Katy Perry’s Beauty Arsenal: More Than Just Whipped Cream and Glitter
When it comes to pop stars, few seem to have as much fun with their hair and makeup as Katy Perry. Which is either completely surprising (or not!) considering her strict religious upbringing, when even phrases like “Deviled Eggs,” and “Dirt Devil” were banned at home.
Since her hit song “I Kiss a Girl” debuted in 2008, the Santa Barbara native has taken her fans (known as Katy Kats) through more than nine style lives. From retro pin-up glamour to futuristic blue wigs, Katy Perry (née Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson) has never been afraid to push beauty boundaries. Likewise, what’s so completely endearing about her is that she’s never NOT down to earth, no matter how out-of-this-world her style evolution has been. In fact, the new mom (who is engaged to actor Orlando Bloom) has been very vocal about everything from her relationships to acne and even her own anxiety and depression, and how that can sometimes manifest itself through her looks.
Skincare Faves
“I used to have really, really bad skin in my early 20s when things were starting to pop off, so it was stress-related and my body was changing from coming out of the teenage years,” Perry said. “Someone recommended I try the Proactiv cleanser and I thought, ‘No way, no how will that fix anything.’ And I’ve been using it for 10 years and it’s been incredible. I don’t break out because of that.”
Despite having flareups in the past, she’s not scared of using a cleansing oil on her skin. “I used to be deathly afraid of putting oil on my face but it really pulls out the dirt from my skin,” said Perry. Her favorite? Shu Uemura’s, which contains moringa (often referred to as the “miracle tree”) and green tea extracts.
Katy Perry has said she uses a warm wash cloth to remove her oil cleanser. It is an effective and soothing way to clean your face, just be sure to use a new one each time to prevent bacteria. We like to use baby washcloths instead of regular ones (softer, way cheaper). We are also huge fans of Konjac sponges, and this is by far our favorite one.
“I’ve done lasers and got [filler] injections under my eyes for the hollowing , which I’d recommend for everyone who wants a solution for their dark circles, but all of my assets are real. People tend to think they are fake, but it doesn’t really matter.”
Katy Perry has been through a ton of style changes, something she’s said has made her have a bit of an identity crisis. “I’m really strong as Katy Perry, and sometimes I’m not as strong as Katheryn Hudson,” Perry said in an interview with Vice, adding that her pixie cut in 2017 was a way to help her feel like her old self. “People talk about my hair and they don’t like it or they wish it was longer, and I so badly want to be Katheryn Hudson that I don’t even want to look like Katy Perry sometimes. And that is a little bit of why I cut my hair.”
Katy Perry likes to make her lipstick pull double-duty as a blush, and we second this trick. “I use it like finger paint and you can put it on your eyes, too,” she has said. When you use a cream lipstick instead of a matte, it moves better and gives you a gloss.
the dream team
Katy Perry has some of the best pros in the industry on speed dial. Several of her favorites include:
Founder, Editor, Digital Media Publisher, Beauty Fanatic
I have been in the publishing and digital media space since 2000, which means I am an age where it's all about the retinol! I believe less is more when it comes to skincare and makeup, and if I could only pick one beauty product to have with me at all times (ok, maybe two!) it would be sunscreen and blush.
