Russh Magazine

Kirsten Kjaer Weis does organic skincare with a luxury feel. The New Yorker’s eponymous line was born of popular demand: refillable, organic and naturally certified, it doesn’t let down in the design stakes thanks to the help of Marc Atlan of Comme des Garçons fame. RUSSH talks to Kristen Kjaer Weis about Bonnie Prince Billy, bringing your look back to basics and following your bliss.

RUSSH: How – and when – did you catch your break in the industry?
I have worked for 20 years as a makeup artist. Initially, I went to a great makeup school in Paris called Christian Chauveau and got ‘my break’ starting right after graduation working in Europe, mainly Scandinavia, but started working on much bigger jobs once I moved to the New York 13 years ago.

Describe your signature look...
Natural/nude skin with a modern twist, like an off colour on the eyes or lip.

What’s the one piece of advice you wish you were given earlier?
Follow your intuition; it’s your strongest ally.

What are your favourite products to work with?
Creamy textures, like cream blush, balms, etc.

Best trick of the trade?
Keep the skin alive, let it be seen, don’t cover it up like a mask or matte it down completely. It ages and looks dated in my opinion.

Best beauty advice you were ever given?
Good skin comes from the inside out. Diet, fresh green juices, water. It makes a difference.

What gap did you see in the market that you wanted to fill with Kaja Weis?
A healthy/green product on the inside with a luxurious outside. There was a gap in the market for the combination.

Do you see a trend towards women wanting a more organic list of ingredients?
Yes, I got it all the time working as a make-up artist, women asking for all natural products with no artificial ingredients, plus there are more and more skin care lines that are organic on the market.

The best advice you can give?
Educate yourself, it’s not impossible, there is so much information online and out there, it’s your body, your health.

Product you couldn’t live without?
Chapstick, now I use Kjaer Weis Dream State Lip Tint, it has a lot of moisture and a hint of colour but if it’s extra cold, I will use Lavera’s chapstick (German Natural brand) as well.

What’s inspiring your work at the moment?
Always colour and texture, meaning a colour I will come across, could be anywhere in art, clothes, nature, movies. That together with perfecting texture to being the most creamy/light/silky and thereby in my opinion modern.

First fragrance you ever bought?
I think Anaïs Anaïs when I was in my teens.

And your signature scent now?  
I only really use oils for fragrance, Tata Harper has a beautiful oil called Stress Treatment, it feels and smells really good.

Do you use any products that aren’t traditionally cosmetic?
A moisturising spray AFTER having applied make-up, it doesn’t make the makeup run as one might think, on the contrary it takes the ‘foundation’ feel away, makes the skin look natural, yet one is still covered.

What’s the secret to looking young and healthy?
Inside first, feeling rested, healthy and happy. Outside, let your skin be seen, don’t cover it up like a mask.

If you could live and work in any era, which would it be? And why?
Now. I find it pretty exciting in 2011.

Do you identify with any particular era in fashion?  
No, I think a lot of eras are inspiring and beautiful, but I don’t identify with one in particular. On the contrary, I like the twist of mixing. For instance if I do an editorial for a magazine and the theme and clothes are from the 20s, I would always argue, that the make-up should be modern looking, something unexpected, too retro for me makes it too predictable and a bit uninteresting.

What music do you listen to when you work?
Anything from Bonnie Prince Billy, Bon Iver to Satie.

Your motto?  
Follow your bliss. One of my favourite authors said that, not me. But to me it says it all.