When people think of drag queens, they obviously think of makeup before they ever think of skincare. But skincare is an essential part of the equation when you’re creating a bold drag look, both before to prep and after to remove and soothe.

That’s why when we connected with Regina Gently, a Toronto-based drag queen and DJ, and discovered she was a Graydon Skincare fan, we just had to learn more about her skincare dos and don'ts, plus some of her background as a drag queen, DJ, and all around creative person!

An Interview with Regina Gently

Can you introduce yourself and what you do to our readers?

I’m Regina Gently, a drag performer, DJ, songwriter, and singer. I have an extensive history of playing in bands and being a singer/songwriter as my boy self. So when I started drag, I knew my focus would be on singing live and writing my own material (not to say I can’t throw down a lip sync here and there!). Then, when I started DJing, I thought, this should be done as my drag persona. From there, DragQueenDJ was created, and now I DJ corporate events, weddings, arts festivals, parties, wherever they want me!

How did you get into drag?

My entire 2000s in Toronto was playing in bands. My main ones were Gentleman Reg and The Hidden Cameras. I also sang with Broken Social Scene many times and pretty much anyone who wanted to collaborate! But at a certain point, I wanted to switch it up and not just form another band.

I came from a very artistic, queer, DIY world and I’d had friends pressuring me to do drag for years, and eventually they just booked me to perform at The Beaver (a one-time institutional west end queer space) and that was it. My fate was handed to me!

Why is it important to have a skincare routine when you do drag?

Drag makeup is a lot of makeup! You need it to stand out, have layers, and it needs to stay in place for however long the gig is. During Pride season, I’ve had days where I’ll have an 11am gig, and then another gig that starts at 11pm! Sometimes it’s an endurance game.  That’s why I always make sure I’m well-hydrated and primed so that I have a good base to build upon. 

And then when the gig is done, the makeup comes off. All of it! You need to clean out those pores, let the skin breathe again, and—for me—hydrate, as I can get very dry and irritated from how much work it is to remove everything. I have never once gone to sleep with a face on and hope to never have to!  

Side note: thank goodness setting sprays were invented! The old school drag method for setting used to be spraying your face with hair spray. No thank you!

Drag makeup can be intense. How do you take care of your skin underneath it all?

When I first started drag 15 years ago now, it wasn’t the reality TV star making machine it’s become. It was still very much niche and relegated to gay bars. There were no millionaire drag queens hawking their makeup lines. So initially, I was using theatre makeup, white clown makeup, and even spirit gum on my eyebrows. It was all really harsh, thick, synthetic everything! 

I need products that perform well but don’t bother my skin.

I really had to move away from that to save myself from nights of watery eyes and irritation!  I have very dry and sensitive skin, not to mention I’m a little bit older than some of the queens (shhh!) so I need to hydrate a lot. 

And I need products that perform well but don’t bother my skin. Luckily with all the innovations in formulas and the trend of combining makeup with skincare, it feels easier than ever to find.

What does your post gig skincare routine look like?

I generally need several cleansers to remove everything. 

I’ll use an oil cleanser or sometimes pure coconut oil to dissolve everything on my eyes, lips and loosen my eyebrows again. Then, I'll use a foam cleanser to get the next layer of foundation. I’ll use either a konjac sponge which I like or a simple cloth, anything that has some texture so you can really scrub.  

By that point, my skin is thirsty so I'll use either a mist or a toner, then moisturize!

You’ve mentioned you use Graydon products, what are your go-tos?

I’ve used many Graydon products over the years! I’ve gone through several bottles of Face Glow in particular. When I’m out of drag, I’m very much just myself and don’t wear daily makeup, but Face Glow covers a bit of my redness and gives a more even tone to my skin!  

I’ve also used the Putty and Berry Rich. I love how thick they are. They feel luxurious and my skin just soaks them up. I love that they also act as an eye cream too, because let’s be honest, sometimes I just can’t be bothered with too many steps!

What do you love about drag?

Drag gave me a whole new person to be and ways to be creative that I’d never accessed before.

I love that drag gave me a new outlet to continue being creative. It can be challenging to keep your artistic soul alive and after many years of being a singer/songwriter, drag gave me a whole new person to be and ways to be creative that I’d never accessed before.

It’s a very powerful and empowering art form. If you’re an introvert or lacking self esteem, I highly recommend it!

Regina’s Skincare Tips

Regina’s skincare routine is full of fantastic tips for everyone, whether you’re dealing with drag-level amounts of makeup or just need a good everyday routine that will support your skin.

Here’s some of our favourite pieces of advice she shared:

• Don’t go to sleep with your makeup on—trust us, your pores will thank you!
• Don’t sacrifice gentleness for efficacy—there’s tons of skincare and makeup products out there that perform well and don’t irritate your skin.
• Try a triple cleanse to remove everything from the face—an oil-based product to get rid of makeup, sunscreen, excess sebum, etc; a foaming cleanser to get rid of dirt + dead skin; and an exfoliation tool like a sponge or washcloth for gentle exfoliation.
• Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! When your skin is extra thirsty, use a facial mist before your moisturizer to lock in extra hydration.
• Keep your routine simple by using multifunctional products—for example, skip eye cream since Putty and Berry Rich work as both moisturizers and eye creams!
• Cover redness without fully committing to makeup with a tinted product like Face Glow.
• Let your skincare and makeup empower you!

Come See Regina (and Us) Live!

We were lucky enough to meet Regina because she’ll be DJing the Lady 5 Drag Pageant on June 7th, 2025. The pageant is put on this year to support 2-Spirited People of the 1st Nations, a Toronto-based organization dedicated to supporting the 2-Spirit community in Ontario.

We’re incredibly excited this year to be donating products to the pageant’s silent auction, and are thrilled to be giving this year’s pageant contestants some Graydon products to try out in their own drag skincare routines!

If you want to join Regina and the Graydon squad at the pageant, grab tickets here.

You should also check out Regina on Instagram and explore her music on Spotify.