Drew Barrymore talks beauty

It’s International Women’s Day today, and we’re celebrating by looking to the powerful and successful women who are paving the way for the next generation. Drew Barrymore is one of these women. Not only is this inspiring lady a Hollywood superstar, but she recently launched her own beauty line, FLOWER Beauty, which is 100 percent cruelty-free, affordable (all products are under $15!) and high-quality.

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We spoke to Drew to discuss her first makeup memories, what it takes to build your own beauty line, and her favourite beauty products.

What’s your first fond memory of makeup?

I was an 80’s kid, I grew up in the Valley in Los Angeles. Everyone was expressing themselves with fashion and music and culture. People were trying everything. You had Madonna and Boy George… Grace Jones and Jerry Hall… everyone was pushing the envelope and it was incredible. I think that’s probably to time that I really started exploring makeup and buying everything at the drugstore. You could buy a .99 cent lipstick and eyeshadow and just go crazy with it.

What was your inspiration to start your own beauty line?

I wanted to create great products that were affordable and accessible to everyone. It’s a simple statement, but honestly it’s what I wanted to do. I love the prestige makeup lines. Going to that department store makeup counter is one of my favourite things to do. But the reality for a lot of women is to buy at mass. I buy at mass. With that said, I still wanted to deliver that prestige experience. Higher end formulations simply work better. Better pigment, better coverage, better performance. The more you spend in the lab the more control you have over all of that.

You’ve worked with some of the best makeup artists in the world over the  years, how have they influenced you?

I’ve been lucky enough to work with the best makeup artists out there, Pat McGrath, Kevyn Aucoin, Gucci Westman, etc, and I’ve always paid attention to their process: How they use their  fingers to apply certain products, mixing colours together on a palette, layering certain makeup. But what I took away from all of that was to play and be bold and don’t be afraid to experiment and try things.

How long did it take to develop FLOWER Beauty?

We spent about two years developing our initial assortment which was about 200 SKU’s so that was a pretty quick timeline, but we did it. It was definitely backbreaking at times and a lot of work, but I just loved every second of it. Right now we’re in six or seven countries and growing.

The range is all so affordable. Why was this so important to you?

‘Beauty is for everybody,’ is actually one of our mantras. I don’t think that anyone’s economic situation should play a part in feeling good about yourself. I launched this brand at a mass retailers because I truly [wanted] as many people as possible to have access to it. We worked really hard to make sure we were giving a prestige experience at a mass price.

What are some of your personal favourites from the range and why?

For a quick everyday look I’ll usually throw on a light layer of foundation, mascara and a lip colour.

Our Light Illusion foundation has been a major game changer for me, it gives me this gorgeous natural glow with just the right amount of coverage.

Lash Warrior Mascara is an all time favourite as it gives my lashes the volume I need and the curved spiked brush is great for really getting to the root of the lash.

For a lip, our range of Petal Pout Lipsticks are incredible and rival some of the best prestige formulas. If I’m looking for a pop of colour, I love wearing the shade Pink Orchid. I’ll even dot a little on my cheeks to use a blush to bring the look together.

You can find FLOWER Beauty exclusively at Chemist Warehouse.

Have you tried FLOWER Beauty yet? How are you celebrating International Women’s Day?