Stefani says that starting her own makeup brand reminds her of her No Doubt days when no one told her how to dress, apply makeup, or what to do. In many ways, it’s a full circle moment. “[GXVE] was almost like my backup plan in life that I’m getting to do now, but I get to kind of do both [as a singer and creator], which is so great,” she says. “And also be part of this influencer movement that’s happening, where we share our secrets and our tricks and learn from each other. It’s a super beautiful community.”
And it’s just another reason why the new Mrs. Shelton loves her always-in-progress glam room. “Makeup is one of those things that I could talk about all day long and never get tired of it. I love glam. I never like going to the event [I’m getting glammed up for]. I’m always about the [process].”
So what are her tried-and-true glam rules? For Glamour‘s Big Beauty Questions, the mom of three tells us the beauty hack she swears by, and the new tip she just picked up.
Glamour: What do you love about your new liquid lipstick Xtra Sauce?
Gwen Stefani: I had written a song, two years ago now [called “Slow Clap”] and I had that lyric in there (Walk into the room like a boss, slow clap…Putting on a little extra sauce, slow clap). This formula is ridiculous. It does not move. I’m pressing hard, it will not come off. And it’s long-wear and clean, but it also has a shine to it, which I’ve never seen before.
I’ve also never revealed my color formula all these years. I just felt uncomfortable representing a color. I don’t wear one color, but I started to when I came out with the Original Recipe, which is our matte lipstick. It’s the one I probably wear the most because it’s super comfortable, it stays in place and it’s long-wear. I just really love that vintage, old-fashioned kind of matte lipstick. And now those are coming in all new colors.
How long does it take for you to do the perfect, precise, camera-ready red lip?
I could do a perfect red lip in less than a minute. In fact, I never worked with a makeup artist my entire career, really, other than one here or one there. I had a bad experience when I was doing the first No Doubt record, before Tragic Kingdom. This guy came and did my makeup for the artwork and I remember thinking I looked ugly. I was like, “I look prettier when I do my makeup,” but I was too scared to say something. I still look at those pictures and I’m like, “[ugh].” After that I took it into my own control.
When I did my solo record, I let this makeup artist that was working with the Harajuku girls do my foundation, and I loved it so much, I was like, “Okay, you can do my makeup.” [But] I’ve just been very controlling about it. Nowadays I’m the opposite because I’ve met some makeup artists that are so unbelievably gifted. I think it comes down to the fact that the community is so open to sharing.
