Evie Kemp is a true beauty chameleon, embracing colour, creativity and change on her own terms. We’d expect nothing else from the interior designer, illustrator and sometimes Ensemble contributor who has written for us about colourful eyeshadow, sizing and swimwear and embracing her upper arms (we truly adore her thoughtfulness, and sense of fun).
Beloved for her maximalist approach to style, whether it’s her wardrobe, makeup bag or incredible home, Kemp is, as she writes on her Instagram bio, “no longer apologising for being too much”. She’s just added published author to her stacked CV, with the interiors book Much published by Koa Press: described as “a journey through the art of creating spaces that are not only filled with character and colour, but perfectly reflect your unique personality”.
That’s an ethos that applies to her home, which features throughout the book, as much as it does her approach to beauty which has evolved as she’s grown.
She gets honest about her beauty journey, from her favourite teen Impulse to being open to treatments and dealing with adult acne – and the importance of always having her nails done. "I do a lot of DIY content," she says, "so I feel I have to have fun nails or I just don’t feel like me."
What is your earliest memory of beauty?
Grandma “putting her face on”, which is frankly a terrifying turn of phrase. If we were staying at their house we’d have to wait for this ritual, and my Grandma would not leave the house without makeup.
How has your look evolved over the years?
I’ve had acne since I was 13 and at 37, I’m on yet another course of Accutane to keep it at bay, so in my teens and early 20s, “beauty” was a lot of frustration and trying to clear my skin up and hide. I didn’t experiment as much as I would have liked to because I honestly just, it was mostly concealer and eyeliner.
It was only in my late 20s that I really found joy in beauty and skincare, so I’m a bit of a late bloomer in that regard but I love to have fun with both.
I like to do colourful eye looks, but I also love to do more classic tonal everyday makeup. I don’t ever do a heavy base, and often use makeup as self-expression more than self-improvement.
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Who are your biggest beauty influences?
When I was younger it was Alexa Chung, Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, Sophie Ellis Bextor (first time around) – so eyeliner, mascara, and not much else. Effortless beauty, but I was just making no effort.
These days I find inspiration all over from more dramatic makeup artists, to everyday makeup creators on instagram. I love nothing more than a real life recommendation, and my friend Emilie is my beauty bestie for sharing reviews and going for a Mecca trawl.
What was the first beauty product you fell in love with?
Black kohl eyeliner. As a teenager I’d always have eyeliner – mostly on my lower lid and I’d run out of the house with my head down so my parents didn’t notice. They weren’t very strict at all on makeup and dyeing hair etc, but school rules said no. In my insecurity, eyeliner was armour and I loved it.
What’s the first fragrance you ever owned?
Technically it would have been Impulse Spice. I was obsessed! It came out when I was 10 so I was peak Spice Girls.
First grown up perfume for me was Jean Paul Gaultier Classique. I wore that through high school – it’s a bit sweet for me now but so nostalgic and not completely dissimilar to the scents I like now.
What fragrance do you wear now?
I don’t stick to one fragrance as I like to change depending on mood and season so I have a few on rotation, including Cherry Smoke and Bitter Peach by Tom Ford.
Hibiscus Mahajád by Maison Crivelli is going to be my main summer scent. I like moody florals, with musk and complex fruity notes. I just don’t really like anything too fresh, citrus or soapy but otherwise, I’ll know when I smell it.
What is your ethos when it comes to beauty? Has this changed over time?
You do you.
I used to think beauty wasn’t for me, then I thought beauty was to “improve” yourself but I’m in a happy place where I now know that beauty is for everyone, and it’s however you want to do it. Whether that’s self-expression or just self-care, there’s a lot of joy to be found in beauty and that’s pretty much my whole ethos. I love seeing and hearing how other people approach it.
I only wish that skin-positivity existed when I was younger, I think my beauty journey would have been really different.
Do you follow beauty trends?
Oh yeah for sure, I’m a sucker for beauty trends. I don’t necessarily take them too seriously, because for me it’s a lot of fun, but I love trying something new and I'm definitely inspired by trends. I do know now what I really like and tend to come back to that but I’m always up to play. I caved to glitter lip gloss after saying I wouldn’t and I’m loving it.
Are there any beauty looks you would love to try that you haven't yet?
I’d really love to nail a proper smoky eye. I know it’s classic but it’s something I never do! And maybe get a lesson or two to push my skills and understanding further.
Talk to me about your hair journey - it’s now blonde, but was red for a long time?
I've actually just started moving back to red again after a year blonde! Blonde was lots of fun but red has always felt most like me.
I've been a redhead for the last 10 years but move between intensities and tones just because I love change. I get my hair done every couple of months, and have an amazing independent hairdresser, Kat Book on the North Shore, that I go to.
My natural colour is a light brown/very dark blonde but I started dyeing my hair as a teenager so I've only had short times when I had my more natural colour and I didn't love it!
Beauty is inextricably tied to youth in our culture. What has been your approach to ageing, personally?
I think because I didn’t embrace makeup and skin care when I was younger, I still feel quite young so somewhat in denial haha. I truly see the beauty in ageing and love to follow accounts, like @and.bloom, to inspire me for now and for later. That being said, I’m a sunscreen obsessive and want to look after my skin. But I want to still be wearing colourful eyeliner when I’m 90.
I’m not opposed to procedures and treatments, I intermittently get Botox in my frown and at the corners of my mouth if I feel like I’m looking excessively grumpy. I want to look my age, but not miserable.
Do you have any daily beauty must-haves?
I’m a brown mascara die-hard and I’ll wear brown over black 80% of the time. I just prefer it for my daily wear. Clean It Zero oil Cleansing Balm for cleaning the day off. And nails, I always have my nails done. I do a lot of DIY content so I feel I have to have fun nails or I just don’t feel like me.
I go to Eva Top Beauty & Nails in Manukau. I live out South and I'm really tough on my nails - Eva is super convenient, easy to get a booking and do a great job interpreting whatever inspo I bring in!
What is your most sentimental beauty product?
I don’t really have one, to be honest. I go through phases but as my skin continues to change I change products and brands. So while there are products I’m loyal to, there’s nothing that’s truly sentimental!
What is the most important beauty lesson you’ve learnt?
Get your brows done 😂. I have always had sparse brows so I didn’t get my brows shaped until I was 30, what an idiot! It makes all the difference to your face, especially when you’re fair haired. Emmie at Summer Studio in Ponsonby does my brows and she's honestly the best, always such an amazing job.
What beauty item or look makes you feel like your true authentic self?
This is tricky because I’m quite a chameleon really but a warm eye look is really my go-to. Victoria Beckham Beauty eyeshadow stick in Pecan is my everyday wear, and blush always.
If you could create or collaborate on your own beauty product now, what would it be?
Beautiful makeup and skincare storage that’s as fabulous as it is functional (I may have already prototyped this – call me!).
Evie's beauty wishlist
Dries Van Noten lipstick case, $65
I’ve wanted one of these forever and now they’re available at Mecca, I’m going to have to get one. I’m a sucker for beautiful packaging and this must be the MOST beautiful.
Caci Clinic Photo Rejuvenation, from $500
I’d love to get a course of photo rejuvenation treatments again. I had it done at Caci Clinic a few years ago and it was incredible for fading scarring and sun spots. Now time has gone on and I think I’d benefit from it again. I don’t know why I’ve put it off actually?
Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush, $67
I really want to try these. I love a liquid blush and don’t really need any more but this one hydrates, ok?
Boost Lab Goody Goody Sun Drops SPF 50+, $45
I’ve been really impressed with the serums I have from Boost Lab and the value for money. I’m on the hunt for a new sunscreen so I'm going to be trying this.
ghd Duet Blowdry Hair Dryer Brush, $645
In my never ending pursuit to try and make my hair look great, I've decided that this hair dryer brush might just be the one. I just want it silky, shiny, voluminous but not frizzy with minimal effort, is that too much to ask?
• Much: A Maximalist's Guide to a Creative Home by Evie Kemp, published by Koa Press, $60
