with numerous layers of products.
He laid the foundation for beauty products that are now considered the norm: Foundations that have a yellow undertone instead of a pink one, as well as brown-based, natural, matte eye shadows, lipsticks and blushes that are free of pastel, or glittery colours.