Beauty

BEAUTY JUNKIE: JHENE AIKO

we raid the r&b up-and-comer’s makeup cabinet.

by Jessica Herndon

It's not just the R&B world that Jhene Aiko has a handle on; the 25-year-old, who had Kanye West, Miguel, and Kendrick Lamar all on her 2011 self-released mixtape, is also a beauty pro. She broke down her routine, from how she preps her skin to what one tool she could never live without (hint: think brows). Want more? Check out our interview with the L.A. native on page 160 in the April issue of NYLON!

Step One: Facial Fare

After cleansing with Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel, the singer moisturizes with Sunday Riley's Good Genes Treatment and Peter Thomas Roth's Camu Camu Power C x 30 Vitamin C Brightening Serum, which, she says, "improves the texture and tone of my combination skin."

Step Two: Tress Fest

Aiko's hairstyle of choice: a fishtail braid. "I'm a Pisces, so it's perfect," she says. "It reminds me of a mermaid." Redken Duo Shield 07 Color Protecting Gel-Cream is applied before blow drying and straightening her naturally curly hair with a Hai Classic Convertable Ceramic flat iron.

Step Three: Color Scheme

She pairs Benefit's Hello Flawless! foundation with Bobbi Brown's Sheer Finish Pressed Powder and uses Urban Decay's Blackout eye shadow for a smoky eye. For a little pop, she'll put "a bit of gold in the corners of my eyes," she says. For her nude lip, she applies Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita and Burt's Bees lip balm.

Step Four: On the Go

Aiko travels with her Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil in Brunette--"the one product I can't live without"--and Eminence Organics Sun Defense Minerals.

Step Five: Secret Weapon

Two tablespoons of DeSouza Liquid Chlorophyll before bed. "It tastes like a plant, but my skin feels supple when I wake up."

Benefit Hello Flawless! foundation - $36

Anastasia Brow Wiz pencil in Brunette - $21

Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita - $25

Urban Decay Eye Shadow in Blackout - $18

Sunday Riley Good Genes Treatment - $105

Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel - $31.50

Redken Duo Shield 07 Color Protecting Gel-Cream

Peter Thomas Roth Camu Camu Power C x 30 Vitamin C Brightening Serum - $85