Fresh off a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination for her role in “One Battle After Another”, multi-hyphenate artist, Teyana Taylor is everywhere these days. From red carpets to hosting SNL, to music videos, movies and makeup collaborations, she isn’t just an entertainment industry powerhouse, but a beauty icon in her own right. Taylor has built a distinctive look that blends retro ‘90s soul with modern glam polish. Her makeup isn’t just face paint, it’s an expression of identity, confidence and timeless style.
Born August 10, 1990, in Harlem, New York City, Teyana Taylor is a multi-talented force: a singer, songwriter, dancer, producer, actress and choreographer. She first entered the public eye in the mid-2000s, collaborating with icons like Pharrell Williams and releasing music that fused R&B soul with raw emotional vulnerability.
But Taylor didn’t stop at music. Over the years she’s become a sought-after style muse, known for bold fashion and flawless beauty that reference both old school sophistication and next-generation attitude. Her artistry spans beyond music, into choreography, acting roles, creative direction and brand collaborations that always bring a strong stylistic point of view. This multi-dimensional career is part of why her makeup resonates: it isn’t just cosmetic, it’s cultural.
Current beauty trends are all about skin luminosity, bold lips and curated minimalism. A perfect match for Taylor’s signature aesthetic. Her makeup consistently leans into:
Glowing skin that looks real, not filtered
Whether it’s red-carpet beats or everyday glam, her looks emphasize a lit-from-within radiance that’s achieved with highlighters, glowy foundations and skin prep that blurs the line between skin and makeup.
Lips that tell a story
Taylor’s lips are always done with intention – defined liners, glossy finishes or deep retro reds that evoke confidence and bold femininity.
‘90s nostalgia meets modern finish
Her own collaboration with MAC Cosmetics leans into ‘90s shades and aesthetics while updating them for today’s beauty landscape, where versatility and individuality matter.
A beauty philosophy that’s about feeling beautiful, not just looking it
Taylor has spoken about makeup as empowerment – something that should make you feel like the best version of yourself, not someone entirely different.
Together, these elements have helped her makeup looks trend and inspire others, not just as a set of products, but a vibe people want to replicate.
Below are 15 products either personally used by Taylor, applied on her by pros at big events, or favorite items from her MAC collaboration.
MAC Cosmetics
Prep + Prime
Used by her makeup team at the 2025 BET Awards, this primer gives Taylor’s skin a hydrated glow that acts like skin with a built-in filter that is perfect for photography and videos without masking her natural tone.
Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation
This powder foundation doubles as coverage and setting product – a two-in-one that blurs imperfections while tying her look together with a soft matte finish. It’s essential for long performances or red carpet walks where longevity matters.
Extra Dimension Skinfinish
For that glass skin glow, this highlighter (in Glow With It) is a Taylor staple. It delivers a multidimensional sheen that doesn’t look chalky or sparkly, just dewy and radiant. This is the product that makes her highlights seriously pop on camera.
Lip Pencil
Liners are core to Taylor’s lip game, especially those that define and slightly reshape lips. One of her preferred shades, Cork is a warm, golden brown that pairs beautifully with many nudes and enhances natural pout dimensions.
Lipglass
If there is one finish Taylor loves on her lips, it’s glossy and juicy. This formula is non-sticky and hydrating, giving a youthful sheen that still feels chic.
Fix+ Stay Over Setting Spray
A celebrity makeup essential used on Taylor’s red carpet looks, Fix+ keeps makeup locked in place while adding hydration. It maintains that live, breathing skin aesthetic without caking.
NARS
Brow Wiz
A precision brow pencil Taylor uses to meticulously define her arches as an essential part of her signature face structure before any other makeup goes on.
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Brow Freeze Styling Wax
Taylor uses this wax to lock her brow hairs in place, giving her arches a sculped, photogenic finish that frames her face perfectly on camera.
Natasha Denona
Eyeshadow Palette
These palettes are used for creating warm, smoky eye looks that pair with Taylor’s bronzed red carpet styles and sultry evening makeup looks.
Fenty Beauty
Flypencil Longwear Pencil Eyeliner
A long-lasting eyeliner Taylor uses to define her eyes. It’s perfect for smoke-blended or sharp liner looks that hold all night.
Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer
Taylor layers high-shine glosses like these that give a juicy finish to compliment deeper liners and bold lipstick shades.
Beautyblender
Original Makeup Sponge
A staple tool in Taylor’s kit for blending foundation and cream products, helping create that soft, airbrushed skin finish.
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray
For long awards nights and red carpets like the Golden Globes, Taylor’s glam team uses this spray to set her makeup without dulling its glow, even after hours of wear.
If you’re looking to emulate Taylor’s makeup philosophy to translate into your own routine, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Focus on Skin First
Great makeup starts with hydrated, glowing skin. Using a luminous primer with a foundation that matches your undertone is crucial to creating a base that looks alive, not flat.
Define, Don’t Mask
Taylor’s looks are built around definition – brows, lips and strategic highlighting rather than heavy contouring. The result is a bold yet organic effect.
Let Lips Speak
Whether you are going bold with deeper shades or glossy and nude, Taylor uses lips as a centerpiece – a hallmark of her style.
Set It and Forget It
Locking in your look with a good setting spray like Fix+ or Airbrush Flawless adds longevity and luminosity without chalkiness.
Teyana Taylor’s makeup isn’t just about products, it’s about confidence and expression. She bridges nostalgia with modernity, bringing the soul of the ‘90s into a world that now values texture, individuality and personalization. Her range of product favorites reflect a makeup mindset that’s versatile, intentional, inherently expressive and uniquely her.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
