FYI: Netflix Star Ashley Blaine Featherson Just Told Us All Her Beauty Secrets

ashley-blaine-featherson-interview-282173-1567105358593-main

(Image credit: Getty Images)

A mere 15 seconds into our Monday morning phone call, and I'm already convinced Ashley Blaine Featherson (who you may fondly know as Joelle on Netflix's hit series Dear White People) knows more about beauty than I do. By now, I'm used to celebrities whipping out impressive product knowledge and grand tidbits pertaining to their at-home skincare, makeup, or hair routines, but Featherson, I have to say, is in a league of her own.

As she camps out in her bathroom and passionately reads me the back of her beloved bottle of Oribe Côte D 'Azur Hair Refresher ($26)—a product "everyone absolutely needs in their life"—Featherson's love for all things beauty is tangible, having served as an integral part of her DNA since she first began "dibble dabble-ing" with makeup in middle school. Since then, her beauty MO has transitioned from what she describes as a more-is-more aesthetic rife with technicolor eye shadows and glitter to a less-is-more bronzed, natural, and glow-y vibe, but her commitment to beauty and the role she specifically plans to play in the industry are unwavering. 

ashley-blaine-featherson-interview-282173-1567105373135-main

(Image credit: @ashleyblaine)

Most recently, she collaborated with the founders of Mented Cosmetics KJ Miller and Amanda E. Johnson to create her own Collection ABF x Mented Bronze and Glow, but she also has her sights on creating her own beauty brand one day. 

"It's actually always been a goal of mine," she confirms vehemently. "I would love to do something similar to what Rihanna is doing with Fenty Beauty. I can one million percent see myself doing that—this collaboration with Mented has been so exciting and is such a great first step into doing all these amazing and grand things I plan on doing in my future." 

In addition to Rihanna and what she's done with Fenty, Featherson also draws from her appreciation of inclusive, tour de force beauty brands like Nars Cosmetics and MAC as well as women like Queen Latifah, Iman, Michelle Obama, and, most recently, Zendaya, to inspire said future. Because yes, even though strides of a certain measure have been made in terms of beauty industry diversity and inclusivity, there's still room for improvement.

ashley-blaine-featherson-interview-282173-1567105378874-main

(Image credit: @ashleyblaine)

"My collection with Mented wasn't just something my name was slapped on," she explains. "You know, during our calls, KJ and Amanda would be like 'Okay Ashley, what do you want this to be, how do you see yourself, what do you value most when you do your makeup or when you walk out of the door? I specifically created this collection with women of color in mind who feel as though they're not represented in the makeup space—for women who can't find bronzers and highlighters for their complexion or wonderful nudes or beautiful glosses that look stunning on darker lips."

"We have so little in the beauty space," she says. "I know what it feels like to walk into Sephora and realize, okay, there are only 10% of products here I can maybe kind of use—that doesn't feel good, and that's real." Additionally, Featherson wanted her collection with Mented to be user-friendly and easy to use for people who aren't great at doing their own makeup or just simply aren't as well versed in the world of beauty.

"I wanted it to be something women can use even if they're not super-skilled at doing their makeup—not intimidating! I'm very, very proud of it, and just seeing all these beautiful women on Instagram wearing the line and tagging me… You know, we've been developing it for over a year, and it's been a really exciting process. I'm just so grateful, and it's so rewarding and fulfilling to see these women rock these products with such pride and feel so beautiful."

ashley-blaine-featherson-interview-282173-1567105385658-main

(Image credit: @ashleyblaine)

Curious to dive deeper into Featherson's beauty philosophy? Ahead, the actor and beauty devotee is exposing—in detail—her regimen and product must-haves while also offering more insight into how her upbringing and acting roles have shaped her perspective and vision when it comes to beauty and self-care. 

Ashley's Makeup Routine

"I’ve always loved beauty. My mom is absolutely beautiful, but growing up, she was never this guiding person who was beauty- or makeup-savvy. So, over time, I just developed a knack—it wasn’t something where my mom took me to the mirror as a young girl and was like okay, this is how you apply lipstick. I think I was just born this way! I've always been naturally attracted and allured by it.

"I love doing my makeup in under 10 minutes—I love a look with no eye shadow. I love mascara, I love my brows to look great, I love to look glowy and bronzed and maybe a lip, but I do appreciate simplicity now. My beauty philosophy has definitely evolved from more is more to less is more."

Step 1: Primer + Base

Step 2: Set + Conceal

Step 3: Bronze + Glow

Step 4: Eyes + Lips

Step 5: Spray to Finish!

Ashley's Hair Must-Haves

"Honestly, I’m obsessed with both makeup and hair, but if I had to pick, I would say I'm much better at doing my own makeup. That said, I am a product junkie—it's fun for me to find products that I love and that work best for me and then I really do just stick to those products."

Beauty Director

Erin has been writing a mix of beauty and wellness content for Who What Wear for over four years. Prior to that, she spent two and half years writing for Byrdie. She now calls Santa Monica home but grew up in Minnetonka, Minnesota, and studied writing, rhetoric, and communication at University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. She studied abroad in Galway, Ireland, and spent a summer in L.A. interning with the Byrdie and Who What Wear family. After graduating from UW, she spent one year in San Francisco, where she worked as a writer for Pottery Barn Kids and PBteen before moving down to L.A. to begin her career as a beauty editor. She considers her day-to-day beauty aesthetic very low-maintenance and relies on staples like clear brow serum (from Kimiko!), Lawless's Lip Plumping Mask in Cherry Vanilla, and an eyelash curler. For special occasions or days when she's taking more meetings or has an event, she'll wear anything and everything from Charlotte Tilbury (the foundations are game-changing), some shimmer on her lids (Stila and Róen do it best), and a few coats of the best mascara-type product on earth, Surratt's Noir Lash Tint.