Exclusive: Teyana Taylor Talks New MAC Cosmetics Collab, Power Beauty and her Most-Loved ’90s Makeup Memories

by Natasha Bruno June 30, 2020

Earlier today, singer-dancer-model Teyana Taylor announced on Instagram that she’s partnered with MAC Cosmetics to launch her very own makeup collection filled with oh-so-’90s flavour. “I’ll always be a ’90s girl at heart!!! I’m so excited to finally share my @maccosmetics collection with you guys!” the 29-year-old R&B artist, who dropped her third studio album earlier this month, wrote in her caption. Housed in mood-boosting neon packaging, the 13-piece assortment is all about easy makeup staples that pack a nostalgic, yet modern, punch. Ahead of the collection release on July 6th, we chatted with the triple threat and mother (who also recently revealed that she’s expecting her second child!) to get the tea on the cool collab.

On the makeup look that makes her feel the most empowered:

“Natural beauty is definitely powerful for me, and I like that more ’90s super-simple look because it reminds me of my mom and all the women that I look up to. Seeing them keep their look natural and embracing their features — that’s powerful to me. I like a nice neutral cheek because I feel like I’m embracing my strong features and embracing my skin tone. I feel comfort knowing that I don’t need much.”

On her MAC collaboration:

“I created the line based around the fact that, for me, less is more and for all my girls who love the ’90s.”

On her favourite product from the collab, MAC Mineralize Skinfinish:

“I love it because it’s something that you can wear with or without makeup. Whenever I want to do a simple makeup look, I literally just moisturize my face, throw my Mineralize on, throw on a nude lip and that right there makes me feel beautiful and glowing. And I love that you can apply it with a brush or your finger.”

Mac x Teyana Taylor collection. Courtesy of Mac Cosmetics.

On her long-standing relationship with MAC:

“My earliest makeup encounter with MAC was when I was about 11 or 12 years old. I found this clear lip product in my mom’s purse and was like, ‘Ooh, this is nice!’ It felt like honey on my lips. Ever since then, I wanted to know more about MAC. My mom always had MAC products in her bag and I would just take them. Once I got older and really started exploring makeup, MAC was definitely my go-to because that’s all I knew. Like I said, with my mom being one of my biggest inspirations, I wanted to be just like her.”

On her favourite ’90s beauty moments:

“My favourite has to be the lip liner. I love lip liner! Even to this day, I always have a good lip liner. Then you had the statement mole. My mole, my lip liner and my lipstick take me a long way. You have that and a good brow and you’re out of here!”

On makeup routines and motherhood:

“I have this whole little person running around the house who has stolen my whole face. She looks exactly like me! Since becoming a mom, my beauty routine has changed tremendously, especially because of the fact that your body changes with pregnancy. My daughter has also taught me to embrace that more natural side. Like I said, to see a little person walking around who looks exactly like you, and they’re so beautiful and so pure, it’s like she’s a representation of me. And when your kid tells you how beautiful you are, even on your worst day, that right there means a lot. I definitely feel like I don’t need much because her opinion means the world to me. She always tells me I’m beautiful. She loves when I wear makeup and she also loves to play with makeup, so it’s like the best of both worlds.”

Click through the gallery below for a sneak peek of the MAC x Teyana Taylor makeup collection dropping online for pre-sell on July 9th and officially on July 14th (and in stores on October 8th):