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Makeup trends come and go quicker than you can say lipstick. And because they’re now dominated by social media, one missed week of TikTok scrolling could leave you looking like you belong in a different decade (in a dated way, not a cool, retro way).
While I personally consider myself on top of the trends and “aesthetic” makeup brands, I often get stuck keeping up and forgetting the fundamentals. Case in point: how to apply everyday makeup in a timeless, non-trend-driven way. Every time I think I’m on my way to a “casual” daytime look, I end up with chiseled cheeks and a dramatic wing. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but sometimes it’s just not the vibe.
When it dawned on me that I actually didn’t have this down, I put out a wide Instagram search for the perfect makeup artist to help me get the job done. I kid you not, multiple people suggested the same person, Aaron Paul (not the actor *wink*). Known for his versatile glam on diverse skin tones, the pro’s celebrity clientele includes Meghann Fahy, Molly Shannon and Lilly Singh.
Aaron and I connected, and I headed to his Exclusive Artists headquarters in Hollywood. He not only gave me a makeover, but also provided step-by-step instructions on how I can recreate the look from home.
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(Aaron’s luxurious glam kit—he shared that he really believes you get what you pay for when it comes to makeup. He’s a big proponent of high-end products, namely Dior Beauty)
“Every great makeup look has to start with skincare,” he told me when I stepped foot into the private room where his enviable kit of luxury beauty overflowed the table. “Hydrating, nourishing and smoothing the skin allows for longer wearing makeup. It also leads to using less makeup, which helps enhance your features instead of hiding behind your makeup.”
After cleansing and toning the skin, he applied serum, moisturizer, eye cream, SPF and lip balm. He then applied primer in targeted areas that needed smoothing and blurring.
The skincare he used on me was: The Route Triple Cleanse, La Mer The Treatment Lotion, The Route Pink Peptide Boost Serum, Dior Capture Pro Collagen Shot eye serum, Chantecaille 24k Gold Energizing Eye Cream, La Mer Lip Balm, Chantecaille Pure Rose Water, La Mer Hydrating Infused Emulsion and The Route The Girlfriend Primer. (It’s important to note that the products listed here or below are just a guide of what types to use, and what Aaron personally favors. It doesn’t mean I’m tossing out my own personal kit.)
While I was excited to embark on his artist journey (using his coveted product selection, of course), I didn’t expect to look that different. After all, I’m a beauty writer—I know a thing or two about applying makeup. And if we weren’t going full-glam here, just how exceptional could I even look?
Well, the result (which you’ll see at the bottom) was shocking. What I realized is, “everyday makeup” doesn’t necessarily mean “no makeup-makeup” (another TikTok-heavy trend). There’s nothing wrong with going for a minimalist makeup look if you prefer natural glam, but I love noticeable makeup, so I was pleasantly surprised when Aaron gave me my typical style of makeup, just slightly toned down and a bit more sleek.
Now, what are we waiting for? Let’s get into the glam:
Lashes:
“Once the skin is prepped, I always suggest curling the lashes,” Aaron said, right before using the Surratt Relevee Lash Curler on me. “This opens and lifts the eyes, and doing this before makeup keeps you from disturbing the makeup underneath, had you done it later in the process.”
Complexion:
“The next step is evening out the skin,” he shared. “For me, the golden rule of foundation is to apply it as sheerly as possible with a finger to achieve the necessary coverage. This lets your skin show through, giving the impression of beautiful skin instead of noticeable foundation. I apply a light layer of foundation all over the face to unify the tone and reduce redness, and then I conceal after in the areas that need a little more love or brightness. I then set areas that tend to crease or become oily with a touch of powder.”
On me, he used the Dior Backstage Face & Body Foundation, Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer and Dior Forever Nude Matte Filter: Blurring Setting Powder.
Two steps he avoids in an everyday makeup routine are baking and contouring. “Baking magnifies texture and lines,” he said. “And contour can look harsh in daylight. Most people don’t realistically have the time to do this step daily.”
Instead, he opts to subtly warm up the skin and create natural dimension with bronzer. He applies it to the high points of the face: “think wherever you’d get sunburned,” he said.
He’s also a fan of cream blush, thanks to its dewiness. He applies it on the apples of the cheeks, gently blending it backwards on top of the cheekbones. As for the shade, he selects what’s complementary to his clients’ eye color.
To cap off complexion, he then applies either a liquid or powder highlighter to the tops of the cheekbones, Cupid’s bow and bridge of the nose.
For blush, he used the Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick, and for highlighter he used the Dior Backstage Glow Maximizer Palette.
Brows:
I’m very particular about my brows (if you click HERE, you’ll understand why), so I wanted to at least give Aaron a head start when I entered his space. I lightly gelled and shaded them in, using the Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Flexible Lifting and Laminating Eyebrow Gel, and its accompanying Rare Beauty Brow Harmony Precision Eye Pencil.
“Brows are one of the most important defining features of the face,” Aaron said. “I like to subtly fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil, pen or powder in hair-like strokes, and blend with a spoolie to diffuse and soften the color. I then lock everything in with a brow gel. The top of the brow should feel feathery, which is why I like to highlight below the brow and above the eye so it's not super stark. I’ll clean up below the brow lightly with a small brush, but I’ll leave the top alone.”
He personally opts for the Diorshow Brow Styler Eyebrow Pencil and the Benefit 24hr Brow Setter.
Eyes:
Aaron isn’t big on heavy eyeshadow when it comes to everyday makeup, explaining, “I first apply a neutral cream eyeshadow on the lid as a base, then blend the edges with bronzer or blush. I then add a pop of subtle shimmer, using the same highlighter from the cheeks on the inner corners to brighten-up the eyes.”
His pick? A neutral shade in the Makeup By Mario Master Mattes Cream Shadow selection.
When it comes to liner, he takes a dark brown pencil or liquid, and follows it along the lashline, diffusing the line with a bit of matching eyeshadow. He used a MAC kohl pencil on me.
Mascara is one of his favorite steps, as he said it really brings the whole eye makeup look together. I typically opt for brown mascara during the day, but he was confident in his use of black, and I think it turned out great. He applied two coats of Diorshow Overvolume Extreme Volume Mascara to build length and volume. He suggests waterproof mascara if your lashes don’t hold curl. He said the Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Waterproof Mascara is his recommended pick.
“Over-curl with your curler,” he said. “It will look like you have false eyelashes, but it’s actually just the best product that enhances what you naturally have to work with. And when you use a good mascara, you’ll want to tap it along the lash, rather than coat it.”
Lips:
Aaron subtly defines the lips with a pencil, and blends the liner with a lip brush.
“I slightly overdraw within reason to balance out any asymmetries,” he said. “I then top with either a tinted balm or sheer gloss.”
While he almost always opts for higher-end products, lip liner is where he goes the drugstore route. He swears by the Maybelline Lifter Lip Liner (but pairs it with a more luxe Dior Addict Lip Glow Balm and Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil).
While the 30-minute glam itself was complete, Aaron doesn’t wrap a single makeup look without a dash of fragrance. Whether it’s spritzed in the air or directly on the client, he selects a scent that matches the energy of the moment. On me, he used Dior Addict Rosy Glow.
After our entire encounter came to a close, I was in awe. I mean I literally looked like I used Instagram’s Paris filter or the built-in TikTok filter (which I’m normally guilty of using).
Aaron attributed the outcome to a few things: “Choose colors that complement your coloring instead of choosing whatever is popular,” he said. “Glowing, even skin, subtly flushed cheeks, softly defined brows, full lashes and a hydrated soft lip color will never go out of style. Avoid bright colors, overly matte skin, and high shimmer or glitter products, as they tend to overwhelm and distract from overall balanced timeless makeup. This look is about creating subtle enhancements and avoiding anything that pulls focus from the overall balance of the face.”
And it’s key to remember, less is more.
“While makeup can help conceal imperfections, too much makeup just magnifies texture and pulls attention away from the natural beauty of skin,” he said. “Addressing your skin’s needs through targeted products and treatments with consistent use creates the perfect foundation for makeup to enhance your beauty instead of overpowering it. The ultimate compliment should always be, ‘You look beautiful!’ instead of, ‘Your makeup looks good!’ ”
Most importantly, with any look, the pro insisted on not getting hyperfocused on one area.
“People get too locked into a mirror, which sometimes leaves you adding more makeup that can look less natural,” Aaron said. “Taking a step back and looking at your makeup from afar can provide a much-needed perspective before you overpaint. Most people won’t be getting as close to your face as the mirror.”
