by Alicia Keys is known for her less-than-beautiful approach to beauty. She stopped wearing makeup in 2016 after saying she was “addicted to it,” but slowly began to get it back into her routine in recent years — but this time, she does it the way it works and is bringing that ethos to her. most recent release from its brand, Keys Soulcare.
This month, she expanded her eponymous skin care line (released in 2020) to include an eyebrow gel, lip balm, cream blush and skin brush – which she calls “MakeYou” instead. for “makeup”. If the brand’s original products were meant to help you achieve your best skin ever, these new additions allow you to take your look to the next level … and have some fun while doing so.
“The beauty of being human is that you can choose how you want to rock,” Keys said at a presentation in early May. “Sometimes you want to be a little more, sometimes you want to discard it, sometimes you want to increase it. And that’s the meaning of MakeYou. That’s why these Keys Soulcare skin color hybrids are so beautiful. Honestly for me. “It’s so special because it means my freedom. It means that in my journey, I learned that I can define who and what I want to be. So are you.”
The four Keys Soulcare beginners combine beautifully with the series’ pre-existing Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum ($ 26) to offer a great makeup-free look (Keys created it herself on the red carpet at the 2022 Met Gala). The idea is that instead of using foundation and concealer, you can improve your natural skin with the serum and then use MakeYou products to add a little feeling.
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When I tried the goodies for myself, I took a page from the Keys book and kept my appearance au natural. I skipped my typical skin care products and just used blush, eyebrow gel and lip balm along with some eyebrow pencil and mascara from my own collection. Although I do not usually wear a lot of makeup, this routine was still much more minimal than I was used to, but it still left me with a subtle glow and color. Keep reading for my honest thoughts on each of the products in the series.
Using Keys Soulcare MakeYou for a makeup-free look
Keys Soulcare Let Me Glow Illuminating Serum – $ 26.00
This serum serves as the perfect shiny base. Apply it as a serum step to your routine and let it dry completely before applying your moisturizer and sunscreen – I think this helps to avoid any glitter spots. I love the hazy glow it gives my skin, but I would not go so far as to say that it is an alternative base. It strengthens my skin, but does not provide any coverage, which means that my (minimal) black spots from old pimples remain in full appearance.
Keys Soulcare Soft Stay Brow Gel – $ 15.00
Next, I dealt with my eyebrows. Although I can appreciate the gel-like look, I have a deep attachment to a fuller eyebrow. So first, I used my own Kosas Brow Pop Pencil to lightly fill my eyebrows before fluffing them with this gel. It lives up to its name, providing a very soft grip. Like most eyebrow gels, this will not make your eyebrows stand still – pull tight after application and you will see that your eyebrow hairs have moved down. But, with care, this gel will allow you to shape your eyebrows and keep them in place.
Keys Soulcare Sheer Flush Cheek Tint – $ 22.00
I used the Sensual shade to add a deep color to my cheeks. This cream blush is made with sunflower oil, which means that it is extremely moisturizing. I love how effortlessly it melted on my cheeks, giving a natural color that did not look “much” over my natural skin. In addition, it is buildable so you can get as much pigment as you want.
Keys Soulcare Natural Flush Complexion Brush – $ 18.00
One of the advantages of using cream beauty products is that you can easily apply them with your fingers. However, I find that applying a cream blush with a brush allows me to have a more even coverage, so I was very happy to see that this brush was part of the MakeYou collection. It is small but fluffy, which provides nice control while putting the shade on the cheeks.
Keys Soulcare Comforting Tinted Lip Balm – $ 18.00
I immediately fell in love with this painted lip balm. Even with the most moisturizing lip gloss and sticks, I feel like I need to put on a little Aquaphor to really nourish and soften my fig. But this balm cares for my lips while coloring. This is because it is made with a blend of deep hydrating camellia seed oil and avocado oil. I used the Berry Inspiration shade to complement the Sensual on my cheeks. The formula is buildable and with it, I can get a lot more pigment than usually allowed by tinted lip blams.
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