Makeup Hacks Are Whack!

Why technique beats TikTok — every time!

🖤 My Experience

Beauty and makeup are my bread and butter. I’ve made a living in this industry for decades — not only practicing the craft but teaching it. Over the years, I’ve passed on techniques, principles, and artistry to generations of students. And I’m still learning.

This passion for education keeps me engaged and evolving. It also means I get a lot of questions — especially about trends, tricks… and “makeup hacks.”

📲 The Democratization of Beauty

When YouTube tutorials first exploded, no one predicted how deeply they’d shape beauty culture, consumer habits, and even the rise and fall of entire cosmetic empires.

What I loved: real artists sharing valuable, skill-based knowledge.
What I loathed: self-proclaimed gurus peddling bad advice, affiliate-laced nonsense, and gimmicks invented purely for virality.

Then came TikTok — shorter content, faster trends, and wilder “hacks.”
Now, the more absurd the trick, the more the algorithm loves it.

🤷‍♀️ The Myth of the Universal Hack

Let’s be honest:
The reason that “genius” eyeliner trick didn’t work for you? You don’t have that influencer’s face.

Her bone structure is different. Her lighting, her tools, her skin — all different.

A smoky liner hack that slays on a 22-year-old with almond eyes isn’t going to do the same thing on someone with hooded lids, dry skin, or a different eye shape altogether.

My job as a professional is to adapt — to take inspiration and tailor it to you.

Makeup hacks ignore your individuality. Real makeup is personal.
And that’s where technique comes in.

🧠 Timeless Techniques

Makeup is a universe of textures, tools, and tones — and technique is what lets you navigate it with power.

I know how to blend. Where to place product. What works for oily skin in summer vs dry skin in winter. I understand brush pressure, application angles, and how to tilt a client’s head to get the perfect flick.

And I’ve taught it all — to students with natural talent, and to those who struggled at first but grew through time and practice.

That’s the real “hack”: consistency, curiosity, and a willingness to learn.

💄 Learning Beats Scrolling

Skills empower you. With makeup, you can shape how the world sees you.
Want to look powerful? Mysterious? Youthful? Sharp? Innocent? That’s all possible — if you know what you’re doing.

But you have to play. You have to practice. You will mess up. (I still do!)
That’s normal. That’s human. That’s growth.

So don’t give up because a “hack” didn’t give you results.
Learn a technique. Master your tools. Invest in your face.

🔊 Why This Content Is Everywhere

We live in a time of noise. For every honest creator trying to educate and inspire, there’s a hundred pushing garbage for clicks.

To those of you offering real value — I salute you.
To the rest? If you’re pouring a bottle of foundation on your face for views, or telling people to use forks as lash separators… no.

 🎯 Why Makeup Is the OG Hack

Let’s be real:
Makeup is the original hack.

It’s the tool. The trick. The transformation.
It lets you shape, shade, conceal, reveal — it’s the ultimate power move.
But you need skill to wield it.

So tonight, instead of doomscrolling, pull out your makeup bag and play. Watch a real artist. Try a real technique.

You're worth the investment in yourself.

Don’t Throw Shade — Shade Match Instead

Why throwing shade won’t help your complexion (but choosing the right foundation just might).

We’ve all seen it—and yes, we all know exactly what I’m talking about. That moment when someone’s face is dramatically out of sync with the rest of their skin.
Maybe it’s Taco-Cheeto in the Oval Office, a coworker who looks a little extra grey this morning, or your local newscaster giving major Oompa Loompa energy on the evening news. Or worse yet, someone wearing a foundation shade several tones too dark, in a misguided attempt at a faux tan.
It can all go south… quickly.

Now, I know calling out these examples is technically throwing shade—but let’s not dwell there. Instead, I’m here to encourage a little compassion… and a whole lot of shade matching.

Because the right shade? It doesn’t just blend. It elevates.

Why Shade Matching Matters

Every person has a unique skin tone—and more accurately, a skin tone range. Your complexion likely shifts slightly between seasons (summer tan vs. winter skin), and understanding that range is the first step.

Even more important? Undertones.
These are the subtle hues beneath your skin—cool, warm, neutral, olive—and they’re often linked to things like your vein color and how your skin reacts to certain pigments. Undertones affect everything from discoloration to how your foundation plays with light.

Then, there’s the environment:

• Lighting can dramatically shift how your makeup reads.

• Oxidation (when pigments react with air or skin chemistry) can cause your foundation to darken over time.

• SPF can leave a ghostly white cast under bright lights or in flash photography.

Bottom line? Matching your foundation isn’t just about color—it’s about science, texture, and awareness.

Common Shade Matching Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

❌ Testing on your hand.
Unless you moonlight as a hand model for Birks, skip this. The skin on your hands doesn’t match your face—it endures different exposure, texture, and tone.

❌ Judging too quickly.
When testing foundation, you need to give it time. Let it sit. Blend it in. Observe how it interacts with your undertones and whether it oxidizes. It’s not speed dating—it’s a relationship.

❌ Trusting the name.
Latte, Caramel, Honey, Amber… you’re not ordering a drink. Two brands may use the same name for very different shades, and shade scales vary wildly between companies. Don’t be fooled.

Pro Tips for Getting It Right

✔️ Start with 2–3 close matches. Swatch them from jawline to neck using a clean brush or sponge.
✔️ Blend and wait. See how the pigment melts into your skin. The right shade will almost disappear.
✔️ Match to your neck and chest. Especially if your face is lighter from regular skincare and SPF use.
✔️ Adjust by season. Most people need different shades for summer and winter, and a transitional shade—or a mix—for spring and fall.

Bonus Tip: Invest in a good makeup mixer or adjuster. Add blue to tone down orange, green to cut redness, or use a thinner to change texture. Brands like MAC, Make Up For Ever, and Danessa Myricks offer excellent options.

Inclusivity Matters

Let’s be real—foundation shades weren’t always inclusive.

From the pinky-peach nightmares of the ’80s to the golden wave of the ’90s, we’ve seen trends come and go, but many skin tones were left behind. People with the fairest complexions—or the deepest—often struggled to find any shade that worked. And those with olive or unique undertones were told to “make it work” with colors that never truly matched.

Thankfully, that’s changing. Brands like Fenty Beauty, Haus Labs, Juvia’s Place, MAC, and Make Up For Ever now offer extensive ranges—sometimes with 50 to 60 shades or more.

Still, not everyone’s getting it right (👀 looking at you, Youthforia—no one needs a pure black foundation). But we’re moving forward.

Proper shade matching can be life-changing. For someone with rosacea, acne, or uneven skin tone, finding that perfect match can restore confidence and transform how they see themselves.

So Next Time...

Instead of throwing shade—offer help.
Help your friend, your cousin, your coworker find their true shade match. The karma’s better, and so is the color payoff.

And if you want more Wearable Makeup Advice...
Stay tuned. There’s more where this came from 😉