I remember being really inspired when Alicia Keys announced that she wouldn’t be wearing makeup anymore. It really got me thinking about my own makeup-wearing habits and where I could potentially scale back on the number of products I was using, too. Even now, years later, I still find myself subscribing to the “less is more” philosophy and prefer to keep things simple.
To my excitement, her beauty line, Keys Soulcare recently launched a Color Collection. Basically, it’s a medley of Keys’s skin-enhancing essentials that only add to your natural complexion rather than covering it up. I knew instantly that I wanted to give these a try. I love her beauty philosophy and had a feeling her latest offerings wouldn’t disappoint. I didn’t want to stop at just the Color Collection, either. I decided to test out a few of Keys’s favorites from the Keys Soulcare skincare range as well to see if I could somehow re-create her glow. Although no one can quite be on her level, I can definitely say that the offerings from her line can at least help you get there in some capacity. If you’re curious about my thoughts on all the products after testing them out for a week, keep reading below.
I used this gentle exfoliator a few times a week. It’s water-activated and contains other nourishing ingredients like lactic acid, mung beans, and oats to soothe the complexion. It really did leave my skin looking extra luminous. My pores seemed a bit tighter, my skin felt a bit smoother—maybe this has been Keys’s secret weapon all along.
As mentioned above, Keys famously keeps her makeup routine dressed down. She mostly goes bare-faced but will opt for things like a cheek tint or highlighting balm to enhance her skin’s natural glow. I decided to go for a similar look (pictured above) by trying out the Keys Soulcare tint in the shade Enigmatic. It definitely adds a bit of dewiness to the skin, and a little goes a long way. I love the natural rosy glow it gave my cheeks and how it melted into my skin tint. (I opted for Caliray’s Freedreaming Clean Blurring Skin Tint.) The Cheek Tint also has skin-smoothing ingredients like sunflower oil and safflower-seed oil. Both work together to moisturize, plump the skin, and provide antioxidant protection.
To top off my Alicia Keys–inspired look, I dabbed on the Gleam On Highlighting Balm in the shade Enlightenment. This balm is supposed to create a lit-from-within glow with ingredients like crushed amethyst. This definitely felt like more of a subtle highlighting balm for me, but I loved the creamy texture and how it glided onto the high points of my face. It definitely doesn’t pack a huge punch in the shimmer department, but it’s perfect for adding just a pop of shine if you’re about that life.
To lock in my no-makeup makeup look à la Keys, I used the Reviving Aura Mist, which smells divine.If you love the smell of fresh roses, you’ll adore this ultra-hydrating mist. It has Rose of Jericho and witch hazel in it to tone, refresh, and renew your complexion. I decided to use it as a setting spray and loved the results. My face smelled incredible, and it felt so soft and hydrated. I’ll be buying at least three more bottles of this to keep on hand all the time.
I did some digging and found out that pre–Keys Soulcare, Keys was very into this skin-clearing mask by Éminence Organic Skin Care. I’m also a big fan of Éminence, so I decided to give this one a go for the week. I used it twice during the week and loved how it felt on my skin. I didn’t notice any overly dramatic results, but I saw noticeable improvements in a few spots I had on the right side of my face. I’ll definitely continue to use it and see if it will provide me with flawless, Alicia Keys–level skin.
I saw that Keys was raving about this set of gloves on Instagram, so naturally I had to try them. The gloves are adjustable, made with breathable material, and water-resistant. You can use them to detangle your strands, stimulate the scalp, and massage products into your hair for better absorption. I tried them out and used them to shampoo and condition my hair. I found that they made my thick, dry curls feel really smooth and extra hydrated. Normally, I don’t go for products like this, but if Keys says you need something, you need it, right? I’m glad I gave them a go because I’ll most likely be using them as part of my regular washday routine from now on.
This priming serum brightens the skin and deeply hydrates it with ingredients such as niacinamide and antioxidant-rich rose water. It’s the perfect serum to layer under your no-makeup makeup look—or any makeup look, really.
When you need to remove your day’s look, you’ll definitely want to give the Keys Soulcare Nourishing Cleansing Balm a try. It has so many skin-boosting ingredients including purifying bamboo charcoal, shea butter, sunflower-seed oil, and macadamia-seed oil to leave your complexion extra soft.
I’m pretty picky about my cleansers, but I can say this gentle Golden Cleaner With Manuka Honey is a serious winner. It combines a few of my favorite ingredients including turmeric and chamomile to soothe inflammation, while turmeric acts as an anti-inflammatory.
Bakuchiol is a great retinol alternative because it offers the same effects without overdrying your skin. The Keys Soulcare Skin Transformation Cream offers it in a potent dose along with nourishing ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and malachite.
This purifying and hydrating mask has actual gold foil in it along with activated charcoal and the rich aroma of sandalwood. Some say using gold foil nightly in your routine imbues the skin with a radiant glow. Might as well try it, right?
If you’re more into tinted lip balms as opposed to glosses or lipsticks, you’ll absolutely want to try this silky option from Keys Soulcare. The formula glides right on and provides a subtle, natural pop of color to the lips. It can also be built up in intensity if you like a darker hue but never dries your lips out as it contains camellia seed oil and avocado oil to lock in extra hydration.
