THE BEAUTY INDUSTRY THROUGH MOKGADI SHOGOLE’S EYES

Words: Jamal Grootboom | Images: Supplied

M·A·C Cosmetics - a brand synonymous with quality, variety and fun. With their innovative formulas, environmental initiatives, and inclusive shade range, M·A·C has become a staple in working artists' kits and a go-to for beauty enthusiasts.

We sat down with the M·A·C Cosmetics National Artist Mokgadi Shogole where he shared about his journey in makeup, the beauty landscape and why inclusivity is important for a makeup brand.

Hailing from Polokwane in Limpopo, Mokgadi accidentally ended up in makeup while studying fashion design and working in retail where he found himself attracted to the makeup counter. “I really felt if people can look that good and feel that good, I want to do that. And that's how I actually got into makeup,” he shares.

On the popularity of makeup, Mokgadi says, “we are at an age where people really want to express themselves for who they are, and people are no longer following the trend of wanting to look a certain way or look like other people.”

The beauty industry has always been a juggernaut in the consumer market. The rise of the YouTube beauty community in the 2010s catapulted it into a new stratosphere with influencers and celebrity brands popping up everywhere. This also led to people going from casual consumers to full-on makeup enthusiasts. Mokgadi pins down the rise of social media, specifically Instagram, playing a part in this as people “get a lot of encouragement from seeing what other people are doing on social media.” He adds that there was a shift in sentiment around makeup, as “a lot of people started seeing that makeup is not just to cover or to hide behind a face.”

M·A·C has always been a leader in inclusivity, with a wide shade range that has been extended even further in recent years. Speaking about why shade range inclusivity is so important, Mokgadi emphasises that “M·A·C has always looked at the world for what it is.”

The increased importance of shade range inclusivity inspired a greater understanding that makeup is for everyone - not just women. Mokgadi feels that like clothing, makeup has also become genderless. “People should be able to wear whatever they want and also express themselves however they want,” he says. “Like the world today, we have he, she, they because gender is really fluid. With makeup, it's the same.”

Makeup application and skincare work hand-in-hand since your skin is the foundation for your products. “Beautiful makeup starts with good skin,” Modgadi states. M·A·C recently released their Hyper Real range, allowing them to extend their innovative technology to skincare. This skincare line has infused Japanese peony extract with pure hyaluronic acid, niacinamide and ceramides to strengthen the skin’s barrier, improve texture and lock in moisture.

Known for its devoted following, M·A·C’s product range has cult favourites that many people live for. Mokgadi’s top five products include FIX+, Studio Fix fluid foundation, Studio Fix Powder Plus Foundation, M·A·CStack mascara and Lipglass.