AMERICAN TATTOO ARTIST, model and entrepreneur Kat Von D made her name around the world with the hit TV reality shows “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink”. Both now off the air, she’s now making even bigger ripples with her cosmetic line Kat Von D Beauty and recently popped over to Thailand to promote the brand, which is marketed in the Land of Smiles as elsewhere by Sephora.

Fusing old Hollywood glamour with modern rock n’roll, the products have won several editorial awards and both lipstick and eyeliner are favourites with celebrities wanting to make a statement.

She talked to XP about her cool look and edgy cosmetics.

WHAT IS KAT VON D BEAUTY ABOUT?

I think it stands out from the brands on the market today. That’s not only due to colour selection – though we do have a very broad spectrum when it come to the lipstick – but the art that is behind it. As founder I’m involved in the whole process. I do everything from the design of the component to the artwork for the packaging, to lip testing the shade formula and the art direction on social media. It’s exciting. It’s a lot of work but it’s worth it.

HOW WOULD YOU DEFINE YOUR FAVOURITE LOOK?

I love the simple Kat eyeliner and a bold lip colour and I think it’s great that the make up line lets you do anything you want. You don’t have to look like me or emulate my style. You can approach makeup anyway you like and do whatever you want.

WHICH PRODUCT IS THE MUST-HAVE KVD?

The “Tattoo Eye Liner” for sure. It’s the eyeliner that I wear everyday, the formula is great. I think Thai women will love it too especially as the weather is so hot and humid here. The formula is waterproof. It’s easy to apply and it stays on.

WHAT DO YOU THINK WOMEN NEED IN TERMS|OF COSMETICS?

The main message behind my brand isn’t that beauty is obtained with makeup. Makeup is just there to have fun and express yourself if you want to highlight the special feature you love most. But I think true beauty doesn’t require any makeup to feel good.

YOU SAY THAT THE ART IS BEHIND YOUR PRODUCT. DID YOU STUDY ART?

I’ve been drawing since I was little. I got involved in the tattoo world when I was 14. Tattoo art is something that has always been prominent in my life. And it translates to the makeup line itself. When I’m laying out the product, I hand-draw on paper before I hand over to my team. And yes, I love art, especially the grandmasters. I am a big fan of Caravaggio, Michelangelo and Rembrandt. For contouring, I often look to Caravaggio who is very famous for shade and light, to understand how to obtain the texture, the dimension. For me, that’s what contouring is all about. If you want to highlight something on your face, you soften the edges with the light part of the palette or use dark shades for the background. A lot of art translates into make up.

WHEN DID YOU DECIDE TO DO |THE COSMETIC LINE?

Sephora approached me about the makeup line in 2008 and something clicked. I’m not professional makeup artist by any means, I’m just a huge fan of makeup. It’s truly an art form. I think it’s very exciting to create. But I don’t see it a transition because I still do tattoos, draw, paint, and play music.

DO YOU HAVE ANY QUICK TIPS?

My eye shape is not a perfect for eyeliner and that prompted me to compile a list of tips and tricks to achieve specific looks on my website. The Tattoo Eyeliner is very easy to apply. I call it the dummy eyeliner because even if you are a beginner, you will intuitively use it like a pen. We don’t really chase trends; in fact, we usually do the opposite. We stay true to what works for us. Our aim is to pioneer looks and stay on the market for a very long time. We want to make people look good and have confidence in themselves. Take our “Lock-It Foundation”. It provides full coverage but is really light to wear. It feels comfortable. If you want to cover up a tattoo or acne scar, you can.