4 Makeup Artist Hacks for a Flawless Base

Prep your skin like a pro!

Ever wonder how makeup artists make skin look so good or why Hollywood looks so flawless? Here are some of the easiest makeup artist tricks you can use at home to perfect your base. A few of these hacks have even gone viral on TikTok! Makeup artists are all about skin, mixing and matching, repurposing products, changing up the order and customizing and Gen Z is all about that.

1. Foundation

  • Shobana describes the Foundation TikTok and its connection to makeup artistry
  • Normal to Oily skin: Use a powder and setting spray AFTER skincare and BEFORE FOUNDATION
  • Normal to Dry skin: Use a setting spray AFTER skincare, DURING makeup and AFTER makeup to hydrate the skin and melt makeup into skin
  • Brands: NYX Primer, Milk Setting Spray

2. Contouring

This 10-second contour can be messy, so try this instead:

  • Inclusive colours that are easy to use
  • Simply apply from the ear, under cheekbone for an inch
  • Use the applicator to blend UP and out (Lift effect)
  • Celebrity Brand: Makeup by Mario

3. Blush 

This Blush Application TikTok was a fail for me, but here is what worked:

  • Use a multi-purpose product on the face and lips for a cohesive finish
  • Place under foundation and/or lightly go over blush with a foundation brush
  • Place on high points of cheekbone versus apples for a lift
  • Celebrity Fave/Brand: Tower 28 (Clean, Cult fave, Asian Founded, Fave of Janelle Monae’s MUA
    and Little X – Jessica Smalls (BIPOC))

4. Oil/Balm Cleansing

  • A large part of MUA time is spent on skin prep
  • The better your skin looks and feels, the better your makeup will look
  •  Minimal skincare routine – make up remover, cleanser, moisturizer, sunscreen
  • Some TikTok creators SWEAR by cleansing oils to remove makeup and clear pores – like this Cleansing Oil TikTok
  • Brand: Biossance

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