There's something about Kelly Rowland that's so engaging. I'm not exaggerating either — she's sitting right in front of me and she's just lovely. Rowland is gorgeous, for one, but the energy she emulates is inspiring. We're sitting at Ulta Beauty's Breast Cancer Awareness event, a special day hosted by the store to encourage all lovers of beauty to come together and support breast cancer research. Rowland is hosting the event because it's a topic that's near and dear to her heart.
The singer tells me that she lost a very close friend to breast cancer, which is why she feels a responsibility to talk about the issue and make it a comfortable topic of conversation. "I think it’s important that we’re aware because of the fact that there’s so much knowledge right at our fingertips," Rowland tells me. "[And yet] we’ll be so busy searching for the next trend or whatever, [when] we should really know what’s going on with our bodies."
So how do we begin to address the topic in our everyday lives? "I would say become knowledgeable about it. Know as a woman, what’s going on with your body. I’d say to ask questions," she tells me. "As soon as you get people talking and as soon as you get them asking questions, that’s a plus."
I couldn't have an interview with Rowland at Ulta Beauty without picking her brain about makeup. Much to my excitement, the musical beauty, who recently teased her latest single, "Conceited," decided to dish not only about her favorite beauty product, but also the one makeup trend she wishes would just stay in the past.
"Oh god!...I remember the lipstick, like there was this black lip liner that everyone had — I don’t want that to come back." She goes on to say that she was, however, a fan of the minimal makeup that was popular in the '90s.
"Maybe like the fact that it was bare...like it wasn’t a whole bunch of makeup in the ‘90s. People would throw on a red lip, or some eyeliner on, but it was pretty neutral."
The former Destiny's Child singer also told me about her favorite beauty product of the moment. "My favorite beauty product right now would probably have to be this Retinol Reform, by my facialist Shani Darden."
Resurface by Shani Darden Retinol Reform, $95, shanidarden.com
"I remember after having my son, my skin changed. I’m sure [it was] hormones and everything else, but after that, after I saw her, it was like night and day," she gushes. "I know that sounds dramatic...but it [is] literally my favorite product, right now."
Of course, old makeup trends and products from other brands aren't the only beauty things on Rowland's mind. The singer is currently working on launching her very own beauty line, For All Created Equal. Along with her makeup artist and friend Sheika Daley, this new line will cater towards women of color.
"I was telling her just different stories about you know, where I saw makeup going and especially for women of color, because I feel like it can always be a little off for us. She just felt the same way and [that's why] we’re starting it," Rowland tells me. You'll be seeing more of her new makeup later this year!
Ulta Beauty is a proud partner of the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF). To learn more about how you can support, click here.
Image: Shani Darden
