Beauty Biographies is a column where we ask some of our favourite people to reflect on the beauty items that have influenced their lives and have a sentimental place in their heart. From their grandmother’s perfume to the eyeshadow they wore to their first dance these are the products that have had a significant impact on them and that instantly transport them back to a particular time, place, or person.

Combining influences of soul, R&B, hip hop and jazz, Sasha Keable’s music brims with melody and personality, harkening back to the greats of late 90s and early 2000s R&B, while straddling the contemporary South London jazz scene. Her lyrics are infused with as much attitude as the late-great Amy Winehouse, but Keable’s velvety voice is both beautifully husky and incredibly smooth in its own way – so smooth in fact, she’s earned a varied list of collaborators and co-signers, from Angel Haze to Tinie Tempah to Disclosure. 

Earlier this year, the 25-year-old South-London native of Colombian descent released her new EP ‘Man,’ a four-track record that explores and examines Keable’s complex relationship with men. “I love them and hate them all at the same time,” she says. “I find a lot of humour within the way I interact with them which is why my songs might sound quite bitter and angry but they are always simply taking the piss a bit.” Here Keable talks us through her life in beauty products.

Maybelline Dream Matte Mousse

Was life even worth living if you didn’t have this in Year 8? I was probably one of the only girls I knew that wore it close to my actual shade, but caked on it still gave me that lifeless matte look I was after, especially applied all over my lips as well.

Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

I remember going on a day trip to Selfridges with my mum around my 15th birthday to “find my scent”. I sniffed pretty much every perfume and then I found it: the most sickly sweet perfume there (apart from Britney Spears ‘Fantasy’ but I left that behind in Year 9, obv). I’ve got a bottle of leftover Flowerbomb in my draw and sometimes I’ll have a smell to revisit my teens.

MAC Ruby Woo Lipstick

This was my go-to colour when I was 16/17, I think I “borrowed it” from my mum's make-up bag and never looked back. I used to wear just that and mascara and let me tell you it was a LOOK. I probably still have that same one in my make-up bag somewhere.

Miss Sporty Clear Mascara

Now, this might sound like a bunch of shit, but let me tell you a little story. I went to a proper strict Catholic school and we were by no means allowed to wear make-up of any sort so every morning I used to lather this on, when I say lather I mean LATHERRR, and I used to think I was so smart and looked so great with my big fluffy eyelashes, I never got caught for wearing makeup and that’s because it was ABSOLUTE CRAP and was literally like putting water on your eyelashes.. but it kept me happy and I lived by it so I have to stay loyal.

Lancôme Juicy Tube

This lipgloss was EVERYTHING. My sister and I used to live off of this and I am yet to find a lipgloss with the same 2000’s Blu Cantrell gloss levels tbh.

Glossier Haloscope

THIS PRODUCT IS MY LIFE. I wear it under my makeup or with no makeup on at all, it’s the best most natural highlight I’ve ever tried and it’s so easy to apply, I’m pretty obsessed with all glossier make-up, to be honest, it’s so lightweight and perfect for no-make-up make-up.