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The High Note
Welcome to The High Note. Here, we interview your favorite musicians about the ins and outs of their beauty and wellness routines, as they perform and record their hits. We’re diving into the iconic makeup looks they wear on stage, the signature scents they spritz while in the studio, how they care for themselves when they’re on the road, and so much more.
Justine Skye is on a journey to redefine her sound, expanding her signature R&B/soul catalog with dance sounds that will have everyone jumping to the beat. So far, the singer has released euphoric songs like “Oh Lala,” “Bitch in Ibiza,” and “Thong,” highlighting her refreshing take on the intersection of dance and R&B.
Beyond her music, Skye is establishing herself as a trusted brand ambassador—she’s worked with brands like Nike, It’s a 10, The Lip Bar, and more—and savvy businesswoman. She’s also a fierce mental health advocate, having worked with organizations like Active Minds Mental Health Conference.
With so much to discuss, Skye sat down with Byrdie to chat about everything from her new sound and tried-and-true beauty staples to her mental health journey. Read on for what she had to say.
On What Her New Music Sounds Like
“As I just get more familiar with the world in this space, I feel like I’ll come up with a name for it. Because I know that it’s not traditional dance, and I don’t want it to feel like that. I want it to feel refreshing and very me. It’s soulful, but still dance—it’s a different space. My friends come to me and are like, ‘So who are some other artists that you feel like… are in this space right now?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’ And that’s not a bad thing, but it is a hard thing, because it’s like, ‘If you were going to go on tour with someone, who would it be?’ And I’m like, ‘I don’t know.’ But that’s also the beauty of it, too. I am venturing into something that’s a new space for me, personally. And I’m not saying that I’m the first person to do such a thing, but I’m trying to evolve it into something that is just refreshingly me.”
@justineskye / Instagram
On the Song She Expects to Hear ‘Out and About’
“I’ve been working with so many different DJs, and they produce as well. Kaytranada did ‘Oh Lala,’ and he also did the remix for it, which I love because I like to go out and hear songs that are familiar, but in a different way. And so it was only right for Kito, who was one of the producers on ‘Bitch in Ibiza,’ to remix it. Those are the songs that you hear out and about.”
On Her Approach to Rave Makeup
“I’ve been trying to do a bit less [day-to-day], something that’s more refreshing, [including at raves]. It’s just kind of, like, clean skin, my lip that I obviously always do, and some blush. Because you’re hot and you’re sweaty and you’re just, like, gross in this party, and you don’t really care about your makeup.”
On Her Must-Have Beauty Products
“I use the Rhode Pocket Blush. I rotate between [shades] depending on what I’m doing. If I’m at the beach, I’ll use a more citrusy one; I’ll use a more berry shade for the daytime, if I’m working, or something like that. It also depends on what color I’m wearing. And then I use the Rhode Peptide Lip Shape in the shade Stretch. And on top of that, I use MAC Chestnut to outline. And then I use the Rhode Peptide Lip Tint in Toast on top for color, or the regular Rhode Peptide Lip Treatment.”
On Her Go-To Skincare Routine
“I use Jan Marini Face Cleanser. That’s my number one. I also use the Goop Instant Glow Exfoliator—maybe like once or twice every week or two, or if I feel like my skin needs some buffing. I use the Paula’s Choice 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, like, every day. I use the SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic, and then I use the Rhode Glazing Milk. For sunscreen, I like the Innisfree Sunscreen because there’s no white cast, or the Vacation Super Stick or Studio Tone Bronzing Drops when I want some bronziness. At night, I use the Whipped Beef Tallow and Honey Balm Moisturizer. It really hydrates my skin at night, because I feel like I get dry when I sleep.”
@justineskye / Instagram
On Her Mental Health Journey
“Mental health is super important, and it’s especially important in the youth, because I feel like it starts there; it starts to develop from when you’re young. There was a moment that I was going through in my life where it stemmed from something else, but I realized it was coming from deep within my own personal view of who I was, and my friends and team at the time gathered together to make sure that I had the best possible way to heal from that situation. So, I went to a [wellness] camp called Onsite, and it actually changed and saved my life.”
On Her Wellness Routine
“I do work out, but I don’t enjoy it. I wish I did. I like to be realistic with myself, and that’s something that I also learned at Onsite. They told me, ‘Don’t set goals for yourself that are too ambitious at this point. You have to grow to it.’ Being like, ‘I need to be in the gym every single day,’ you’re just going to disappoint yourself if you don’t actually do that. You have to build up to the discipline. So, I try to go at least twice a week, whether it’s walking on the treadmill or just some form of activity.
On the Healing Technique That’s Been Life Changing
“I used to react so instantly. And then I [would realize], ‘Oh, I wish I had said something else.’ And sometimes it’s just your genuine feeling at the time, your natural reaction. But I think being able to process your emotions before responding to certain intense situations is super important. And whoever it is that’s on the other side of it should understand and give you that grace, as well, to set the boundary with yourself and with others.”
@justineskye / Instagram
On Working With Nike—and the Partnership She Dreams of Next
“It was awesome. It was such a large production, too, and the fact that it got to go along with the release of ‘Oh Lala’—I couldn’t believe it. I mean, Nike is just such a classic brand and household name, so to work with them was really, really cool. Dream partnership? I won’t say any specific names, but it’s definitely a beauty campaign of some sort.”
On Her Favorite Part of Being a Musician
“What’s so beautiful about my career is that it is personal. So even if I think I’m playing, it’s still work.”
On Her Favorite Way to Spend a Day Off
“If I do have a day off, one of my hobbies, I guess, is binge-watching. I watch way too many things, and I’ve seen way too many shows. I have a superpower of binge-watching something. Like, I go episode to episode, and I’ll finish a whole season.”
