Makeup Influencer Secrets: From an Ex-Tik Tok Influencer

The opinions expressed on this article are the author’s personal and don’t mirror the views of Her Campus.

Have you ever puzzled how all of the Tik Tok influencers get their make-up to look impossibly easy? Why do the #sponsored merchandise all the time work nice in your favourite YouTuber’s channel however appear to be missing whenever you strive them out? As a former Tik Tok influencer myself, I’m right here to let you know all of the secrets and techniques to getting that good on-camera make-up look, methods to discover merchandise that actually work, and my private go-to make-up routine!
First, let me introduce myself! My identify is Logan and my Tik Tok deal with is @loconuttt. You might or might not bear in mind the lady that absolutely failed at reviewing the Aztec Secret clay face masks after which had an allergic response to it… that was me. I began making movies throughout quarantine, sharing my humorous tales from doing associates’ and household’s make-up for occasions and photoshoots (consider it or not, loopy stuff goes down whereas doing individuals’s make-up generally). Shortly thereafter, my account grew to over 120K followers! I began getting model offers and receiving cash from the Creator Fund. In my time as a creator, I realized that there are loads of trade secrets and techniques most inflencers attempt to preserve underneath wraps. Get out your notebooks, and let’s dive in!
*Disclaimer: I’m not a licensed skilled, and all the recommendation on this article is from my very own private experiences.
it’s not all lights and Filters
The haters will say it’s all filters… the reality is, that’s a part of the equation, however influencers nonetheless put in some work to look good for his or her followers. Bright lights wash out loads of the colour and texture that will get picked up in pure lighting, which is why having a superb lighting setup is so essential for high-quality footage and movies. The lights provide a smoothing impact even earlier than the modifying stage. Filter preferences differ, however personally, I by no means most well-liked utilizing a lot of filters if I may get my make-up to look on level beforehand.
In order to counter act the lights, you need to overcompensate with further product. Specifically, the bronzer, coutnour, and blush. When you set a vibrant gentle in your face, naturally, some will mirror. What’s mirrored is the sunshine itself, not the tone that you just positioned on that a part of your face. This is what I imply by lights “wash out the colours” in your pores and skin. Adding a bit of additional blush or bronzer will permit the digital camera to nonetheless decide up on these merchandise in your footage and movies.
Camera high quality additionally performs a HUGE half in how your last look seems. Even although high-definition cameras can provide your submit that further flare, they’ll decide up on some fairly wonderful textures in your pores and skin. Enlarged pores, peach fuzz, and creases received’t be capable of escape the digital camera’s 20-20 imaginative and prescient. Again, the answer is including slightly further product. In order to assist easy strains and bumps, it is best to check out a blur primer underneath a light-weight however full-coverage basis. At the top of the article, I’ll share with you my favourite basis to fight high-def tools.
I need to emphasize that the following pointers work for any digital camera prepared make-up! Professional headshots, Instagram selfies, or Tik Toks! If you’re utilizing lights and prime quality tools, you’re going to need to add slightly further. If you need a extra pure look, go simple on powder and mattifying merchandise, and keep away from unnatural shades like blacks, greys and neons. However, “no-makeup-makeup” continues to be greater than you most likely suppose.
The phantasm of lights in the case of make-up is fairly properly illustrated on this Twitter thread. In the unique submit by KenBarbie, you see two images of vocalist, Ashanti, from 20 years aside. Joyce Phillips jumps in to appropriate @youdointoomuch who assumed the picture was merely exhibiting a change within the make-up tendencies from 2002 to 2022. I agree with Joyce wholeheartedly! Sure, make-up tendencies have modified, they modify each week, however what you’re actually seeing within the picture on the precise is an improve in digital camera high quality and an entire lot MORE make-up than what Ashanti is carrying within the authentic photograph.

Much of the change make-up is due to how good cameras have gotten, it’s tougher to cover imperfections in HD/4k so individuals put on extra make-up to make up for what the grain of analog video used to hide. It’s so cool to see these facet by facet— Joyce Philippe (@JoyceMeetsWorld) April 12, 2022
Joyce Philippe feedback on how high-quality cameras have impacted make-up tendencies.
#sponsored: you see what they need you to see
Don’t be fooled into pondering that the merchandise influencers promote are the magical ingredient to wanting good on movie. In reality, more often than not, it’s cash speaking, not them. I communicate from expertise after I say that some manufacturers put great stress on social media personalities to promote their product, even when which means mendacity to their loyal followers for some further money.
Due to the truth that increasingly more individuals on-line have gotten conscious of corrupt advertisements and doctored critiques, influencers and types have been discovering methods to sneak sponsored merchandise right into a seemingly regular submit. Some manufacturers will even ask particularly for influencers to “make the advert match into their common content material” in order that followers don’t rapidly scroll previous pondering its simply one other promotional submit.
A great instance of a viral product gone flawed is Jaclyn Hill’s first launch along with her magnificence model, Jacyln Cosmetics. The model launched in mid 2019, following her Vault assortment with Morphe Beauty. The launch was overestimated by Jaclyn and a tribe of her experience or die creator associates. In all of the critiques and posts main as much as the discharge, influencers, together with Jaclyn, raved concerning the silky easy lipstick assortment and the general high quality of the product. Fast ahead into the summer time, followers offered out her first launch in a matter of hours. Jaclyn Cosmetic’s web site even crashed on account of an overload of orders being made concurrently. When her clients acquired their product, they have been alarmed to search out fuzz caught to the model new lip merchandise and un-paid critiques later confirmed that the lipstick itself was subpar when it comes to wearability and texture. The level is, you shouldn’t all the time simply take your favourite YouTuber’s phrase for it after they say that one thing is the perfect product they’ve ever tried.
The finest technique to discover the actual magic substances is to search for posts which can be particularly not sponsored, or seek for critiques posted by smaller creators and accounts. Although it’s a bit extra of a problem, heading to your native Ulta or Sephora can be a superb guess. Both make-up retailers provide instore samples, and generally may even give you a pattern to take house and check out in your regular make-up routine (you might need to ask for them although). And they often have actual, licensed make-up artists who can provide you precise recommendation about what merchandise may work finest for you. The fact is, no influencer is aware of what will be proper for YOUR pores and skin. Almost no product is “nice for all pores and skin varieties”, as a result of everybody’s pores and skin is solely distinctive. My recommendation on this subject: strive it your self before you purchase!

Oh no! We completely need to make this proper. Please attain out to us at [email protected] so we are able to get a substitute out to you!— Jaclyn Cosmetics (@jaclyncosmetics) June 7, 2019
Jaclyn’s followers attain out on Twitter following her first launch of Jacyln Cosmetics lipsticks.
my fave camera-ready routine
My private go-to tiktok routine varies based mostly on what sort of look I’m making an attempt to attain. However, a flawless base is all the time a should to get that well-known camera-perfect pores and skin. I might begin off by ensuring I moisturize not less than quarter-hour earlier than making use of every other merchandise. This provides your pores and skin time to soak up the moisturizer, plump up a bit, and defend itself from absorbing the precise make-up.
Primer is non-compulsory for my part. If you need a dewy, glow-from-the-inside-out look, I might counsel making use of some glow serum underneath your basis or mixing it into your base earlier than you apply. For a snatched, matte look, it’s positively worthwhile to use a mattifying primer. Going primer-less doesn’t essentially imply your make-up received’t final as lengthy or that it’s going to slide off midway via the day. In my expertise, some primers do the alternative of what they’re imagined to in the event you unintentionally pair it with a product that it doesn’t work together with it properly. Typically, going no-primer will provide you with a extra pure end.
As a base, you’ll need to guarantee your basis doesn’t embrace sunscreen to keep away from any white forged or flashback in entrance of the digital camera. James Charles’ “Flash Back Marry” fiasco was a case of utilizing a sunscreen-infused base in entrance of flash photographers. You can keep away from this by merely checking the product’s substances earlier than use. Most merchandise with solar safety will show this proper on the entrance of the packaging as properly. (Please observe: Sunscreen is a MUST for on a regular basis wear- I all the time advocate utilizing solar safety in the event you plan on being exterior.) My all time favourite basis for on-camera use is the Makeup Forever Ultra HD Foundation. It feels light-weight and buttery, however affords buildable protection and might be mattified with a easy setting powder or glowed up with some good highlighter on high. Concealers might be utilized earlier than or after basis, it’s actually as much as you! Sometimes I apply them first if I need a extra pure look and, if I actually need to make my undereye pop, I’ll go a shade lighter on high of the inspiration as an alternative. Even if you would like a high-contrast Kim Okay contour, I wouldn’t counsel utilizing shades which can be greater than 2 shades totally different out of your basis (for contour or highlighting).

my face is WAY too gentle bc of flashback lol there isn’t any denying that but it surely was really a filtered photograph, here is the unique casper pic 😕 pic.twitter.com/V5uIL23HYt— James Charles (@jamescharles) March 5, 2017
James Charles as “Flash Back Mary” in 2017. Sourced from @jamescharles on Twitter.
After getting your flawless base achieved, the sky is the restrict for the attention seems to be you may create. When I first began out, Pinterest was my go-to for enjoyable make-up inspiration. For Tik Tok particularly, I wouldn’t shrink back from daring colours and graphic tendencies, just like the one under. If you need a extra wearable, every-day look, keep on with neutrals and lightweight shimmers on your eyes and perhaps throw on some fake freckles for an ultra-cute contact. For eyebrows, I’m nonetheless caught on the Anastasia Dip Brow Pomade. With a pointy angled brush and a light-weight hand, you may create a comfortable fluffy forehead or a pointy Insta-brow all with one product.
Makeup transformation from @loconuttt on TikTok.
I all the time end by setting the make-up into place. My go-to powder is the Cody Airspun in Translucent. I apply powder throughout as a result of I’m naturally fairly oily, particularly after I get out into this Texas warmth. If you might have dry pores and skin, you may need to skip making use of a setting powder throughout and keep on with the t-zone (center of the brow, down the nostril, and on the chin). Be cautious with “baking”. Although it does give a pleasant brightness and offers some further endurance on your concealers, making use of an excessive amount of can result in creasing and cakiness as you put on it. I prefer to set my brows utilizing a transparent gel, fairly than a tinted one which picks up on all my little peach fuzz. Finally, I give the whole lot a fast spritz of setting spray which actually helps to supply a layer of safety between the make-up and something which may disturb it on the pores and skin.
So then why do I name myself an “ex-influencer”?
I name myself an “ex-influencer” as a result of I now not produce content material commonly or settle for model offers. It was a enjoyable facet gig for some time, and I’m happy with the experiences and accomplishments I achieved via my platform. However, as college work bought heavier and my future crept up, I spotted that this wasn’t one thing I needed to pursue long-term. Doing make-up will all the time be certainly one of my pursuits and hobbies, however opening myself as much as the world for criticism on my look is now not one thing I’m keen to do as I try to construct an expert profession.
I believe one of many greatest issues that impacts influencers is their viewers and their followers. I might pull ideas and strategies from the remark part always. Part of getting higher is studying from these round you. If you see one thing new and thrilling, TRY IT! If you name *bs* on a make-up hack, TEST IT! That’s my finest recommendation on methods to discover what works for you, your face form, and your pores and skin sort. In the top, there are loads of darkish *secrets and techniques* to the influencer way of life, however there are additionally loads of actually nice and real personalities on the market on the web, and it’s as much as the viewers to determine who to help and what vitality to provide again to their favourite creators.

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