How a self-taught artist revolutionized the way the world sees beauty
In short: Before the era of social media tutorials, one man brought the secrets of professional contouring to the masses. From escaping violence in Louisiana to conquering the covers of Vogue, Kevyn Aucoin transformed makeup from a tool of concealment into a medium of empowerment for all skin tones.
Kevyn Aucoin’s journey began far from the bright lights of New York. Growing up in Louisiana, he faced intense bullying and even survived a violent encounter with security personnel in Baton Rouge. These hardships eventually drove him to New York City, where he initially worked for free on test models to build a portfolio that would eventually catch the eye of Vogue.
Aucoin’s impact on the beauty industry was structural, not just aesthetic. In 1983, at just 21 years old, he was appointed Creative Director for Revlon's Ultima II line. He pioneered 'The New Nakeds,' a collection that broke the industry mold by designing products for all skin tones. While contemporary lines often separated products by race, Aucoin utilized brown-based neutrals and yellow undertones to celebrate natural beauty rather than masking it with heavy layers.
His influence extended beyond the vanity to the bookshelf. Through best-selling books like 'Making Faces' and 'Face Forward,' he introduced techniques like facial sculpting and contouring—methods long used in drag and stage makeup—to the general public. His philosophy, often shared in his Allure column, was that makeup should serve to reveal a person's inherent beauty.
Despite his professional triumphs and high-profile collaborations with icons like Cindy Crawford and Madonna, his personal life was marked by significant struggle. Following a diagnosis of a rare pituitary tumor in 2001, Aucoin battled severe pain and subsequent dependency on painkillers, leading to his untimely death in 2002 from acetaminophen toxicity.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Kevyn Aucoin
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