Kylie Cantrall Perfected Her Winged Liner at Only Six Years Old
We talked to the star about her new EP ‘Valley Girl Problems’ and the beauty rituals she’s been practicing her whole life.
While spending hours in a makeup chair might be a grueling task to some, Kylie Cantrall says it’s her favorite part of the process. For the Descendants star, beauty details reach far beyond surface level. Since she was six years old, Cantrall has used hair and makeup as tools for tapping into the best version of herself — only now, she’s graduated from the full glam and headache-inducing bun of her childhood dance competitions to her signature glossy lip combo and chunky red highlights. With the release of her newest EP, Valley Girl Problems, the artist is embarking on a brand new era defined by that same principle of evolution.
“This EP feels like the bridge between where I’ve been and where I’m going. Sonically, it’s more elevated while still staying true to my signature Y2K R&B world, and conceptually it’s much more reflective of who I am right now as a girl in her early 20s dealing with life’s ups and downs,” Cantrall tells Hypebae. With a growing catalog of work, the star says that her music serves as a time capsule for each chapter of her life. For Valley Girl Problems, it means navigating tumultuous friendships and lingering feelings. While those sentiments are often synonymous with coming-of-age, Cantrall’s innate sense of self awareness goes all the way back to her childhood.
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At five years old, Cantrall vividly remembers telling her parents she would one day be on Disney Channel. For her, that moment solidified the importance of manifestation. “Manifestation is such a real thing because I’ve truly visualized myself doing all the things I’m doing now. Every dance class and all the hours I’ve spent in the studio have prepared me for this moment,” she says. Naturally, that visualization wasn’t just mental — for the actor, it started showing up physically, too, in the form of a red lip and winged liner she’d practice in the mirror before dance competitions, at just six years old.
Although a ritualistic makeup routine has always come natural to the star, growing up on TV sometimes turned her relationship with beauty into a calculated strategy rather than an outlet for self expression. While the rest of us were experimenting with products for the very first time, Cantrall was hyper-aware of contouring her features for the cameras and catering to the “good side” of her face. Today, instead of fixating on the outside noise, the actor has returned to her childhood roots of finding joy in every swipe of lipstick.
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“A huge part of my job is sitting in a makeup chair, but I genuinely enjoy the process. I feel so lucky to have found a glam team that really understands what I like and always makes me feel my best. Shoutout to Robert [Bryan] and George [Cozma], I love you guys,” she says. Between her glam team’s expertise and the visual identity she’s carefully curated through Y2K hairstyles and fluttery lashes, Cantrall has built a beauty routine that’s just as intentional as the career she manifested for herself as a child.
From the drugstore mascara she’s used her whole life to the current lip combo she swears by — ahead, Kylie Cantrall reveals all of her beauty essentials.
Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Moisturizer
“The Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Moisturizer is probably my favorite skincare product ever. It’s so hydrating while still feeling lightweight, so it never makes my skin feel greasy before makeup. My makeup artist, Robert [Bryan], uses it every single time he preps my skin, and it’s honestly been such a game changer! Especially because I have really dry skin. Huge shoutout to Robert for putting me onto it. ”
L’Oréal Telescopic Mascara
“L’Oréal Telescopic Mascara has been my go-to since I was about eleven years old. There’s just something about that tiny wand, it grabs every single lash and gives me so much length and lift without looking clumpy. I’ve tried so many mascaras over the years, but I always come back to this one. It’s a drugstore classic for a reason.”
Rhode Glazing Mist Face Spray
“My best friend, Shar, gave me the Rhode Glazing Mist for my birthday about a month ago, and I’ve been obsessed ever since. Living in L.A., my skin gets so dry from the heat, so having a hydrating mist that I can throw in my bag has been amazing. It gives my skin an instant refresh, my L.A. girls definitely need to tap in!”
Her Signature Lip Combo
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in “Pillow Talk Medium”
“Finding your perfect lip combo is basically every girl’s canon event, and I think I’ve finally found mine. Right now, I’m obsessed with Charlotte Tilbury‘s Pillow Talk Lip Cheat in ‘Medium’ paired with the Laneige Glaze Craze Lip Serum in ‘Cinnamon Sugar.’ I swear by this combo!”
Laneige Glaze Craze Lip Serum in “Cinnamon Sugar”
