I grew up with the greats of late ’90s and early 2000s pop culture—the Spice Girls, B*Witched, and Destiny’s Child. Girl groups were at their peak, but their music, personalities, and killer style inspired an entire generation for years to come. Now, girl groups are back in a big way. If you watched Pop Star Academy: Katseye on Netflix, you’ll know what I’m talking about.
Pop Star Academy took us on an emotional roller-coaster ride alongside a group of young women competing to be in the global pop group Katseye. I laughed, I cried, but most of all, I cheered for each of the finalists with everything I had. I knew how their success took literal blood, sweat, and tears to get there.
Once the group was fully formed, the women hit the ground running. With a new single, “Gnarly,” out and an EP being released in June, they’re busier than ever. When they’re not making music, they’re partnering with brands they use and love, like Glossier and Invisalign. I sat down with Manon Bannerman and Sophia Laforteza of the group to chat about why they love these brands and other beauty products they swear by.
Is your partnership with Invisalign personal to the both of you?
Manon Bannerman: I feel like it’s a very personal partnership because it was super organic. We were using Invisalign before, and then the brand came to us and said, “Hey, we love you guys. Would you like to work together?” And I was like, “Yes!” Literally, ever since I was a trainee [on Pop Star Academy], I couldn’t wait to get Invisalign aligners because my teeth were always such a big insecurity of mine. I have a little gap right here, which is cute, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but for my preference, I kind of wanted it to be gone. Since I got Invisalign, I really just feel like I can laugh again.
Sophia Laforteza: Just like Manon, I was so excited [when I got them]. I wanted to do Invisalign because it’s so easy. It’s something that you can just take off and put back on. It’s invisible, and it’s so easy to take around with you. I feel like it was the most convenient [thing] and something that made the most sense—especially for what we do every day.
Definitely! It’s probably so easy to incorporate into your routine. Can you both tell me what your morning and evening skincare routine is like?
MB: In the morning, I honestly just use water on my face, but my evening routine is a little bit more advanced. There’s a lot more stuff in there. I use [my Mario Badescu] cleanser, a toner [from the brand Fresh], a very thick night cream, and then my prescription.
SL: In the morning, the first thing I do is take my Invisalign aligners out. Literally, that’s the first thing I do, and then I brush my teeth. I wash my face with cold water and use a hydrating cleanser. I have a full skincare routine in the morning, and I love to massage my face. Sometimes, I use a gua sha, but I get kind of lazy [sometimes], so I just use my hands, and then I use a bunch of serums. I use hyaluronic acid, an [Anua] toner with heartleaf in it, then I moisturize and put [on] sunscreen. Right when I finish my skincare, I let it sit for a little bit. Sometimes, I actually do face masks in the morning, too, especially if I’m going to do my makeup a little heavier [when] we’re going to shoot something or do interviews.
For my nighttime [routine], I pretty much do almost the same thing, but I end it with [a thicker moisturizer], like [the Laneige] Water Sleeping Mask. I recommended it to everybody—it’s my favorite thing ever. It’s actually my saving grace because I’m also on Accutane, and it dries me out like crazy. I need to look like I’m sugarcoated before I go to bed, and when I wake up and rinse that off with cold water in the morning, I feel like a baby. I’ve been changing up my moisturizer to more of a watery consistency. I’m using [Round Lab] right now. … I’m really loving more of a jelly, watery, moisturizing consistency just because it feels really light and refreshing.
What about your current makeup routine? Do you guys have any favorites you’re obsessed with right now?
SL: I’m currently obsessed with Futuredew from Glossier. I actually added it to my skincare routine because we’re doing a campaign with Glossier. Today was the first day where I decided to put it on my whole face before I did my makeup just so I could look awake and hydrated. I think that one right now is my favorite thing. My goal is just hydration and looking like I drink water.
MB: For me, it’s the Dior foundation stick. I got it in Korea, and it makes my skin look like AI! I’m a firm believer that it’s about what you put on before you put on makeup to make your makeup look good. I also dermaplane my face [beforehand] to make it look smoother. What I can share more about my brow routine is that I shave both the top and bottom of my brows—really shaving it all.
SL: This is really random, but I went to my aunt’s house, and I was wearing my [Invisalign] aligners, and then she was like, “Sophia, did you get lip filler? It kind of makes [it look like you have a pout].” I was like, “No, I didn’t. I’m wearing my Invisalign.” [Laughs]
Who knew? Invisalign is the secret to fuller-looking lips! Do you guys have any go-to products you like to use before a performance?
MB: Just a really good setting spray! The One/Size [Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray is my favorite].
SL: That one’s really good! Right now, I’m using a [setting spray from a] Korean brand [called So Natural All Day Tight Make Up Setting Fixx]. And it’s in a pastel-pink bottle. It’s so good.
Have you guys picked up any good tips from your makeup artists and hairstylists?
MB: All the time! We pick up little tips and tricks.
SL: I learned how to do my eyeliner. I feel like I never knew how to do it. I learned how to do eyeliner for my specific eye shape. … I grew up watching a lot of Western beauty YouTubers, and then I would try to do eyeliner that wasn’t meant for my eyes. … When we started working with all these different makeup artists and they all had their different styles, I learned how to do my eyeliner—not just to do it in general but in different ways. I know now how to do it if I want to downturn, [keep it] straight, or even lifted. I think that was something that really changed my routine. [I] also just [learned] how to apply things, where I can apply blush, and how it changes my face. I’m so attentive when people are doing my glam because I’m so eager to learn how they see my face and how they want to accentuate it.
MB: During our Korea promo trip, I had fake bangs, and they would take strands and glue them on so they would not move. Sometimes, they would even glue them on the brows.
What do you guys like to do when you need a self-care moment? Are there any practices that help keep you grounded when you’re super busy?
MB: I love getting a good massage. I can’t go on my phone, and I’m forced to just stay in my head and relax. … Nowadays, our lives are so busy. We don’t get a lot of moments where we just can be on our own and be in our head, really, so I feel like I’ve been getting a lot of massages lately.
That’s always my favorite way to have a self-care moment too. Can you guys tell me a little more about your new single “Gnarly” and your upcoming EP Beautiful Chaos dropping in June?
MB: It’s so exciting! I can’t wait for it to drop. We poured our hearts into this, and it feels so authentic to who we are in this moment, so it’s just going to be super exciting. The songs are going to be amazing, and the next song [from the EP] may or may not come really soon.
What else are you guys excited about for the rest of the year?
SL: Lollapalooza! We’re doing a lot of performances this year that are a first and part of our bucket list. We’re really excited to do that because a big part of … we want to be known for, especially as Katseye, is what we bring [to the table].
MB: I’m also excited to reach my final aligner trays for Invisalign!
SL: Same! I was looking at my old Instagram photos, and then I was looking at these selfies that I took now, and I can see the difference.
Shop Manon and Sophia’s Beauty Favorites
Mario Badescu Skin Care
Enzyme Cleansing Gel
ANUA
Heartleaf 77 Soothing Toner
LANEIGE
Water Sleeping Mask With Niacinamide & Squalane
ROUND LAB
Birch Juice Moisturizing Cream
Glossier
Futuredew Facial Oil-Serum Hybrid
DIOR
Forever Skin Perfect 24H Multi-Use Foundation Stick
ONE/SIZE
Powder Melt Glass Setting Spray
So Natural
All Day Tight Make Up Setting Fixx
