We tapped the world’s most talented makeup artists to share their top tips of all time. From Pat McGrath to Sam Fine and Charlotte Tilbury, these makeup magicians know what works and what doesn’t. Below, you’ll find takeaways for everyone, whether you love to go full glam or embrace a no-makeup makeup look.
The Best Makeup Tips From Celebrity Makeup Artists
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Pat McGrath, Founder of Pat McGrath Labs
“Sometimes I like to use my fingers to apply makeup as opposed to brushes because it allows more control over the pressure against the skin and can blend better with the heat from my fingers. It is easy to apply foundation, concealer and eyeshadow with your fingers, and you can smudge or even out the pigment as desired. This technique inspired many of my products.”
Sir John, celebrity makeup artist
“Lean into ‘Dopamine Glam’ and ‘Dopamine Living.’ It’s basically the anti-trend. Choose products, styles and applications that make you feel amazing when you apply them, when you see them and when you get a glimpse of yourself in the mirror. That’s the challenge. That’s the outlook.”
Pati Dubroff, CHANEL makeup artist
“It’s all about lighting! Lighting can change our perception about how we look at any time. If you apply your makeup in unfavorable lighting conditions, it could cause you to overdo it, like trying to cover shadows that are not there or choosing the incorrect shades. I tell everyone to try to apply their makeup in natural light, ideally near a window, to get the truest perspective. This also applies to photography. Try to find the most flattering light to capture your selfie and boost your self-esteem!”
Lisa Eldridge, founder of Lisa Eldridge Beauty
“Early in my career, I suffered a bout of adult acne, which really knocked my confidence. I then honed a targeted concealing technique that allowed my skin to look as naturally perfected as possible, and it has been my secret weapon ever since. Pinpoint Concealing is all about precisely concealing only the areas you feel are absolutely necessary to disguise. Simply tap an intense-coverage, creamy concealer directly on top of the blemish or area. Then, randomly dot around the surrounding area to ensure the edge of the concealer isn’t too uniform. This cheats the eye away from the concealing. Lastly, lightly blend the edges to ensure a seamless finish.”
Bobbi Brown, founder of Jones Road Beauty
“Smile. Make sure you’re looking at yourself in good lighting—natural light is the best. And don’t be afraid to add a little glow to your face every day.”
Vincent Oquendo, celebrity makeup artist
“Roll with the mistakes. Sometimes, when something goes left, I follow through with it and end up someplace unexpected and more exciting than I previously imagined.”
Sandy Linter, makeup artist and author of The Makeup Wakeup and Disco Beauty
“Never put eye cream on your eyelids before doing your eye makeup. You cannot do good eye makeup with moisturized eyelids. Everything just blurs and disappears. Instead, opt for a good eyelid primer. If you find they are too dry, use a concealer. Also, lip pencils should go on smooth and creamy. They should not be dry and tug on your skin.”
Patrick Ta, cofounder of Patrick Ta Beauty
“A tip I’ll always stand by, and what our blushes have become so well-known for, is to start by applying your powder blush to set your base first, then add your cream blush on top to bring that glow back to your skin. This also allows your blush to last longer and really show up beautifully in photos.”
Priscilla Ono, Fenty Beauty global makeup artist
“Don’t be afraid of setting powders! So many people powder their makeup after it’s on and leave a white cast, but applying a powder with a translucent, natural matte finish is the trick to making your look last.”
Mario Dedivanovic, founder and CEO of Makeup by Mario
“My favorite tip is what I call ‘editing oneself’ throughout makeup application. It sounds simple, but this is something a lot of artists struggle with. It’s about learning to shut off the autopilot feature in our artistry, where we often add a step out of habit versus necessity. Before reaching for the next product, I ask myself, ‘Is this going to enhance her features further, or is the makeup starting to look too heavy?’ Editing my makeup ensures I get the most flattering, beautiful result every time.”
Sam Fine, celebrity makeup artist
“I’ve often found that a woman is one product away from experiencing transformative results. So, pick up a bronzer to add warmth to your skin, select a loose powder—instead of pressed—to set your under-eye area for a creaseless finish, purchase an ultra-fine eyebrow pencil to make hair-like strokes…and c’mon! Also, try using a lip liner that matches your skin tone for added depth before applying lipstick or gloss.”
Charlotte Tilbury, founder of Charlotte Tilbury Beauty
“I have always been known for my signature Tilbury glow. That is why they call me the Queen of Glow, darling! I have always been obsessed with Old Hollywood light tricks, and one of my top tips is to apply highlighter on the high points of the face: the cheekbones, the top and tip of the nose, and anywhere the light naturally catches. This gives a flattering, lifted and radiant glow! You can also dot it on the inner corners of your eyes to widen and brighten them.”
