Fab Find of the Week: Kay Beauty
Photos: © Jo Fairley at the Kay Beauty launch
A bit of scene-setting, first. And some time-travel. Because when we launched our very first book, The Beauty Bible, back in 1996, we did a book tour of Britain in Superdrug stores up and down the country – the first time they’d sold a book. We opened ourselves up to questions from shoppers, and the No.1 question that we got was from women from India and other parts of Asia, asking where they could find a foundation.
Our answer was: you can’t. Of course, things have changed now and many brands have a much wider portfolio of foundations, concealers and powders (although in our opinion, they’re better for Black than Asian complexions). Back then, options were almost non-existent; a range called Fashion Fair catered to Black skins, which often tend to have cool, even blue undertones. But for Indian complexions, which generally have a yellow undertone, we could merely point them in the direction of one, slightly-darker-than-usual L’Oréal foundation – and other than that, there was basically nothing. It was a matter of HUGE frustration, for us and the readers.
So, we almost did a little dance the other day at the Space NK launch for Kay Beauty, a hugely established Indian brand, who have 400 stores across the Indian sub-continent. They’re debuting with 13 Space NK stores in the UK, but our prediction is that this will roll out fast, because there’s such huge demand.
Their interstellar galactically famous resident make-up artist, Daniel Bauer, was in residence, and we got to play with the products.
A happy attendee after having her make-up done by Kay Beauty’s Daniel Bauer
We found plenty of for our (non-Asian) complexions, including, quite surprisingly, foundation and concealer. (Although maybe not so surprisingly, on reflection, since Bobbi Brown told us long ago that the problem with most foundations up to the point of her brand launch was that they had pink undertones, and most of us have a yellow undertone.)
Better still, the prices are AMAZING. Probably the least expensive range that Space NK stocks, with prices from £6 for a 24H Kajal Pencil; the priciest product (a fabulous 12-shadow palette) is just £25.
NOTE: so successful has the launch been that some products sold out almost immediately. We’ve tried only to feature the ones that are in stock at time of press, but if something’s sold out, we suggest you make a diary note to check back. Honestly worth it!
Meanwhile, five faves… (NB THIS WAS A TOUGH CHOICE.)
Kay Beauty Ink Artist Gel Kajal/£9. A brilliant, glide-on pencil in the style of the famed Victoria Beckham gel eyeliner, at a fraction of the price, and in a terrific range of shades, from shimmery ROSE GOLD (great on the inner corners of the lower lash) through to ONYX (black as it sounds).
Kay Beauty Lip Tint/£10. Softens as it tints, comfy to wear, in six great shades (we’re crazy for the deeper shades, LUSH and JUICY). It’s got an unusual, but clever, ‘forked’ doe-foot wand, to apply.
Kay Beauty Eye Canvas Discover Eyeshadow Palette/£9. OK, so most of the shades have sold out even as we write this, but we had to mention because these nine-shade cuties are just brilliant, especially the neutrals POWER and OUTSHINE.
Kay Beauty Soft Matte Full Coverage Foundation/£18 for 30ml. Loads of shades here (well, 16, although again, some sold out), all with yellow undertones, and a luscious, serum-like texture which rivals those many times the price.
Kay Beauty Matteinee Lip Crayon/£12. Look closely: the clue’s in the name. Matte, yes, but it doesn’t feel drying, and we love the tint this gives over a lip balm, if you’re worried. Again, we’re drawn to the deeper shades – THE AFTER PARTY (burgundy) and RUMOUR (an even deeper wine).
If Kay Beauty had been around 30 years ago, that book tour would have been very different. But… better now than never.
Kay Beauty Ink Artist Gel Kajal/£9 – buy here
Kay Beauty Lip Tint/£10 - buy here
Kay Beauty Eye Canvas Discover Eyeshadow Palette/£9 – buy here
Kay Beauty Soft Matte Full Coverage Foundation/£18 for 30ml – buy here
Kay Beauty Matteinee Lip Crayon/£12 – buy here
Find the whole Kay Beauty range at Space NK – here
