I’m Kayla. I test beauty stuff on my own face, in real life, with real sweat and bad lighting and all that. I follow celebrity makeup artists like Mary Phillips, Patrick Ta, and Scott Barnes. I copied their tricks for a month. Some were magic. Some were… meh. Here’s the tea. I chronicled the whole roller-coaster in this day-by-day journal if you want receipts on every smudge and victory photo.
Small note about me: I’ve got combo skin, freckles, a bit of texture on my cheeks, and hooded lids that love to smudge. I live where it’s humid and my makeup gets tested by 3 p.m. school pickup. So if it can last there, I trust it.
The Underpainting Thing (Mary Phillips) — Worth It
This is the “contour and blush first, then foundation” method. If you want the full backstory on how this trick blew up on social, Vogue did a great rundown of Mary Phillips’ viral underpainting technique.
I used:
- Contour: Makeup by Mario Soft Sculpt Stick
- Blush: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch in Joy (cream)
- Foundation: Armani Luminous Silk
- Brush: Real Techniques Expert Face brush, plus a damp Beautyblender for edges
I mapped contour under my cheekbones, around my hairline, and a tiny line under my lower lip. Then cream blush high on my cheekbones. Light dot of foundation on top, only where I had redness.
Result? My face looked like skin. Not flat. Not heavy. It wore well for 7 hours. No weird lines. On camera, it was chef’s kiss. In harsh sun, you still see freckles, which I like. If you want full cover, this may feel too sheer. But for me, it’s a keeper.
Tip I learned the hard way: set only the center of the face. If I powdered my cheeks, the glow died.
Glow Base That Doesn’t Pill — Here’s the combo
I’ve had primers ball up under sunscreen. So I tried this stack:
- Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen (it grips)
- Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter on high points
- Tatcha The Silk Canvas only on nose and smile lines
No pilling. Even with my moisturizer. If you’re curious about the chemistry that makes certain silicones play nicely with sunscreen actives, this explainer on Girindus breaks it down in plain English.
My base looked smooth without that heavy “plastic” shine. I skip mineral SPFs with high titanium dioxide at night shoots, since they sometimes flash back on my skin. A quick flash test on my phone saved me from ghost-face more than once. For the record, I always do skin first, hair second; but if you’re torn on the order, this split-face test lays out which sequence survives humidity.
The Setting Spray Sandwich — Shine, But Controlled
“Spray, powder, spray” felt extra. But it works.
- First, MAC Fix+ after I finish cream steps.
- Then Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Powder on my T-zone only, with a velour puff (press and roll).
- Finish with Urban Decay All Nighter (two light passes).
Makeup didn’t budge through a patio dinner. My nose still got a soft glow by hour 5, but not greasy. I can live with that.
Brows Like They Woke Up Perfect (Patrick Ta Vibe)
I have sparse tails. Fluffy brow trends look silly on me if I go too hard. Here’s my sweet spot:
- NYX Brow Glue to lift the front hairs
- Benefit Precisely, My Brow to draw hair strokes at the tail
- Quick press with the back of a clean spoolie
They stayed up without the crunchy, flaky look. The Patrick Ta Major Brow wax also works for me, but it can leave a shine in bright sun. NYX looks more skin-like.
Reverse Cat Eye (Ariel Tejada Style) — Pretty, But High Maintenance
This is where liner hugs the lower lash line and smudges up at the outer corner. I used:
- Maybelline TattooStudio gel pencil in Deep Brown
- Tiny pencil brush to smudge
- NARS Tinted Smudge Proof Eye Base (a must on me)
It’s gorgeous. My eyes look sultry and lifted. But without primer, it transferred to my crease within an hour. With primer, I got 6 hours before a soft blur. On school days, I skip it. For date night? Yes please.
If you’re dialing up this glam for a spontaneous meetup and want to make the planning part just as effortless, swing by PlanCulFacile — the platform streamlines no-strings dating in France so you can spend less time swiping and more time perfecting that smoky flick.
And when the vibe calls for something more discreet than your usual wine bar, I pull up the Tryst Plant guide—its curated list of intimate, romantic spots saves you from a last-minute Google scramble so your eyeliner isn’t the only thing looking sharp.
Tightlining (Hung Vanngo Tip) — Small Trick, Big Payoff
I tightlined only the upper waterline with the same Maybelline pencil. My lash line looked naturally full. Zero harsh lines. If your eyes water, warm the pencil on the back of your hand first. Sounds fussy. It helps.
Lash Clusters Over Strips — Game Changer
I’m done with heavy strips for daily wear. I used:
- Kiss Falscara bond and wisps (short and medium)
- Three clusters per eye, focused on the outer half
They feel light and look real. I wore them through a windy soccer game. Still there. Removal was easy with micellar water and patience. If you’re new, start with two clusters. Less is more.
Blush Draping Up High — Youthful, Not Clownish
I placed blush high on the cheekbones and a touch over the bridge of the nose. Products I liked:
- Patrick Ta Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush in She’s That Girl
- Tower 28 BeachPlease in Magic Hour for a softer day look
The lift is real. On video calls I look awake. In person, it reads fresh, not streaky, as long as I press a damp sponge around the edges. Powder blush over cream gives it grip that survives humidity.
Lip Contour Without The Ring
Overlining only at the Cupid’s bow and the very center of the bottom lip works. Sides stay on the natural line. I use:
- Makeup by Mario Ultra Suede lip pencil in Travis (light hand)
- Fenty Gloss Bomb in Fenty Glow on top
I also dot a tiny bit of contour under the center of my bottom lip (Scott Barnes trick). In photos, it adds a shadow that looks plush. In bright daylight, go gentle or it reads like a smudge.
Powder Where You Need It, Not Everywhere
I keep powder to the T-zone and around the nose. Turns out, editors call this strategic placement 'powder mapping' and it’s finally trending beyond the pro circle.
Cheeks stay glowy. Laura Mercier Translucent is my go-to. If I need extra smoothness for a long day, I press a whisper of Kosas Cloud Set on the sides of my nose. Puff over brush gives me better control. I learned that from a backstage clip and never looked back.
Body Glow For Photos — The Quick Leg Trick
Before events, I mix a blob of regular lotion with a squeeze of L’Oréal Lumi Glotion in Medium. I run it down the center of my shins and over my shoulders. It catches light, not glitter. No stickiness. If I want more grip, Sol de Janeiro Rio Radiance Body Spray Oil is gorgeous, but a tiny bit goes far.
Real-Life Wear Test
- School drop-off, grocery run, late dinner. Texas heat, light breeze.
- Underpainting base + setting sandwich lasted 8 hours before my nose asked for a blot.
- Reverse cat eye needed a Q-tip fix at hour 6. Tightline held.
- Brow Glue held through a sweaty walk. No flakes.
- Lip contour survived coffee, not a burger. Re-line needed.
I took a flash photo in my car like a gremlin. No white cast with that sunscreen stack. My husband said, “You look like you… but rested.” I’ll take it.
What I’m Keeping
- Underpainting with light foundation on top
- Setting spray, then powder, then a final spray
- High blush placement and soft lip contour
- Tightlining and lash clusters
- Targeted powder only
What I’m Skipping (Most Days)
- Reverse cat eye for daytime. Pretty, but needy.
- Full brow lamination shine. I prefer feathered, not glossy.
- Heavy highlight stripes. A soft glow base looks more real.
Quick Kit List I Actually Used
- Base: Supergoop Unseen, Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, Armani Luminous Silk
- Contour/Blush: Makeup by Mario Soft