{"id":3396,"date":"2025-11-04T19:18:25","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T20:18:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/?p=3396"},"modified":"2025-11-06T15:01:20","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T15:01:20","slug":"how-katie-jane-hughes-became-the-internets-go-to-makeup-artist","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/baldheadedgirls.com\/index.php\/2025\/11\/04\/how-katie-jane-hughes-became-the-internets-go-to-makeup-artist\/","title":{"rendered":"How Katie Jane Hughes Became The Internet\u2019s Go-To Makeup Artist"},"content":{"rendered":"
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I caught up with celebrity and editorial makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes<\/a> in L.A. while she was in glam-tour mode with Dua Lipa, and we went deep on career longevity, the internet\u2019s role in her rise, and why her namesake line, KJH Brand<\/a>, is built to teach\u2014not just \u201ctrend.\u201d<\/p>\n

When I asked how posting changed her bookings, Katie didn\u2019t hesitate. Early on, when legacy shoots felt out of reach, she treated her feed like a living portfolio<\/a>. \u201cMy page became my editorial,\u201d she told me, a place to set her own brief, show technique, and get discovered by celebrity teams. She still swears by artists sharing work on themselves; it demystifies the process for clients and doubles as a lookbook they can point to on set.<\/p>\n

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\u201cInstagram became my editorial.\u201d<\/p>\n

kATIE JANE HUGHES<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n

Teaching-first beauty (and the case against heavy primer)<\/h2>\n

If you follow Katie, you know the mantra: skin should look like skin<\/strong>, even with coverage and color. One of my favorite corrections she made to my routine is simple brushwork: press and tap<\/strong> product in instead of swiping it around. And while she\u2019s not anti-primer, Katie believes \u201cpriming starts with skincare,\u201d emphasizing the importance of cleanser, moisturizer, and smart layering over extra steps.<\/p>\n

Why she built KJH Brand<\/h2>\n
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I asked what pushed her to create a line when her career was already thriving. Her answer: Education<\/strong>. Every formula is designed to be teachable and multi-use, with adjustable application for different skin types. Her Soft Smudge Blush<\/a> (I love the shade Soft Raisin) took years to perfect\u2014it gives that diffused, powdery-meets-creamy payoff<\/a> that stays put and doubles on lips with a balm or serum. She also let me play with Precision<\/strong> micro-contour crayons for underpainting eyes and lips, plus a clear brow gel<\/strong> that she describes, simply, as \u201ca damn good brow gel\u201d, no gimmicks, just hold and flexibility.<\/p>\n

Inclusive shade thinking, from deep to fair<\/h2>\n

We talked shade development, and I loved her philosophy: start deeper and work to fair<\/strong>. \u201cIf it works on melanated complexions, you can always shear it down,\u201d Katie said, pushing brands to build equity into product design\u2014not tack it on at the end. Her PD process includes testing across tones and tapping makeup artists of color on the core team.<\/p>\n

Retail dreams, startup reality<\/h2>\n

KJH Brand is self-funded so far, and Katie\u2019s considering Sephora<\/strong> for 2026\u2014whether to debut on a smaller discovery shelf or go big with a full bay that tells the brand story. It\u2019s thrilling and terrifying, she admitted; beauty ops mean long lead times, lots of POs, and real capital discipline. Her husband, Tarek<\/strong>, runs the finance side. As founders, they\u2019re learning to set boundaries, take 15-minute walks, and communicate like a true startup.<\/p>\n

Getting over color fear<\/h2>\n

Katie wants more of us playing with color\u2014starting small<\/strong>. Try a mossy green or rust liner, a single wash of berry on the lid, or a taupe-y contour crayon as a subtle lip overliner (\u201caim for your volume<\/em> lip line, not just the pigmented border\u201d). And her reminder I cosign: it\u2019s makeup. It washes off.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s exciting her right now<\/h2>\n

We swapped innovation picks during our chat. On the list: the new Danessa Myricks<\/a><\/strong> blurring setting spray<\/a> that leaves a soft-focus finish; Glossier\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> ultra-precise brow pencil<\/a> with a built-in sharpener; Violette_FR\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> buildable eye paints<\/a> (that royal-blue moment!); Fara Homidi\u2019s<\/a><\/strong> dual-finish concealer\/balm compact<\/a> for custom coverage; and a new reparative moisturizer from iS Clinical<\/a><\/strong> that makes every base sit better.<\/p>\n