[dropcap letter=”L”]ocal Makeup Artist and Co-Founder of Aesthetic Artist Agency, Danelle French, has been in the make up biz for over 20 years, yet her relationship with beauty goes far beyond her professional career. With both of her grandmothers being hairstylists, young Danelle would spend a lot of her afternoons at the salon. Her love for that atmosphere led her to becoming the beauty guru that she is today. From fashion editorials to bridal looks, Danelle knows the ins and outs of delivering the best look.
As an industry expert, Danelle has seen the evolution of make up first hand, believing one of the industry’s most notable changes is its inclusiveness. However, Danelle believes the industry still has a long way to go and as apart of that journey, Aesthetic Artist Agency was established, where all creatives signed are capable of working with various skin tones and hair textures.
I had a chance to get to know the beauty OG and see what treasures she kept in her makeup kit. Check out Danelle’s top 10 go-to-products and where you can find them below!
1. Glo Skin Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer
Danelle believes good makeup starts with good skin. “I always use a lightweight oil-free moisturizer. Make-up on dry skin is never appealing,” says Danelle. Prepping the skin is key for getting the best finish and The Glo Skin Beauty Oil Free Moisturizer has made Danelle’s top 10.
2. Glo Skin Foundation
Shades, Shades, Shades! If there isn’t a good shade variety, it’s not a go. Danelle loves Glo Skin’s formula as well as their shade range. “All of my foundations are from Glow Skin. I use their foundation exclusively because it has a wide range of colors, which I think is the absolute most important thing when using a foundation brand because you want to be able to accommodate everyone and it also photographs really beautifully. When it comes to foundation you always want to have several different finish options. You want to have several different coverage options. This is is why I love Glow Skin,” says Danelle. She uses different formulas for different finishes, but Glo Skin Beauty Foundation is for sure her foundation go to!
3. L’Oreal Telescopic in Carbon Black Masacara
Danelle has tried just about every mascara under the sun, from high end to drugstore, and The L’Oreal Telescopic Mascara has proven to be the best! “It’s always my go to, I’ve tried all the fancies ones, but I always go back to this one. Honestly, when you’re working as a makeup artist and buying things like mascara all the time, dropping 20, 30 or 40 dollars per mascara can add up after a while. Cost aside this is a mascara that I’ve found works really well,” says Danelle. You don’t always have to break the bank to get the best possible outcome. Save your coins and serve a look!
4. Pat McGrath Labs PermaGel Eyeliner Pencil
Looking for liner? Well, look no further. Pat McGrath’s PermaGel liner is Danelle’s latest liner obsession! From edgy to clean looks, this liner delivers every time and the formula glides on like butter. “I’m not a lover of liquid eyeliner, I usually stick with pencil liners and it’s just a personal preference, but I’m pretty obsessed with the Pat McGrath liner at the moment,” says Danelle. This is another golden find in Danelle’s Kit!
5. Kat Von D Makeup Brushes
Brushes are key to the performance of the products. Some of Danelle’s favorite brushes are from KVD Beauty, that are great for sculpting the face. “I really love, specifically with their foundation and concealer brushes, how they’re contoured because they really work around the contours of the face,” says Danelle.
6. Milk Makeup Lip & Cheek Duo (Cream Blush)
Blushes come in all shapes and sizes, or should I say formulas. Cream, liquid, or powder; pick your poison. Cream happens to be one of Danelle’s favorite, Milk Makeup’s Lip & Cheek Duo in particular. This cream blush can also be used as a tinted lip balm, killing two birds with one stone! ” I love giving that really dewy, hydrated skin look and cream blushed give a softer blush look that I love!” says Danelle.
7. Glo Skin Beauty Shimmer Brick in Gleam
A nice shimmer or a natural glow can be achieved using the Glo Skin Beauty Shimmer Brick in Gleam. This highlight is a personal favorite for Danelle, once again trying all kinds of highlight, but always going back to this treasure! “I haven’t found any other highlighter that gives the same effect as this one does, it gives a more dewy, natural glow,” says Danelle.
8. PAT McGrath Matte Trance Lipstick
Danelle describes herself as a lipstick junkie which is why there is no surprise that her last three faves are all lip products! I can’t help but agree that lipsticks are just one of those things you just can’t get enough of. The Pat McGrath Labs Matte Lip Trance is sure to be found in Danelle’s kit!
9. Tom Ford Lip Color
Tom Ford, known for fashion, also carries a high end line of beauty products including luxury lip colors with a great formula. The Tom Ford Lip Colors are one of Danelle’s favorites!
10. Urban Decay Vice Lipstick
Last, but not least, Urban Decay’s Satin Finish Vice Lipsticks! Known for their Naked Shadow Palettes, Urban Decay is a longstanding brand with a variety of beauty products! It’s no surprise this brand made it into Danelle’s top 10!
