Tate McRae, singer, songwriter, and all-around Gen-Z beauty icon, recently shared her go-to, 10-minute makeup routine with Allure. Even though it’s only 10 minutes, it packs a punch. First, she shares an internet-famous foundation hack that keeps her makeup from looking too heavy. Then, she applies a $9 mascara she swears by for bold, look-at-me lashes, an iconic lip liner, and more. Needless to say, I took notes (and shopped a few of her favorite items while I was at it).
In the video, she says she keeps her makeup routine simple with the defining elements being subtle winged eye shadow, sparkles, and bronzer… “just what I would do for old competition dance, kind of.” If it’s not broke, don’t fix it, right? Keep scrolling to see the 11 tried-and-true items in her makeup bag.
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Water Gel
The first item McRae uses is actually a moisturizer, and a drugstore one at that. “I’ve actually been seeing this all over the internet recently where people take moisturizer and they mix it with their foundation, so I started trying it, and it’s been so great.” She says it’s a good trick “if you just don’t want your foundation too heavy,” because she hates “it so much when it’s too heavy.”
Clinique
Even Better Clinical Serum Foundation Broad Spectrum SPF 25
She mixes the moisturizer with this foundation-sunscreen hybrid. “Usually I go very natural on the foundation,” she says. “I don’t like to do too much, especially because when I get on stage or go throughout my day, I’m doing a lot—usually being really active, dancing, working out, so I like to not clog my skin.”
Charlotte Tilbury
Brow Fix Clear Eyebrow Gel
For brows, McRae ditches pencils and pomades for this transparent, strong-hold brow gel. She brushes it up and out to shape her arches, before pressing down with her finger, which is a trick she learned from her makeup artist, Lilly Keys. “I think it stays more,” she says.
Clinique
Even Better All-Over Concealer + Eraser
McRae uses this concealer sparingly to brighten her under-eyes and the space between her brows. She blends it in with her trusty Beautyblender ($20). “I use Beautyblenders for everything,” she says. “I think it’s so much easier than brushes.”
Charlotte Tilbury
Airbrush Matte Bronzer
Next, McRae reaches for this bronzer. “It’s one of my favorites,” she says. She even uses it to contour her nose with a small, eye shadow brush.
bareMinerals
Gen Nude Blonzer Blush + Bronzer in Kiss of Pink
McRae uses this luminous blush on her cheeks, nose, and eyes for a monochromatic, pink glow. “I kind of like to do this across my nose, on my cheeks…I like that summer, sun-kissed look. Then I put some on my eyes, cause why not?”
Anastasia Beverly Hills
Mini Spice Eye Palette
After applying faux freckles with what looks like Colourpop’s Freckle Pen ($9), she focuses on eye makeup—specifically glitter eye makeup. She calls it her “favorite part.” Using a mix of neutral shades to define her eye shape before going in with a gold-toned glitter on her eyelid, she says, “This is, I think, the only reason people think I’m good at makeup is because I cover myself in glitter on stage. I love glitter. It makes everything so much better.”
L’Oréal Paris
Telescopic Lift Washable Mascara
Once her eye shadow is done, McRae reaches for this lengthening and volumizing mascara, which she says is “actually so good.” After seeing the way it lifts and defines her lashes, I have to agree.
McRae was in the Rhode Lip Shape campaign with Hailey Bieber, so it’s no surprise she uses one in her go-to makeup routine. She applies it roughly to the perimeter of her lips for blurred definition—almost as a lip contour rather than a lip liner.
Charlotte Tilbury
Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk
For *actual* lip liner, she uses the iconic Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk pencil. “This is just a classic,” she says. “I’ve used this for so many years, and I can never get enough. It’s the best shade. It’s such a cute little pink color.”
Neutrogena
Hydro Boost Tinted Lip Oil
As the cherry on top of her go-to makeup look, McRae uses this hydrating lip oil from Neutrogena. “I’ve never done a matte lip,” she says. “I’m sorry. I love a gloss. I’ll always be a glossy girl. It’s such a fresh finish to makeup routines.”
Explore More:
