Nessa Barrett has had a whirlwind year. Over 14 months, she poured her heart into her debut album, Young Forever, which was released in October. With songs like "Die First" and "Talk to Myself," the album serves as a personal account of Nessa's past relationships, her internal battles with self-image, and even a tribute to her late best friend, Cooper Noriega. Within the same month of releasing the album, Nessa performed at the While We Were Young Festival in Las Vegas, which serves as a love letter to the emo and pop-punk genres, and had a special one-night-only performance at Los Angeles' El Rey Theater.
Over the years, the 20-year-old TikToker-turned-musician has gained a dedicated fan base of nearly 27 million followers across social media because of her sweet demeanor and raw approach to her music. But what has made Nessa Barrett the star we know and love today?
Nessa sat down with Seventeen to break down all the things that make her, her. She deep dives into her fave beauty products, emotional support stuffed animals, and even her dream car. Here's everything you'll find in Nessa Barrett's Seventeen Starter Pack.
Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush and Sephora Collection #96 Blush Brush
Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush
Sephora Collection PRO Blush Brush #96
Like most TikTok beauty buffs, Nessa has found a tried and true staple in Dior's Backstage Rosy Glow Blush. To apply, Nessa uses the Sephora Collection Pro Blush Brush #96, but she says any brush works. The baby pink blush has gone viral, and with good reason. "I never leave anywhere without it," Nessa tells Seventeen. "I feel like I go a little overboard on the blush. I feel like that's a signature thing for me and my makeup."
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540 Eau de Parfum
"I'm the biggest gatekeeper, but only for my scent and my perfume," Nessa says, admitting that she used to show the label quickly without saying the name. She's since revealed that she wears Maison Francis Kurkdjian's Baccarat Rouge 540, which has already made waves on TikTok. "I've been using this specific perfume since high school, even before I lived in LA," Nessa dishes.
Custom Claw Clip
Claw clips are making a huge comeback, and an it-girl like Nessa is definitely in on the beloved beauty trend. She customized and bedazzled her own clip with the word "cowboy" as an ode to her spam account and alter ego, Baby Cowboy (the ones that get it, get it).
"[The clip] is a slay moment. Sometimes, I don't even want to put my hair up and I clip it onto my sweatshirt to add some character," Nessa explains.
Stuffed Animal
Bearington Collection Lil' Doodles Small Plush Labradoodle Stuffed Animal
Bearington Collection Lil' Doodles Small Plush Labradoodle Stuffed Animal
"Stuffed animals are 100% on my starter pack," Nessa tells Seventeen. "I think that there's something so comforting about this — anything that makes you feel like a kid again."
Extra Peppermint Chewing Gum
Extra Extra Peppermint Chewing Gum (Pack of 10)
Extra Extra Peppermint Chewing Gum (Pack of 10)
Raise your hand if chewing gum boosts your ego. 🙋🙋🙋 At least, it helps with Nessa's confidence.
"I feel like if I don't have a piece of gum in my mouth, I get a little insecure," Nessa dishes. "For some reason, I'm just like, 'Oh my God, does my breath smell?'"
Journal and Pen
Moleskine Moleskine Classic Hardcover Ruled Notebook
Paperage Gel Pens With Retractable Extra Fine Point (0.5mm)
"I like doing things the old-fashioned way," Nessa says in regard to writing in her journal. "It's nice to write down things in the Notes app on your phone, but do you really feel it?" She writes everything from her thoughts and therapy exercises to poetry and lyrics in her journal.
Pill Case
Nessa has been transparent about her mental health and her journey with therapy and medication and has also detailed her diagnosis of borderline personality disorder, anxiety, and depression. Since then, she has started using mood stabilizers and ADHD medication to help, and she keeps them in pill cases from Urban Outfitters.
Nessa has also used her platform to talk about her personal experiences and ultimately help others going through similar journeys. "When I decided that I was going to be vocal about all of my experiences and advocate for others that don't really have a voice, I realized I had to be honest. I was like, ‘hey, I really need to work on myself,’ because if I want to help other people, I need to be able to help myself first," Nessa said in her January 2022 Seventeen cover story.
Her manager/BFF, Bree Shepherd
Nessa credits her manager, Bree Shepherd, as the person she can't live without. "This is Bree, my momager, my sister, my best friend, and she does everything that I am too lazy to do," she jokingly says before pulling Bree in for a hug. "Basically, we've been through way too much and I wouldn't be me without her. I don't go anywhere without her," she continues.
Porsche Convertible Car
After years of hard work, Nessa purchased a Porsche convertible — a.k.a her dream car. "I finally got my dream car and I'm happy. And I have a key," she tells Seventeen. "I'm that girl that's like, 'Oh my God, are we leaving yet?'" she jokes, swinging the key around her finger.
In-Ear Monitors
BASN Bmaster in Ear Monitor Headphones
If you've ever performed on a stage with a band, then you're probably familiar with in-ear monitors. Basically, all your fave singers wear these so they can hear themselves over the instruments and hear messages from producers backstage. Since Nessa just dropped a new album, she has a few performances lined up and wanted to grab a new pair of in-ears.
"I got new ones for these next few shows coming up, so I'm very excited, so I've honestly been using them as headphones, that way I can get comfortable," Nessa dishes.
Tattoos
Aside from her relatable and moody music, Nessa is most known for her cute tattoos. "I go through periods where I get a little insecure and I sometimes wish I didn't have any at all," Nessa explains. "Then I just kinda remember that I probably wouldn't be who I am without my tattoos."
Sam is an assistant news editor at Cosmo, covering all things pop culture, entertainment, and celebrity news. She previously covered those same topics along with health, lifestyle, and beauty at Seventeen. When she isn't draping her cheeks in blush, you can probably find her live-tweeting awards shows or making SwiftToks.
