Tori Kelly on Overcoming Adult Acne, Skin-Care Staples and Her ‘Secret Weapon’ for Curly Hair

Singer, songwriter, record producer, actress: Tori Kelly does it all, and looks gorgeous doing it. But, music and movies aren’t her only passions. I had a chance to chat with the A-lister about her love of makeup and skin care, which bloomed over the last decade in the spotlight, and thanks to her tight-knit relationship with her go-to makeup artist Sarah Uslan. Now, she’s the muse for Uslan’s new skin-care line LULA, which was inspired by the need for her celebrity clients (including Kelly) to have a clear, smooth canvas for makeup. Here, the Grammy winner opens up about the new line, her favorite foundation for breakout-prone skin and more.

Tell me more about your friendship with Sarah. I love that makeup brought you two together.

“Sarah and I have been working together for almost nine years, and she has done my makeup for so many momentous occasions in my life: from doing my makeup the day I won my first Grammy to being there to make me look and feel like my best self on my wedding day. We have traveled the globe together and have been there for each other during the highs and lows. What has been so wonderful is building a collaborative creative relationship, where as I move through different phases of my life and career, she also meets me there with exploring new makeup looks for that moment.”

You mentioned that you’ve struggled with breakouts in the past. Is that why skin care has become such a big priority for you?

“I think that like many women, hormones were the culprit behind the majority of my breakouts. It can be frustrating trying to figure out how to resolve the hormone-related blemishes, so I worked with Sarah and my aesthetician, Heather Nicole, to utilize light treatments and various other treatments from microdermabrasion to peels for help. It was also comforting to know that Sarah was super conscientious about what makeup she would use on my skin and how careful she was to avoid products that might break me out. Another realization was that rather than stripping my skin of oils and sending it into overproduction mode of sebum, using the LULA Potion Serum ($125) helped to balance the oils in my skin.”

Aside from LULA, what other skin-care products do you consider staples?

“I really like Tatcha The Dewy Skin Cream ($68) and the Laneige Lip Sleeping Masks ($22).”

What about foundation/concealer? I bet you’re hesitant to use certain products if you’re prone to breakouts. What works best for you?

“When Sarah is working with me, she is able to make me feel like I am not wearing a mask of heavy makeup. Part of that is application, but part of that is product choice. We often use CoverFX Power Play Foundation ($44), the Cle de Peau Concealer ($73) and Laura Mercier’s Anti-Shine Pressed Powder ($49). In my day-to-day life, I really like using a Tom Ford Traceless Foundation Stick ($89) that Sarah gave me over her LULA Potion Serum.”

What about hair care? Your curls are fabulous! Do you have a specific routine?

“I love trying out new products, and I am constantly experimenting with what works best on my hair, but the one thing I can never go without is my diffuser! It’s like the ultimate secret weapon for curly hair. I have also been following the Curly Girl Method to encourage the natural curl pattern in my hair. My curl had straightened a bit due to heat and color, so now it’s getting curlier and healthier every day.”

Are there any other beauty essentials you’re loving right now?

“Sarah kind of created a lash addiction for me after applying Lashify lashes ($25) under my lashes for various shows and shoots. I loved how natural they felt and that they could open my eyes without using an eyeliner. Now, I have become my own Lashify expert, playing with ‘lash mapping’ with various styles.”

What do you do to relax when you’re not performing or on the go?

“Fitness challenges, good food, video games and quality time with my husband and our two dogs, Frodo and Dobby.”

What can your fans expect from you for the rest of this year?

“I am currently working on new music that I can’t wait to share, and I am looking forward to being able to tour again. I am also very excited about the upcoming release of Sing 2 in theaters this Christmas!”