Dolly Parton Talks About Makeup Line, Dolly Beauty: Says It Stands Out “Because It’s Mine”
Dolly Parton has always been a beauty icon, and now, at 78, she’s giving fans a chance to capture some of her signature glam with the launch of her new makeup line, Dolly Beauty. Known for her bold style and timeless charm, Dolly is proving once again that she’s a force to be reckoned with in the beauty world.
The first product she teased in August? Lipstick, of course! And not just any shade — the hero color of the collection is a fiery red named Jolene Red, inspired by her classic hit song. “You think of her as a red-hot mama,” Dolly told PEOPLE with a smile, describing the shade as one that “everybody could use.”
Dolly Beauty, launched under Scent Beauty, kicked off with four Heaven’s Kiss Lipsticks: Jolene Red, Rosebud, Birthday Suit, and Honey Plum. Dolly later added lip liners and glosses to complete the perfect lip routine. Ever the queen of mixing and matching, she encourages her customers to play around with the shades just like she does. “Everybody has different tastes,” she says, giving fans full permission to create their own signature looks.
For Dolly, Jolene Red is her go-to for special occasions like the holidays, but she keeps it more neutral for everyday wear. “It’s a good time of year for me to wear my Jolene Red and… the gold gloss really goes pretty with that too,” she explained, referring to her Hi-Gloss Lips in Gold Dust.
She, however, clarified that there’s nothing wrong with being “really be out there” and letting the red “be red.”
On regular days, she prefers the Hi-Definition Lip Liner in Dawn paired with Birthday Suit lipstick for a softer, natural look.
Dolly goes on to reveal that her beauty line is just getting started. Although there’s a limited selection of colors for now, she’s working on expanding the range. And yes, she tests every product herself!
“When I first got [the products], I took them home, and then I would do it almost like a job. I would get in front of my makeup mirror and then I would just make up [my face], and then I would put [a potential lipcolor] on, and then I’d look and I’d think, ‘well, I really like that.’ Then I’d take it all off,” she explains.
Testing didn’t stop at just the makeup — Dolly also matched her lip colors with her outfits. “I’d lay [clothes] on my shoulder and think, this color looks good with that,” she says, laughing about how much fun she had playing with her own products.
After launching her lip collection, Dolly expanded into eye products, releasing a mascara and eyeliner in October. And in true Dolly fashion, she’s found a unique use for her Hi-Definition Eye Pencil. “I have a little beauty mark, and I use my little brown pencil to touch that up a little bit,” she reveals. “It’s for real, but I still like to keep it touched up a little.”
Despite the crowded celebrity beauty market, Dolly is confident that Dolly Beauty stands out. Why? “Because it’s mine,” she says. As someone who has always loved makeup and is known for her glamorous looks, creating her own line just made sense. And teaming up with Scent Beauty, the company behind her successful fragrance line, made it all the easier.
“Why not do it now while I’m still young enough to sell it and old enough to make people want to use it ’cause they think it can keep you young?” Dolly jokes.
