Kevin Okun Beauty

KEVYN AUCOIN BEAUTY was founded in 2001 by Kevin Aucoin, one of the most iconic and influential makeup artists of all time. To understand the roots of the heritage beauty brand today, you must first understand who Kevin Aucoin was and why his legacy has had a lasting impact on the beauty world today.

The man. The myth. The legend and his story.

Early Years

Kevyn Aucoin was born on February 14, 1962 in Shreveport, Louisiana and was adopted by his mother, Thelma, as an infant. Kevyn is often quoted as saying that "he knew he was gay at the age of six," which made him a frequent target of bullying. Kevyn was considered “different” He was fascinated by the fashion and makeup styles that often appeared in the pages of Vogue and other fashion magazines, which is how he became interested in makeup at the age of 11. He began experimenting with makeup on his sister and best friend Cara and captured everything he created with his Polaroid camera.

New York City

Despite his difficult circumstances and humble beginnings, his passion for makeup took over. Kevyn recognized the transformative power of self-expression and makeup to make the world a better place. He moved to New York and lived the American dream as we know it. He sat outside the Vogue offices with his portfolio until an opportunity came his way.

A few months later, Kevyn became one of the first makeup artists to appear on the cover of Vogue.

A Star Is Born

Kevyn put makeup artistry on the map. His philosophy is that every woman has inner beauty and makeup is just his tool to help her discover that beauty. Kevyn is the content creator of his time and his work can be found everywhere – in critically acclaimed music videos, backstage at fashion week, stunning album covers and fashion campaigns. His work has landed him 19 Vogue covers in 3 years and he has appeared on numerous talk shows including The Oprah Winfrey Show. Kevin even appeared as himself in the infamous "She Got Killed By Fashion" episode of Sex and the City.

Kevin's Muses

It's hard to find a celebrity face Kevin hasn't touched - Jennifer Lopez, Madonna, Tina Turner, Whitney Houston, Kate Moss, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell, Janet Jackson, Liza Minelli, Stevie Nicks, Courtney Love, Lisa Marie Presley, Julia Roberts, Gwyneth Paltrow, Tori Amos and Cher, to name a few. He's best friends with everyone who sits in his chair, which is why he's so highly in demand.

"I wouldn't go to anyone else but Kevyn's chair..there was always a line but he was the only makeup artist in town who understood dark skin..I wasn't going anywhere." Naomi Campbell

Muse

Kevyn single-handedly created the celebrity makeup artist category or the art of pro as we call it today. He pioneered the contouring look and made it mainstream. Empowerment and education were ingrained in everything he did. He was a master of his craft and he wanted to share it with the world. Kevyn went on to write best-selling books The Art of Makeup (1994), Making Faces (1997) and Looking Ahead (2001) which shared his techniques. He was a muse who inspired others including Isaac Mizrahi and viral makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic (Kim Kardashian's makeup artist). However, his favorite muse through the years remains his sister Cara.

Award-winning Artist

In 1995, Kevyn became the only makeup artist to win a CFDA Award. In 2019, Jennifer Lopez dedicated her CFDA Fashion Icon Award to Kevin and Oribe for “helping her go from being a regular girl to being on the cover of a magazine.”

KEVYN AUCOIN BEAUTY

WHERE BENEFITS START AND END

Kevyn also works behind the scenes as an artistic director and product developer, creating best-selling products for some of today’s most recognizable brands. He also mentors future professional makeup artists, as he is first and foremost an educator and beauty expert.

Kevyn is an advocate for LGBTQ rights and volunteers at the Hetrick-Martin Institute, a New York center dedicated to helping LGBTQ youth.

He is more than just a professional makeup artist, which has led to a documentary about his life – a larger than life film. Larger than Life opens with a moving quote from Aucoin that sums up his motivations as a makeup artist. He says, “For me, the most extraordinary experience that I probably have with another person is showing them their beauty, because somehow, in some way, in showing someone their beauty, you see your own beauty”. “You understand your own uniqueness, your own strengths and your own beauty, and you know, I think that’s probably what we’re all looking for, is to discover our own beauty.”

Kevin sadly passed away in 2002, but not before he founded his own legacy brand, Kevin Aucoin Beauty, in 2001, and Kevin’s spirit lives on to this day.