An interview with 19/99 Beauty Co-Founder, Camille Katona

Camille Katona, Co-Founder of 19/99 Beauty

If you’ve ever wondered why I named this blog Plateau Beauty, it’s because I felt that, as a woman in my 30s, I had reached a plateau of sorts. Brands weren’t speaking to me. Influencers weren’t speaking to me. Many of the ubiquitous trends didn’t make sense for me, and the advice often given to women my age felt restrictive and old fashioned.

Six years later, my sentiments haven’t changed much. I could count on one hand the brands I see that regularly feature women my age or older.

Enter 19/99 Beauty, a brand on a mission to change the conversation around age in beauty. Founded by Camille Katona and Stephanie Spence in 2020, the brand believes (rightly so) that beauty is not defined by age. And their minimalist approach to multi-purpose, easy-to-use products makes imagination central to their ethos. You can use their products as minimally or as maximally as you wish, no matter your age. And their creative certainly demonstrates that there’s beauty in breaking all the so-called rules.

Below, a short chat with 19/99 Beauty Co-Founder Camille Katona, who shares why age diversity matters for her brand, and how makeup helped her through the whirlwind year that was 2020. Plus, discover her desert-island beauty products and what’s next for 19/99 Beauty.

A capsule collection for the makeup beginner

You’re curious about getting into makeup, but have no idea where to begin. It can be difficult to know where to even start to research which brands are cruelty free, feature great diversity and representation, and have positive marketing messaging.

Here, a suggested capsule collection for the makeup beginner, featuring an assortment of products you can get easily online from Sephora Canada and Shoppers Drug Mart.

Dupe Alert: Auric Glow Lust

Auric's Glow Lust in Morganite
Is Auric’s inaugural launch, Glow Lust, a cruelty free dupe for Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter?

Auric is a new brand founded by makeup artist and beauty influencer Samantha Ravndahl. As someone with a love for all things radiant, I was intrigued by the Glow Lust radiant luminizer. I wanted to see how it compared to Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter (clearly the inspiration behind Auric’s version).

Radical newness: three brands to watch

Faded and Like Butter by Topicals
Three brands have captured my attention by radically shifting the conversation around beauty. One of these brands, Topicals, launched with Like Butter, a hydrating mask, and Faded, a brightening treatment, using clinically-proven ingredients.

It’s exciting to live in an era when anyone with enough will can up and start a beauty brand. It’s not easy, it’s not inexpensive, and there’s a lot of noise to break through.

Three brands that have radically differentiated themselves from typical conversations in the beauty world: 19/99 Beauty, MOB Beauty, and Topicals. Read more to find out how.

A resurrection of sorts

Hi! This blog hasn’t been updated in quite some time, and so much has changed in the intervening years. When I started Plateau Beauty, I was obsessed with trying out and becoming an expert in every possible product and launch. Newness drove the industry (it still does) and over-spending was the norm, to the point where I amassed a collection I couldn’t possibly use in a lifetime.

Fast forward to today. Two massive events have completely transformed my relationship to beauty. We’re a year into a global pandemic, and I became a mom. Phew.

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