INSIDE A TOP BEAUTY EDITOR’S MAKE-UP BAG

IN a world where all women know how to contour like a professional make-up artist, Kahlana Barfield Brown, pictured right, is a bonafide beauty expert.

She started her career as an intern at InStyle, and soon made her way up to beauty director. Now, she’s more of an influencer, and posts all of her newest makeup finds to her 245,000 Instagram followers.

Here she gives us a peek into her beauty bag...

THE LASHES

“I discovered lashes five years ago and it was a gamechanger,” says Kahlana. “I always used a lot of mascara, and when I got lashes it was an easy way to boost my look without doing too much.”

She taught herself how to use strip lashes, but explains, “it was hard finding a natural lash that I could wear in the office but could also take me out for drinks with my girlfriends”. As a result, she’s collaborated with Huda Beauty to create her own set – a look she says is “right in-between natural and glam”.

Huda Beauty Kahlana £21 Classic Lash, £17, Harvey Nichols

THE LIPSTICK

ONE look at Kahlana’a Instagram and you’ll immediately see she’s rarely without a bright red lip. “That’s my signature,” she explains. “When I started to wear a red lip it elevated my look, it made it more edgy.”

The first red lipstick she fell in love with was

MAC’s Ruby Woo. “There’s something to me about matte that’s much more modern, edgy and cool,” she says.

MAC Cosmetics Ruby Woo, £17.50

THE FOUNDATION

“FOR so many years I would meet with a make-up brand and they would present their new foundation, but there’s nothing close to my skintone as a dark-skinned African American woman,” she recalls. “It’s always been so disappointing, and very hurtful.”

Kahlana rotates between a few tried and tested options – one of which is Shiseido’s Synchro Skin SelfRefreshing Foundation in Shade 520.