Siena Kelly: "Taking care of my hair and skin is a very educational thing"
Here at The Cosmo Black Beauty Hub we absolutely do not gatekeep, so when we get a chance to quiz some of our favourite Black women about their go-to beauty products tips and treatments we don't hold back– after all, that's how our Little Black Beauty Book Franchise was born. All the tea on our favourite star's life in beauty, served hot.
This week we caught up with Domino Day star, Siena Kelly...
What does Black beauty mean to you?
To me, Black beauty means embracing diversity. Whether it's texture, hyperpigmentation, melasma, hair types, body sizes, all of it, all of that is Black beauty.
I've been dealing with acne since I was a teenager. I try to walk around with as little makeup on as possible and embrace that I have scarring, texture, and hyperpigmentation. I still break out and that's still beauty. That's still gorgeous, and I still get to take up space. That's how I'm embracing Black beauty.
What's your favourite beauty treatment?
I haven't had that many in-office treatments or procedures. I've done microneedling a few times, and I think I'll continue doing that to lessen some of the texture I have left over.
I use an exfoliating mask twice a week – the Dr Vanita Rattan Exfoliate To Glow. So, on Wednesdays and Sundays, I am glowing. I didn't have the budget to go into in-office clinics, and Dr Rattan started her own skincare line for skin of colour.
Exfoliate to Glow 50ml
And do you have any aesthetic treatment recs?
I have microneedling treatments in office to calm down some of the texture. I know that I can't get rid of all of it, and I don't plan to. I'm actually really happy with what my skin looks like right now.
What does your wash-day routine look like?
Once a month I'll use a mask, and every month that mask changes between a very protein, rich mask, which strengthens my hair, or one that hydrates and softens it. Then I will use the As I Am Coconut CoWash. It has mint in it which is for, like, dry and itchy scalps. I then use my water mist spray followed by the Cantu Care for Kids Leave-In Conditioner, and then I go in with my Kinky-Curly, Original Curling Custard.
I do that throughout all of my hair and brush it.
It's getting quicker and quicker, but it used to take me hours! I've mastered it now.
Coconut CoWash Cleansing Conditioner 454g
Care for Kids Leave-In Conditioner 283g
Original Curling Custard, Natural Styling Gel, 8 oz
Do you have a go-to salon?
My go-to salon is Curl Talk in Shoreditch, London. They really changed how I look after my hair. I learned so much from them.
My sister and I are both mixed race and we were raised by a white mum who did her absolute best, but we just didn't know how to do our hair until we started going to a curl specialist salon. I go there twice a year.
Taking care of my hair and skin is a very educational thing.
Worst hair experience?
When I was 17, I had bleach-blonde hair, which dried out my hair so much. My hair was just up in a bundle one day on my head and someone touched it, and they said, 'Oh, it feels like a brillo pad.' So, I booked a hair appointment the next day.
It was a shock that someone said that, even without the intention to offend. But I couldn't deny that it did feel like a brillo pad.
Skincare product you can’t live without?
A skincare product I can't live without is my entire skincare routine. My skincare routine is where I am very high maintenance and disciplined. Because my skin is so temperamental, I have to be so careful what I put on my face.
I have dry acne-prone skin, so in the morning, I just use water to wash my face. I don't use a cleanser because that can dry out my skin. And then I use the Dr Vanita Rattan Super Hydrating Toner. I then go in with the Paula's Choice Vitamin C Serum followed by the Dr Idriss Major Fade Hyper Serum. I seal that all in with the Skinfix Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream.
Then, of course, my SPF 50. I use the Beauty of Joseon SPF. You cannot see it on my skin tone at all. Even when I'm layering it, it doesn't feel heavy, it doesn't feel cakey, it doesn't feel sticky, I love it.
Super Hydrating Toner 150ml
25% Vitamin C + Glutathione Clinical Serum
Major Fade Hyper Serum
Barrier+ Triple Lipid-Peptide Cream 50ml
Relief Sun Rice + Probiotics 50ml
What about body treatment?
My friends and I are on a quest to find the best body moisturiser that's also reasonably priced. At the moment, I'm really liking the Naturium The Glow Getter Multi Oil Hydrating Body Wash. I have dry skin and it's perfect for that. I also love the Naturium Bio-Lipid Body Lotion. It's really thick and really hydrates my skin.
The Glow Getter Multi Oil Hydrating Body Wash
Bio Lipid Restoring Body Lotion
What is your biggest beauty splurge?
Microneedling; it's not the cheapest. I also use the OmniLux LED Mask. It's really giving me cost per wear because I use it every single night.
Contour Face
What about your cheapest beauty obsession?
Good posture. Good posture makes me feel beautiful because I feel secure and I feel strong, and I feel ready and alert. I used to be a dancer and I'm a yoga instructor, so it's a good habit of mine.
I also love the Cerave Healing Ointment. I have really dry lips and it's the only thing that keeps them hydrated.
Advanced Repair Ointment 50ml
Any makeup mishaps?
When I was younger, I used to wear *a lot* of makeup to hide my acne. At the time, that consisted of a real strong beat – a lot of contour, baking, false lashes. I did everything. I couldn't leave the house without a full face on.
I was hiding behind the makeup and I was using it as a mask. It wasn't exploration, it wasn't expression, it wasn't artistic or creative or fun, I was trying to conform. I was scared of what people would think of me without makeup. So I started walking around without makeup and I haven't gone back since.
What would your makeup bag not be the same without?
If I do use makeup, I'll use the Nars Creamy Concealer under my eyes. And if I'm going on a night out and want to jazz up my look, I'll use purple liquid eyeliner, because I know that looks really nice on brown eyes.
Radiant Creamy Concealer 6ml
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