6 Easy Tweaks to Basic-Proof Your Makeup Routine
Photographed by Jason Kibbler
Fashion Editor: Patrick Mackie
Hair: Peter Gray for Wella Professionals
Makeup: Hannah Murray
Nails: Tracylee using Dior Vernis
Set design: Bette Adams for Mary Howard Studio
1/6It was the military or the world of high fashion for Kayla Scott from the South Bronx, whose life thus far has been a study in contrasts. “Right when I had the interview for the Marine Corps, Ford Models called me,” she says. “I thought it was a definite scam at first.” Kayla, 20, who plays percussion and proudly rocks “big shirts, sneakers, and huge pants,” is now only in her first season and steadily joining the top model ranks. One of her biggest supporters is the illustrious Vogue photographer Steven Meisel, whose endorsement has catapulted the careers of bonafide supermodels Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, and Coco Rocha. As one of Meisel’s chosen few, Kayla comes to set with the quiet confidence and innate ability to chameleon her way through 12-hour photo shoots with the energy and skill of a seasoned pro. It is what has helped her land dream jobs, like a front-and-center spot alongside Cara Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn, and Binx Walton (squad goals!) in Balmain’s fall/winter 2015 campaign. But her confidence did not come easy. “I started skipping school a lot when I was younger,” she recalls, of being bullied for her boyish looks and long neck, both assets now as a burgeoning model. “I even tried to head butt walls to see if it would make my neck shrink!” she says with an endearing gapped smirk. “My mom made me feel more comfortable about it. She would say, ‘You have to be who you are. People are going to accept you or they’re not.’ I was always scared of taking risks in case things wouldn’t work out,” she says of her former mindset. “Now I’m like, ‘just go for it.’” And go for it she did. The newbie model’s credits include gracing the May cover of Vogue Italia, shot by none other than her mentor Meisel. “My mom was jumping up and down like she was on the cover,” Kayla shares. “That was the biggest thing for me.”
Calvin Klein Collection tank top, $450. MM6 Maison Margiela top (worn underneath). Laruicci earrings, $100.
2/6“The pinks and the bright shades — those are great. But you walk into a room with black lipstick on and some minty-fresh eye shadow, you get noticed,” Kayla says. Makeup mastermind Hannah Murray crafted her head-turning look using Make Up For Ever Artist Shadow in Nile Green and M.A.C. Lipmix in Burgundy and in Black. “Paired with a tough-looking, bold black matte lip like this, the creamy mint green shadow on the eye softens the overall look a bit,” Murray notes.
Adam Selman shirt, $295. Jonathan Simkhai shirt (worn underneath), $265.
3/6The secret to Kayla’s “handsome brows”: “I kept the shape quite masculine, more flat and elongated, not so arched and womanly,” notes Murray. “This adds to the toughness of the arches without going completely overboard. Keep them brushed up so you see the hair separation.” Try Topshop Brow Pencil in Dark Brown.
No. 21 dress.
4/6“I constantly got teased for looking like a boy,” Kayla shares. “But since I’m tall and kind of awkward looking, some people said I should model. One day I was like, ‘Why not? Let’s try and just see what happens.’ And, sure enough, it happened.” To add a little extra flair to Kayla’s eyes, Murray lined her upper lash line with a black kohl pencil, extending it out to create a subtle cat eye. She then finished the look with a thin strip of silver liner for a brilliant flash of metallic each time Kayla blinked. Murray adds, “It’s minimal and clean, but still very fun!"
Paco Rabanne top. ASOS dress (worn underneath), $135.
5/6“Even when I’m inside my house not doing anything, I always want my hair to look perfect,” Kayla says. “I just got into Moroccanoil Treatment — it leaves my hair so nourished.”
Carven top. Yael Salomon earrings, $125.
6/6“I didn’t use foundation all over her face — just on certain areas to even out the pigmentation," Murray reveals. “Skin should look like skin — it shouldn’t be unnaturally perfect, so I didn’t pat any powder on top. It’s essential to keep the skin very clean so that the stronger elements seem effortless.” She used Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick. To create this mod take on the smoky eye, Murray buffed cream paints in three monochromatic shades into Kayla’s lids, then dabbed a clear gloss on top for a high-shine effect.
Cooper & Ella top, $98. J.W. Anderson earring.
