BEAUTY BY BALDWIN INTERVIEW: KINSHASA HUNTER, BEAUTY PRO
Kinshasa Hunter is forging a trail of platform-based beauty work that sheds light on diverse skin-types, while giving beauty a much-needed fresh face and perspective.
Black beauty is an anomaly in the luxury market. Often, the very tastemakers and arbiters go unnoticed — that’s including poor marketing and, misappropriation, which seems to be a fledging trend in the industry.
Kinshasa Hunter is here to change that. With over a decade of experience in makeup on the freelance and corporate side, she is on a mission to educate the naysayers who believe the Black beauty experience is a relic of the past.
Her credits include: Vogue, Cosmopolitan, The Wall Street Journal, People Magazine, and The HuffPost — and that’s just to name a few.
Below, she answers some important and prevalent questions about the industry, it’s promotional efforts towards Black consumers, and her platform of empowerment through beauty, even during the pandemic.
BALDWIN | Since the onset of Covid-19, what are the biggest changes in makeup trends for Black women and men?
KH | As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, there are very few reasons to go above and beyond, when it comes to makeup application. The need for full glam has shifted to a need for quick everyday looks that are perfect for zoom chats and virtual calls.
Clients are finally finding extra time for skincare and there has been an extreme focus on #selfcare which stemmed from the extra time spent at home over the past few months.
BALDWIN | What beauty products are especially necessary for Black women and men to help maintain a healthy balance, now dealing with quarantines and lockdowns?
KH | Skincare has always been a struggle in the Black community. Many Black clients feel they do not have the extra time or expendable cash to spend on skincare that speaks directly to their issues and concerns.
We now have plenty of extra-time so I have made it a point to curate lists of budget-friendly products that are easy to use and easily accessible. Cleanser, moisturizer, and eye creams are a good place to start when creating a daily skincare routine.
BALDWIN | As the seasons begin to change and we enter colder climates, what are some good transition ideas and tips to keep in mind when purchasing products?
KH | Colder climates often dry out Black skin so hydration is key! Now is a great time to add both a serum and a facial oil to your routine. Serum will drive your moisturizer deep into the skin while the facial oil will seal it in. And don’t forget the SPF!
The sun is just as strong in the winter as it is in the summer and even Black skin needs to be protected. Gone are the days of “Black people don’t need sunscreen” as this is the leading result for pigmentation which is one of the biggest concerns as it relates to skin tone and texture.
BALDIWN | Let’s talk about your books, you have two! How can readers employ the techniques in your book post-pandemic?
KH | Yes! I created 2 books to empower my clients through beauty during the pandemic. My first book “Everyday Makeup Quick Tips and Tricks” was inspired by my One on One Virtual Beauty Courses. Think of it as a textbook for the course. This e-book is packed with easy, quick tips and tricks for the everyday woman. It’s great for clients who just want to achieve a quick look for a zoom chat or local social distancing event.
My second book is all about products! All my clients love to take snapshots and create shopping lists based on the products that I use during our appointments. This book is a complete guide to every single product that I use in my professional makeup kit. The cosmetics industry is super vast and can be very intimidating. I have done all the dirty work it takes to find tried and true products that stand the test of time — heat, humidity, and precipitation.
BALDWIN | You’re now looking into bringing more diversity into the beauty spectrum on a corporate level. Why is that needed now, more than ever?
KH | I am currently working to partner with brands that speak directly to Black cultural goals and experiences as it relates to beauty and skincare. It is important that we see ourselves in not only marketing and advertising but in the research and development stage as well. Too often brands use the term “for all skin tones or for all skin types.” We are not looking for a one size fits all approach here.
It is my goal to challenge corporate beauty and skincare companies to get away from this idea of “you can use it too.” I would like to instead encourage them to create products specifically for us by addressing our needs as it relates to shade range, ingredients, price point, marketing, and even accessibility.
Often products that claim to include us are not our shades, contain alcohol which is not good for Black hair and skin, have a high price point, little marketing, and have no inventory in big box stores and local drug stores. Now is the time for change, in all areas including Beauty and Cosmetics.
We had Kinshasa curate a list of Black-owned beauty products that are great for our skin. Look below:
