ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Badass Beauty Tips From The Babes Of SXSW

Ever wonder how female musicians manage to look totally kick-ass even after months on the road and very little time to get ready? Yeah, us too. So, we caught up with some of our favorite indie darlings at SXSW to get their secrets for looking pulled-together even when they feel like a hot mess. Grab a pencil, you’re gonna want to take some notes.
madeline-cults-sxsw-beauty

Madeline Follin, Cults
We first laid eyes on Madeline Follin on the cover of Cults' self-titled album last year, and instantly became a fan of her dream-pop vocals and overall style. When we met up with Follin during SXSW, she looked wide-eyed and bushy-tailed despite the band’s rigorous show schedule. And after a year of nonstop touring, thanks in part to the band’s overnight success, she has quickly learned to adapt to life on the road.

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

What's your must-have beauty product when you're on the road?
"Sally Hansen Nail Polish Strips in Glitz Blitz — that way I can do my nails on the road and I don’t have to worry about spilling polish in the van."

How do you keep your hair looking great in less-than-favorable conditions?
"Pssst Dry Shampoo. Even the guys in the band steal it. If I can’t shower after a show, I use the dry shampoo to keep my hair from looking oily."

Do you have any quick-fix beauty tricks you rely on to get gorgeous in a flash?
"I spritz rosewater on my face when I'm feeling tired or gross, and it instantly makes me look and feel better."


Photographed by Christy Kurtz

vivian-girls-sxsw-beauty-tips

The Vivian Girls
Pop-punk trio The Vivian Girls played nice with preppy brand Kate Spade for a four-city tour with a final destination of Austin. At SXSW, the stylish band charmed the crowd with their jangly power chords and three-part harmonies about unrequited love. After their set, we pulled Cassie Ramone (guitar), Katy Goodman (bass), and Fiona Campbell (drums) aside to find out exactly how they manage to look so rockin'.

What's your must-have beauty product when you're on the road?
"Dermalogica Gentle Cream Exfoliant keeps my skin from breaking out on the road," says Goodman, who is definitely the beauty junkie of the group.

How do you keep your hair looking great in less-than-favorable conditions?
"Learn to cut your own bangs. With dry hair, I take my bangs in tiny sections and snip the ends a little at a time. I never just cut straight across — then it just looks too perfect and weird," says Ramone, who cops to being the least-girly (but most DIY savvy) of them all.

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT

Do you have any quick-fix beauty tricks you rely on to get gorgeous in a flash?
"Showering does wonders if you are feeling tired, but if you can’t shower right away, I at least try to wash my face — Yes to Cucumber Facial Towelettes are great on the go," says Campbell, who also swears by a good face mist like L’Occitane Fresh Face Water.

Photographed by Jessica Pages
sxsw-beauty-tips-grimes

Grimes
Electronic It Girl Claire Boucher, aka Grimes, is known for her quirky sensibility and dance beats in her one-woman show Grimes, but offstage, she's soft spoken and aloof. The Canadian artist was one of the hottest tickets at SXSW — and she didn’t disappoint. Before her Spotify show, we met up with the rising star to see if her beauty regime was as complex as her stage setup.

What's your must-have beauty product when you're on the road?
"Water. I stopped using anything else on my face and it made my skin better, so now I just use water."

How do you keep your hair looking great in less-than-favorable conditions?
“I bleach the hell out of my hair before a tour so it won’t get greasy," says the naturally brunette singer/songwriter. (Editors's note: Yeah, we're going to go ahead and say we don't recommend trying this one).

Do you have any quick-fix beauty tricks you rely on to get gorgeous in a flash?
"Brushing my teeth — if I am feeling gross, I like to brush my teeth, and if I can’t do that, then I always have gum and mints on me."

Photographed by Christy Kurtz

More from Makeup

R29 Original Series

AdvertisementADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT