As we enter the final stretch of July, summer feels like it’s slipping through our fingers at lightning speed. But no one is riding the season’s whirlwind quite like Kylie Cantrall—the multihyphenate actress, singer and songwriter who seems to be everywhere at once.
Best known for her breakout role as Red—the daughter of the Queen of Hearts (played by Rita Ora)—in Disney’s musical fantasy film Descendants: The Rise of Red, Cantrall is also making serious waves in the music world. Her newly released EP, B.O.Y., which she calls a “dream project,” blends glossy Y2K pop with nostalgic R&B influences, channeling “Britney, Aaliyah, Brandy and Janet in some sort of Bratz-doll blender with a little hint of matcha.” Riding the momentum of this bold musical statement, Cantrall recently launched her first arena tour as part of the high-energy Descendants/Zombies: Worlds Collide Tour. The star-studded lineup also includes Freya Skye, Malia Baker, Malachi Barton, Dara Reneé, Joshua Colley and Mekonnen Knife.
Starting in San Diego, the tour celebrates the chart-topping music from Disney’s “Descendants” and “Zombies” movie franchises, and Cantrall’s schedule is busy and active, delivering a one-of-a-kind interactive live concert night after night as she travels across North America.
“I’m pretty good at letting the day go and resting, but it can be hard when you’re traveling,” shares Cantrall, who says that “practicing self-care daily” is one of her non-negotiables. Another must for her on and off the road: Her finely tuned skin-care routine, which she says she sticks to—no matter the city (or how late the show goes).
“I’m really loving everything by Drunk Elephant right now,” Cantrall says. “It never bothers my skin and it does what it says it’s going to do. I just got a whole bunch of the products and I’m really enjoying using them all.”
Another holy grail on the no-nonsense must list: The iconic $5 Essence mascara. “My makeup artist Caroline used it on my lashes while I was filming and it’s been my go-to ever since!” she says. “And it’s only $4.99; I’m obsessed!”
Cantrall also says her best friend and coworker Baker hold each other accountable for making sure they always wash their face post-performance: “I’m always making sure that I’m cleansing after a day where I’ve had heavy makeup on. Those set days can definitely take a toll on your skin. After having layers and layers of foundation and powder and everything, it’s so important to cleanse at the end of the day and remove all the makeup, all the residue.
