"I'm all about the joy," says Candice Brathwaite - and she is. From the pop of colour her makeup is never without, to her current fitness routine of choice (roller skating), the bestselling author and founder of online parenting platform Make Motherhood Diverse is a positive force to be reckoned with. Here, she talks to Good Housekeeping about the power of a gratitude and the impact of a bright and beautiful lip.
Who was your biggest beauty inspiration?
"My mum was my first beauty guru. She was a Clinique counter girl for years and always left the house looking meticulous. When I had bad acne in my early teens she encouraged me to develop a skincare routine, hydrating my skin but not overwhelming it with rich textures. When people compliment my skin now, I think, 'If only you knew'."
What’s your makeup style?
"I’m all about the joy. You can always wash it off if you don’t like it! Liquid glitter eyeshadow is my vibe. The pigment in ELF Cosmetics Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow is amazing, particularly on dark skin."
Elf Cosmetics Liquid Glitter Eyeshadow, £5
Fenty Beauty Pro Filt'r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation, £27
What's your go-to foundation?
"I have oily skin so I don’t like anything that hits the light and looks like a rainbow. I’ve worn Fenty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation since it came onto the market. If they ever stopped making it, I’d actually cry."
Lipstick or lip balm?
"My worst nightmare is a nude lip. Colour makes me feel happy and vibrant. If you’re not as confident, try testing the water with a tinted gloss then move onto matte lipstick when you feel ready. MAC Retro Matte Liquid Lipcolour is less drying than most."
What’s your beauty treat?
"I am a die-hard fan of L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil. It’s a little bit of luxury. I even use it to shave my legs."
What makes you glow?
"Doing a job I love and having a happy life. I have a good skincare routine but if you’re unhappy in your job or your marriage, no cream will erase that tension in your face. I have therapy once a week and I won’t miss it. You have to do the deep work; skincare is the cherry on top."
What are your skincare staples?
"Right now on my bedside table you’ll find Oskia Bedtime Beauty Boost, NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex and Dr. Barbara Sturm Darker Skintones Hyaluronic Serum."
Oskia Bedtime Beauty Boost, £88
NIOD Multi-Molecular Hyaluronic Complex MMHC2, £25
Dr. Barbara Sturm Darker Skin Tones Hyaluronic Serum, £235
Tell us a beauty secret…
"I wear fake lashes every day. My tip is to lift your chin and look down your nose into the mirror while you’re applying them. And, if your lashes come with glue, throw it away and buy Duo Strip Lash Adhesive Glue instead; it’s the best. My usual lashes are from Primark. They’re a little bit flirty, but not too much. A set will last me a month if I look after them. I remove the old glue at night, pop the lashes back into the packet and use them again the next day."
Which beauty skill are you most proud of?
"I learnt how to take care of my own nails in lockdown. I’d worn acrylics for 15 years but begrudgingly bought some acetone remover and took them off myself. I hated looking at my bare nails so I purchased a gel nails starter kit and worked tirelessly to learn how to do my own manicures. My salon opened last week and I’m proud of myself for just having a pedicure, instead of going straight back to acrylics."
What’s your biggest beauty mistake?
"I chemically straightened my hair when I was 13 and it was a disaster; the upkeep is incredibly hard. Then I went to New York when I was 17 and saw an incredible woman with a shaved head on the street. It was like she had a magnetic field around her; whatever she had, I wanted it. In the black community, hair is so tied to beauty that everyone thought I was insane, but I eventually found a barber that would shave mine off and I haven’t looked back since."
What’s your signature scent?
"I flirted with Narciso Rodriguez For Her for years, and there is not a Tom Ford fragrance I don’t own; I love Tobacco Vanille and Vanille Fatale. I adore Byredo Bibliothèque too. I'll be honest, they're expensive but I love it when you leave a space and the scent lingers beautifully, so I’m happy to put my money there."
Narciso Rodriguez Narciso Eau de Parfum, from £42.30
Tom Ford Private Blend Tobacco Vanille eau de parfum, £164
Byredo Bibliothèque Eau de Parfum, £115
Tom Ford Vanille Fatale eau de parfum, £164
When do you feel most beautiful?
"After a really good workout. I’ve taken up roller-skating, which has been hilarious. I still have my dips in confidence - I’m the opposite end of the scale to Eurocentric beauty ideals and have worked hard to feel comfortable with my own face. But I’m lucky to have the job I do. I’m here as my most natural self, helping to make space for women who look like me."
What might people not know about you?
"I’m a lover of crystals, spiritual healing and the law of attraction. At the end of every year, I complete a booklet I download from the internet, the YearCompass, which encourages you to reflect on the year you’ve just had, and on the one ahead. It’s about being grateful for what has transpired and what hasn’t - there is often good to be found in what hasn’t happened. Generally, I’m just trying to live my life at the highest frequency."
I Am Not Your Baby Mother by Candice Brathwaite is out now (Quercus Books; £16.99).
Sign up to our newsletter to get more articles like this delivered straight to your inbox.
In need of some positivity? Get delicious recipe ideas, uplifting lifestyle news, and fashion and beauty tips. Make the most of your time at home and enjoy Good Housekeeping delivered directly to your door every month!
SUBSCRIBE HERE
