XO Vain Feature + Interview On My Beauty Routine

Welcome to the world of Audrey Kitching. A world where cotton candy hair reigns supreme, Lisa Frank is unapologetically worshipped and unicorns are the only mode of transportation. A world where glitter is forever falling and twinkling in the moonlight and Harajuku isn’t just a place in Tokyo, but a way of life.

As a lifestyle blogger, style editor, model and clothing/shoe/jewelry designer, this chick is basically a modern-day renaissance woman with pink hair. I could go on and on about her accomplishments (face of PETA, model for Vera Wang, LiveJournal superstar, wearer-of-glorious-lipstick…), but I’ll cut straight to the chase. I’ve been a fan of Audrey’s for some time now, so when the opportunity arose to interview the woman Cosmo called “a fashion forward female” and “fashion disaster” in one breath, I was pretty stoked. Because this website is all about beauty, I naturally honed in on Audrey’s favorite beauty and skincare products. But because xoVain is specifically a beauty site with no secrets, I took it upon myself to go beyond the surface.

WENDY: Let’s get started! Tell me: What are the three or four beauty essentials you absolutely must carry with you at all times? AUDREY: I’m really big on removing makeup, so a great face scrub, a natural rose water toner, concealer and mascara! I think these four things can make you look fresh-faced even at your worst. Speaking of fresh-faced…

We always see you in super-glamorous makeup, but I want a rundown of your go-to, everyday makeup routine. My makeup every day is so simple! I don’t wear foundation ever unless I’m working and a makeup artist uses it on me. I start with a lotion or a tinted moisturizer, use concealer where it’s needed, pat on some light setting powder, and then add bronzer and shimmer to my cheek bones and under my jaw. As far as lips go, I will either use tinted Chapstick or a matte lip liner and color in my lips to use it as a lipstick. It’s much longer-lasting and I hate shiny, glossy lipstick for everyday life. It’s just not practical! I then use a blonde brow gel, add mascara, and possibly a brown gloss to my eye lids or a light cat eye with liquid liner.

Your lips are always done up so perfectly. What are some of your favorite lip products? Burt’s Bees tinted lip balms, Rosebud Salve, NYX Soft Matte Lip Cream in Istanbul, Illamasqua in Fable, and Make Up For Ever Aqua Lip in 17c.

While we’re on the topic of perfection, your skin is essentially flawless. Which skincare products do you swear by? I use Origins Modern Friction Gentle Dermabrasion Wash, Thayers Rose Petal Witch Hazel Toner, and Lavanila Vanilla LavenderOrganic Deodorant.

So, you’re a vegan. As an eight-year pescetarian who still dreams of bacon, I’ve got to give you props on your commitment to a vegan lifestyle, especially since it often spills into to your beauty routine. Why is it important to you to be selective about the ingredients in products? If you don’t want to spray your food with Windex or drink poison, you shouldn’t want to put it on your skin either. Everything you put on it effects your health for better or worse and soaks into your body.

It’s obviously impossible to not use any chemical-laden products, and we can see from your ever-changing hair that you do use dyes that likely have non-natural ingredients. Thoughts? I would be lying if I said I never use toxic products. I bleach my hair and get gel nails done. Those are my two vices in life! But I don’t drink, smoke, take medicine or eat processed foods.

When you’re hitting the town and want to pull out all the stops, what are a few tricks you employ to make sure you look damn good? I’m so comfy casual, so I have to feel good in what I’m wearing. If it’s too tight, too fancy and not like myself, I don’t feel confident. I think confidence is more important than any accessory, brand name or trend! And the plus side is it’s free and will never go out of style.

Wise words. Speaking of which, what is the best bit of beauty advice you’ve ever received? The best advice I ever got was definitely to dress for yourself. When we dress to fit in or be accepted, we are acting. People can see right through that. You don’t want to attract other phonies in your life. Be confident and manifest other leaders into your existence, not other insecure people trying to prove or cover something.

On that same topic, we all have insecurities. Is there any part of your physical appearance that you are–or were–embarrassed about? I use to hate my freckles growing up. They were different; they set me apart from everyone else. Today, those are the reasons why I love them. I think you get to a point in life where you realize these are the cards you were dealt. You can only do so much. You can exercise, eat healthy, do beauty treatments, dye your hair, pick your clothing, get braces, but you can’t change your skin or bone structure. These are things we must learn to love and accept!

What about fashion or beauty faux pas you’ve made in the past? Looking back, do you have any fashion/beauty moments that make you cringe today? Honestly, everything up until the past six months! I guess that’s part of growing up, though.

While we’re on the topic of beauty/fashion blunders, what do you consider the absolute worst beauty trend of the moment? Satanic crap and the ’90s on acid overload.

And the best? Pastels, neons, and rainbow reflective glasses.

Combining those pastels and neons.

You’re such a creative person by nature. From where do you draw inspiration? Is it a decade? A city? It’s so cliché, but honestly, everywhere. I can walk into a store, open a magazine, watch a movie, look on Tumblr… I get inspired by everything I see. I always try to take the beauty and see that side of things. Most people spend too much time focusing on what’s not right rather than what is.

Let’s close this interview with a fun scenario question. You have $50 and nothing with you aside from a fabulous outfit and tickets to the hottest event in town. What do you buy? Concealer, mascara, tinted Chapstick, bronzer and a bottle of coconut water!