Celeste Barber on Body Shaming, Fame and Wanking: “I have no interest in fame.”

“When did makeup become so bloody stressful, and why are the only beauty products targeted at women over a certain age anti-ageing creams?” she asks. For Celeste, it’s not about reinventing the wheel but simplifying it. “I love makeup, but I wanted to make something that celebrates the best version of you without the fuss.”

Launched alongside business partner Claire Greaves, Booie is a tightly edited five-piece collection aiimed at women who don’t have time for lengthy tutorials or an arsenal of products. The range delivers high-quality, cruelty-free essentials that are easy to use and, crucially, fun. Known for her candid humor and ability to skewer societal norms with a wink, Barber has taken the leap from critic to creator—on her terms.

In our exclusive interview, Celeste dives deep into her motivations, the challenges she’s faced, and why, despite everything, she’s all about celebrating the real, unapologetic you.

Sig: Celeste, you’ve made a career out of skewering beauty and celebrity culture in the most hilarious way—what was the defining moment when you knew you had to jump into the beauty industry with Booie?

Celeste: I really wanted to make products specifically for my audience, for my ladies who love makeup but are really overwhelmed by it. I’ve always loved makeup and wanted to create a range of products to ‘get you out the door.’ I feel the makeup game has become so complicated, and I wanted to make uncomplicated, good quality products that bring out the best version of you.

Sig: You’re no stranger to bold moves—like launching Booie with no investors and tipping in your own savings. That’s a big risk! What gave you the confidence to take such a leap, and what keeps you grounded when fear or doubt creeps in?

Celeste: I want to be my own boss. You have such little control as an actor, even as an executive producer; there are so many people that make decisions for you in the entertainment industry, and I wanted to answer to no one with BOOIE. I have a really clear view of what BOOIE is and who it’s for, and I didn’t want to answer to investors who are pushing me to make purple mascara because it’s what their wives like. I wanted to back myself because I really believe in Booie and what we have created.

Sig: Your comedy is deeply rooted in self-deprecation and authenticity. How do you ensure that Booie stays true to that same authentic spirit while being a beauty brand?

Celeste: It’s all about being the best version of you. That’s what I celebrate and what BOOIE celebrates. My main currency is my sense of humour, my relatability and ability to laugh at myself, that’s what I put out into the world, I’m unapologetically myself and I want all my BOOIE BABES to put the best version of themselves forward, however that looks.

Sig: We love that Booie is aimed at women over 28 who don’t have time to overcomplicate their beauty routines. What are your go-to products when you only have five minutes to get out the door?

Celeste: I use our BOOIE base face every day. Our 5 products that are easy to use and help get you out the door. That’s why I created them, to help get me out the door. I’ve got ADHD and time blindness is a real thing so I created this simple routine to help me out. I use them every single day.

Sig: You’ve collaborated with big names in the fashion and beauty world like Tom Ford, MCo Beauty, and now Claire Greaves with Booie. What’s been the most important lesson you’ve learned from these collaborations?

Celeste: Tom Ford taught me how to step into my power, to back myself and be proud of what I have created, he’s also a fabulous kisser. Shelly Sullivan is an incredible business woman, what she created with MCO is inspiring, she really knows who her audience is. I have been a big admirer of Claire from afar for years, She is such a smart and clever business woman, I’m learning so much from her, I couldn’t do any of this without her, I’m so grateful were working together on this.

Sig: Let’s talk about body image. You’ve always been outspoken about body shaming being a multi-billion dollar industry. How do you think brands can genuinely support body positivity without just jumping on the trend?

Celeste: Start including all sizes in their range. It’s still crazy to me that when I walk into a store and their biggest size is a 12 and they expect that i won’t say something about it. We are done with being gaslighted into thinking that smaller sizes deserve more than other sizes, I’m really bored of it. It’s not rocket science, just include all sizes as a business model as opposed to a trend.

Sig: You once said you’ve had to ‘call out a lot of bullshit.’ What’s a piece of beauty or celebrity culture ‘bullshit’ you think people still aren’t calling out enough?

Celeste: Body Shaming. Putting Ashley Graham on a runway once a year to tick a box is bullshit. She should be on every runway and every magazine all the time because she is incredible, inclusivity isn’t a trend, and the fashion industry are the absolute worst at this, they have a lot of power and influence and need to do better.

Sig: You’ve had heart surgery, dealt with ADHD, and juggled a wildly busy career with motherhood. How do you keep your mental and physical health in check? Any beauty or wellness rituals that help you unwind and recharge?

Celeste: I practice the 3 W’s.
Walking, wine and wanking.

Sig: When you were developing Booie, was there a specific type of woman or beauty routine you had in mind? What do you hope women feel when they use your products?

Celeste: I hope they feel excellent and fresh and looked after. I wanted to make something that I was lacking in my routine, simple, easy and affordable, a range that doesn’t require a 75 minute makeup tutorial to understand.

Sig: You’ve mentioned that being in the public eye can be a strange space to navigate, especially as someone who became famous by satirizing that very space. How do you balance being ‘in it’ while still making fun of it?

Celeste: I have no interest in fame. none at all. I’m an actor by trade and I understand that fame can be a byproduct of what I do, but I really don’t like it. I love acting, I love comedy and I love creating BOOIE and that’s what I focus on and it takes a lot of work, all the other stuff is white noise.

Sig: You’ve got a lot of celebrity fans, from Tom Ford to Jennifer Coolidge. What’s the most starstruck moment you’ve had, and who’s someone you’d still love to meet?

Celeste: JANET JACKSON! I had the opportunity to meet her and I completely fucked it up, I was so nervous because she is my absolute idol. My husband thinks it’s weird that I don’t get starstruck around people. Then he saw me with Janet Jackson and couldn’t believe how crazy I was.

Sig: In an age where beauty brands are fixated on ‘anti-aging,’ Booie focuses on simplifying routines for real women. How did you decide on that direction, and how do you feel about the societal pressure to stay ‘youthful’?

Celeste: Ageing is such a gift, I lost 3 of my best friends before the age of 40, we are so so lucky to get older and I want to celebrate that, I think I’m so much more beautiful now in my 40’s than I’ve ever been and that’s what BOOIE does, it celebrates all our lines and creases like the beauty masks they are.

Sig: Between your stand-up, TV roles, films, and Booie, you’ve got so much going on. What’s your secret to juggling it all, and how do you avoid burnout?

Celeste: I’m not great at balance. That’s what I’m trying to work on this year.. The entertainment industry is so unpredictable, you get used to the rollercoaster of feast or famine. You never know if you’re going to get another job, so when work comes up I say YES YES YES, that’s the actor in me. But i’m working on it.

Sig: You’ve mentioned your ‘word of the year’ is ‘proud.’ With everything you’ve accomplished—from your comedy career to Booie—what’s been your proudest moment so far?

Celeste: Its not so much a moment as it is I’m proud of how far I have come on my terms. When I look back I’m really proud that I have remained myself in an industry that tries so hard to mould women into an ideal. I’ve generated my own work on my own terms, for the most part. And of being able to do my 4th world tour this year, on my terms and launch BOOIE that has been inside my head for years.