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NEW DROP
TEYANA TAYLOR ON HER MAC COLLAB
By Eleanor Dunne, 16 July 2020
The past few months have been more low-key than usual for a lot of us, but not for Teyana Taylor. The American singer-songwriter, dancer, choreographer and actor – who’s signed to Kayne West’s GOOD Music label – has not only been navigating these strange new times like the rest of us, she’s also been: recording and releasing her 23-track LP The Album, looking after her four-year-old while pregnant with her second child, and working on her new collab with MAC. Just landed on-site, the line is a UK ASOS exclusive, and the first thing you’ll probably notice about it is its juicy, loud neon packaging. The bold colours might have you expecting highlighter-shade eyeshadows and super-statement lipsticks – but, when such an innovative, fearless duo like these two get together, you should always assume that there’s a lot more to it than meets the eye.
To find out more, we had a chat with Teyana (over a call, ofc), to find out about the inspo behind the line, her thoughts on MAC’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and her biggest beauty tip. Read the interview below, and shop the collection here.
To find out more, we had a chat with Teyana (over a call, ofc), to find out about the inspo behind the line, her thoughts on MAC’s response to the Black Lives Matter movement, and her biggest beauty tip. Read the interview below, and shop the collection here.
Congrats on the collaboration. How does it feel to be working with such an iconic brand like MAC?
It’s a dream come true. I've loved MAC since I was little; I even remember the first product I owned: the clear Lip Glass. I used to steal it out of my mom’s bag when I was younger, and once I got old enough that was one of the first things I bought. So, it’s so amazing now when I see my daughter playing with my line. I still can’t believe that it’s my collection; I can’t believe that I’m really working with MAC!
What was the inspiration behind the line?
My main inspiration was strong black women. With the amazing strong features and skin tone that we have, I think that less is more when it comes to makeup, so a lot of the colors are quite natural and low-key. There was also a lot of 90s influences, and [the decade's] minimal look was definitely an inspiration. And for the packaging, we wanted to do the opposite of what people thought that we should do and think outside of the box. We don’t have to have super-funky makeup to have really fun, colourful packaging. I also took inspiration from the ballroom scene; one of the lipsticks is even called Tens Across the Board.
What was the collaboration process like?
It was dope – I went to the office and everyone is dressed in all black, I even wore all black like I worked in the store! I had used MAC products for so long, and knew so much already, that when I went in there I just started talking and it was like we’d just been the best of friends for the last 15 years. You might think for MAC collaborations that they just repackage stuff, but I physically went there, and they let me customise everything. We literally played with tons and tons of makeup, even with stuff that hadn’t even been released. It was a lot of fun.
It’s a dream come true. I've loved MAC since I was little; I even remember the first product I owned: the clear Lip Glass. I used to steal it out of my mom’s bag when I was younger, and once I got old enough that was one of the first things I bought. So, it’s so amazing now when I see my daughter playing with my line. I still can’t believe that it’s my collection; I can’t believe that I’m really working with MAC!
What was the inspiration behind the line?
My main inspiration was strong black women. With the amazing strong features and skin tone that we have, I think that less is more when it comes to makeup, so a lot of the colors are quite natural and low-key. There was also a lot of 90s influences, and [the decade's] minimal look was definitely an inspiration. And for the packaging, we wanted to do the opposite of what people thought that we should do and think outside of the box. We don’t have to have super-funky makeup to have really fun, colourful packaging. I also took inspiration from the ballroom scene; one of the lipsticks is even called Tens Across the Board.
What was the collaboration process like?
It was dope – I went to the office and everyone is dressed in all black, I even wore all black like I worked in the store! I had used MAC products for so long, and knew so much already, that when I went in there I just started talking and it was like we’d just been the best of friends for the last 15 years. You might think for MAC collaborations that they just repackage stuff, but I physically went there, and they let me customise everything. We literally played with tons and tons of makeup, even with stuff that hadn’t even been released. It was a lot of fun.
MAC's motto is 'All ages. All races. All sexes'. How important is the brand’s ethos to you?
I’ve always been a fan of MAC because [inclusivity] has always been important to me. They’ve always believed in everything in that list. And now right now with everything that’s going on [with the Black Lives Matter movement], I really respect the fact that they’re not backing down and they’re still taking the same stand for what they believe in. At a time like this, people can talk about it, but they won’t be about it. So, it’s very important to me as a Black women, a Black wife and a Black mother, and it’s something that could have made or broken our relationship. It was another level of respect to see them stand with me and my culture.
What’s your beauty routine been like in lockdown?
It’s been very, very natural and very simple. I use black soap to cleanse, and I’ve been mositurising with coconut oil. I also make a lot of concoctions full of my favourite natural ingredients into one bottle, like shea butters and essential oils. And whenever I want to feel cute around the house – you know, feel dewy and just glowy – I grab a little bit of MAC lip gloss and put it on my eyelids, cheeks and lip bones, and it’s good to go.
What’s your best beauty secret?
I drink a scoop of collagen supplement in my tea every day (I make sure it has type 1 and type 3 in it). It’s meant to be really good for glowing skin, and skin elasticity, especially when you’re pregnant. People always asked me how my stomach stayed so smooth when I was pregnant the first time, and now it’s the second time around I’m drinking it again to keep skin elastic and avoid stretch marks. I think it really helps with the glow, 'cos it’s coming from inside out.
Your new album, The Album, also came out this month. Were you working on the collab at the same time, and did there end up being any similarities between the two?
We had to work on this MAC line for a long time, because it’s a process to make sure everything is right and perfect. So a lot of the names of the products are actually from the songs on my last album, K.T.S.E. But the energy has a lot of similarities with the new album. There is a lipstick or a lip gloss for every single mood on there. You’ve got a red lip that’s feisty, and then a darker purple for like a party mood, and then lighter tones for the more uplifting moments, too. It reflects a lot of different elements of the album.
I’ve always been a fan of MAC because [inclusivity] has always been important to me. They’ve always believed in everything in that list. And now right now with everything that’s going on [with the Black Lives Matter movement], I really respect the fact that they’re not backing down and they’re still taking the same stand for what they believe in. At a time like this, people can talk about it, but they won’t be about it. So, it’s very important to me as a Black women, a Black wife and a Black mother, and it’s something that could have made or broken our relationship. It was another level of respect to see them stand with me and my culture.
What’s your beauty routine been like in lockdown?
It’s been very, very natural and very simple. I use black soap to cleanse, and I’ve been mositurising with coconut oil. I also make a lot of concoctions full of my favourite natural ingredients into one bottle, like shea butters and essential oils. And whenever I want to feel cute around the house – you know, feel dewy and just glowy – I grab a little bit of MAC lip gloss and put it on my eyelids, cheeks and lip bones, and it’s good to go.
What’s your best beauty secret?
I drink a scoop of collagen supplement in my tea every day (I make sure it has type 1 and type 3 in it). It’s meant to be really good for glowing skin, and skin elasticity, especially when you’re pregnant. People always asked me how my stomach stayed so smooth when I was pregnant the first time, and now it’s the second time around I’m drinking it again to keep skin elastic and avoid stretch marks. I think it really helps with the glow, 'cos it’s coming from inside out.
Your new album, The Album, also came out this month. Were you working on the collab at the same time, and did there end up being any similarities between the two?
We had to work on this MAC line for a long time, because it’s a process to make sure everything is right and perfect. So a lot of the names of the products are actually from the songs on my last album, K.T.S.E. But the energy has a lot of similarities with the new album. There is a lipstick or a lip gloss for every single mood on there. You’ve got a red lip that’s feisty, and then a darker purple for like a party mood, and then lighter tones for the more uplifting moments, too. It reflects a lot of different elements of the album.
