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Life without her curtain of curly fringe is simply unimaginable for Katerina Tannenbaum. Ever since the Portland-born actress and star of RuPaul s new Netflix series AJ and the Queen started embracing her buoyant spirals and a set of shaggy bangs, it s become her beauty calling card. "I ve gone through many phases of the look, from a more mullet-y version to letting it really grow out," explains the 26-year-old of her signature, spiraled fringe look, which she typically cuts herself and enhances with Aveda s Universal Styling Cream, as well as Living Proof Hairspray if her bangs need a little oomph. "My hair is a reflection of my spirit," she explains. "It s really wild, energetic, and all over the place. Playing with my hair is a huge part of my daily life. It feels like it s a living being that s a part of me."
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In AJ and the Queen, which tells the story of a 10-year-old kid named AJ (Izzy G.) who s traveling across America with drag queen Ruby Red (RuPaul), Tannenbaum plays AJ s struggling, and largely absent, single mom, her outré, head-to-toe presentation adding idiosyncratic flair to the emotionally nuanced role. "The way [co-creator] Michael Patrick King described her to me, it s that she has her own version of drag with her blonde wig, red lipstick, and outfits," she explains. As a longtime makeup enthusiast, it was an opportunity for Tannenbaum to get creative, collaborating with the show s pro artists behind the scenes.
From sweeps of sooty liner to blurred crimson lip stains, elements of her character s makeup have carried over into Tannenbaum s current routine. "I hadn t worn waterline eyeliner in a long time and after wearing it as Brianna, it s become part of my going out look," she explains, adding that she smudges MAC s Eye Kohl pencil in coffee brown Costa Riche before drawing on a cat eye with Pat McGrath s Labs Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner and adding a sweep of Benefit s They re Real! Mascara on the lashes.
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Never one to hide her freckles, Tannenbaum uses just a hint of Glossier s Stretch Concealer as needed, before laying the blush on thick. "Since middle school, blush has always been my number one," laughs Tannenbaum. "Being freckle-faced with fair skin, having that flush makes me look like I m human." As such, she has virtually every shade of Cloud Paint and RMS s Lip2Cheek pigments in her makeup bag, using her fingers to blend on creamy rouge for an ’80s-style draped effect. "People think it s outdated or something, but I think it adds so much dimension to the face. It s playful and fun!" she adds. And to keep her complexion naturally glowing, she sticks to an equal parts strict and streamlined skincare routine dailing, cleansing with Tracie Martyn s Amla Purifying Cleanser, hydrating with a no-frills rosehip oil, and slathering on Supergoop City Sunscreen Serum daily. Once a week, she uses Dr. Dennis Gross s cult-favorite Alpha Beta Universal Daily Peels to yield a brighter, smoother complexion. "I exfoliate minimally because I m young and I feel like a lot of people do [too much] to their skin," she explains. "For me, the more I leave it alone, the better it feels."
As Tannenbaum s star continues to rise—her next major role is in HBO s forthcoming Skate Kitchen spin-off, the female skateboarding comedy series Betty—she ll continue to use hair and makeup to evolve, both on and off the job. "Beauty is such a tool," she says. "It transforms your mood and gets you into character, whether you re playing a role or just going out at night."
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