The 5 beauty essentials drag queens can't live without

Here at BEAUTYcrew we're fully invested in the beauty essentials of the people we admire. From model Paloma Elsesser's favourite moisturiser, to the gorilla glue Julia Fox always has floating around in her bag ("something’s always popping off, whether it’s a nail or a veneer"), we always learn something from peeping into the purses and makeup kits of stars. 

So when Rupaul's Drag Race contestants, Karen From Finance and Coco Jumbo (Drag Race Down Under Season 1), Tessa Testicle (Rupaul's Drag Race Germany Season 1 and Global All Stars), and Kitty Scott-Claus (RuPaul's Drag Race UK Season 3 and Global All Stars) offered BEAUTYcrew their insights into the beauty routines of professional drag queens, we were all ears. 

The quartet, who will be teaming up to embark on the Australian leg of the Rupaul's Drag Race: Slay Belles Tour in November, are also a wellspring of universally relatable beauty advice. 

Their best beauty advice

"Be yourself and you can't go wrong!," says Karen. Oh, and also: "Pink goes with everything." 

"Hydration is the ultimate beauty secret," Tessa tells us. "Always have a water bottle by your side."

The Swiss native is also a big proponent for self-care after a particularly intense show; she swears by a warm bubble bath, a hydrating face mask, and a solid 12 hours of beauty sleep. While, Coco Jumbo recommends jet setting to South East Asia to reset and recoup ("go to Thailand!!"), and Kitty Scott-Claus prefers to break a sweat.

"Get out and do some exercise. It’s only ever gonna have positive effects," she explains. "In the words of Elle Woods, 'Exercise gives you endorphins, endorphins make you happy'."

Honestly, we don't think we've ever heard better advice. 

Their top 5 beauty essentials

1/ A razor

Understandably, as a performer, trying to achieve the feminine illusion can require a bit of transformation — there's makeup, wigs, and costuming to consider. But according to Karen, a good quality razor is also an absolute must — "no explanation is required" — and it's a sentiment Coco agrees with. "Razors and soap!," Coco reiterates.

Finding a razor that's gentle on skin is especially important, when you think of all the delicate areas of the body drag queens have to shave. Choosing a razor that's been designed with the face in mind is a great option to ensure a close shave that won't irritate the skin, like the Gillette Labs Exfoliating Razor with Magnetic Stand + 2 Blade Refills ($31.99 from Chemist Warehouse). 

2/ Setting spray

Tessa Testicle says that setting spray is always in her kit, and although she's not sharing her favourite anytime soon, it's a category of makeup that's highly contested in the drag community.

In a recent red carpet interview with Glamour, a handful of Rupaul's Drag Race contestants came to the consensus that there were three reigning champions: Anastasia Beverly Hills Dewy Set Setting Spray ($55 from Sephora), ONE SIZE On Til Dawn Setting Spray ($58 from Sephora), and M.A.C FIX+ ORIGINAL ($54 from M.A.C Cosmetics).

3/ Foundation

Tessa also believes a good foundation is the backbone of any makeup kit, and she's not afraid to gatekeep her go-to either.

However, thankfully, Trixie Mattel did her part for the community and shared her list of first drag makeup kit essentials via YouTube in 2023.

According to Trixie you can't go wrong with the Kryolan TV Paintstick ($57 from Adore Beauty), because it covers a multitude of sins. Trixie described the 'gold standard' drag foundation as a waxier take on theatrical grease paint, and said it'll cover anything from skin texture to tattoos.

"If you have perfect skin good for you, but in drag I don't think many of us have perfect skin," she shared. 

4/ Lashes on lashes on lashes

If you didn't know, drag queens don't just wear one set of false eyelashes, they wear many sets stacked on top of each other. It's also not uncommon for queens to customise their lashes by cutting the lash band into sections, and layering each section onto a base set of lashes to create their desired eye look.

It's a part of Tessa's makeup that she can't go without.

"[You need] lashes for days," she advises. "You can’t have enough lashes."

If you want to achieve a drag-level lash without all of the D.I.Y we suggest finding a multi-dimensional set of lashes with a variety of lash lengths on a single lash band like the Mikiwi 25mm Dramatic 6D Faux Mink Lashes ($23 from Amazon Australia).

5/ A long-lasting lippy

When we ask the trio how they select the perfect lip colour to complement their look, Tessa shares it's all about balance.

"It’s all about contrast — if the eyes are dramatic, go for a nude lip," she advises. "But if the eyes are simple, hit them with a bold red or pink."

If you're scared of colour, never fear, Coco has a word of advice: "Play it safe and go nude let your eyes do the talking!".

If, like Coco, Karen and Tessa, you find yourself under the hot lights of the stage (or you just need your lippy to last a long time) we suggest Maybelline's SuperStay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick ($10 from Priceline). There are 20 shades to choose from, and it provides up to 16 hours of sweat-resistant, smudge proof and kiss-proof wear.

Or you can take Kitty Scott-Claus' advice and layer on a few lip products to secure your pout instead.

"I’m obsessed with a glossy nude lip," she tells BEAUTYcrew. I always do a M.A.C Cork liner ($40 from M.A.C Cosmetics), with M.A.C Whirl lipstick ($40 from M.A.C Cosmetics), into a M.A.C Honeylove ($40 from M.A.C Cosmetics) and top with a Fenty gloss ($36 from Sephora) for my ultimate nude lip."

"I swear by anything Fenty. Fenty foundation, primer, lip gloss, the skincare, the SPF — incredible!," she says.

Main image credit: @tessatesticle

Want to stock up on the queens' beauty essentials? You can get up to 50 per cent off in the Priceline makeup sale this week.