To mark Marie Claire’s milestone anniversary, we asked 30 leading insiders to reveal the best beauty intel they’ve uncovered throughout their careers. From get-glowing skin tips, to shine-making hair advice, makeup know-how and 3-step skin care layering, these 30 beauty tips will help you get glowing for another three decades (and beyond).
DANIEL MARTIN, makeup artist and global director of artistry for Tatcha
“If you want your makeup to last, it’s very important to know your skin type and create a skincare routine that preps and cares for your skin the right way. That’s why every makeup routine I do starts with a hydration ritual.”
AMY JEAN, brow expert and founder of Amy Jean Brows
“Never trim your eyebrows with scissors or drastically alter your natural shape. Instead, lightly fill in your desired shape with a pencil or powder, then carefully tweeze around it to maintain balance and definition.”
“Massage your cleanser into the skin for five to 10 minutes everyday. It’s the one step that’s often rushed or overlooked, but taking the time to really work in your cleanser not only gives a much deeper clean, it also boosts circulation, supports lymphatic drainage and preps the skin to better absorb everything that follows. Think of it as training your facial muscles daily, and you don’t need fancy tools – your hands are enough.”
DIANDRA POLITANO, dermal therapist and skin expert for Dior Beauty
DAREN BORTHWICK, hair and makeup artist
“To get your skin glowing and ready for makeup, I like to cleanse, exfoliate if needed, and then roll, use a red light or a microcurrent device to wake the skin up. Use a hydrating moisturiser and finish with a primer. Remember not to cover up your hard work with too much foundation or products, as less is more.”
CARLA OATES, founder and CEO of The Beauty Chef
“When your gut is out of balance, it can manifest through your skin in the form of breakouts, dullness or inflammation. Beauty begins in the belly – when we nourish our gut with wholefoods and fermented nutrients, our skin becomes a reflection of that inner vitality.”
MICHAEL BRENNAN, hairstylist
“Spray dry shampoo onto a bristle brush instead of directly onto the hair. For maximum volume, flip your hair upside down as you brush it through.”
DR MICHELLE WONG, cosmetic chemist
“You don’t need to stick to a set skincare routine. Listen to your skin and adjust your routine according to what it tells you. For example, if your skin is irritated, you might want to skip retinoids or exfoliants for a bit and add them back again when your skin’s calmed down.”
SALLY HUNWICK, beauty director at marie claire
“Consistency with your skincare is better than spending a fortune. And hydration is key. A skincare routine that includes a lot of hydration as well as a few key actives (I love vitamin C, retinol and niacinamide) will help with skin clarity and brightness, while a few minutes of facial massage each day will help with tone. I also love sheet masks for an instant boost in skin hydration. It’s never too late to begin either, so start today.”
“If you’re concerned about fine lines or texture, avoid anything glittery, sparkly or overly metallic. Instead, go for products with a soft, luminous finish – sheen, not shimmer, for skin that glows from hydration. On the eyes, cream or semi-matte shadows give that elegant glow without exaggerating lines.”
RAE MORRIS, makeup artist
CHRISTINE CHANG, co-founder and co-CEO of Glow Recipe
“One of my favorite Korean skincare secrets for hydration is the 3-skin method. Toners are your first leave-on step of hydration, as they are an incredibly efficient way to soak the skin with essential ingredients. Amp this up by layering a hydrating treatment infused toner three times. I still do this every morning and night, and I can see the difference in my glow.”
MAEVA HEIM, founder of Bread Beauty Supply
“The quality of your water matters just as much as the skincare you’re using. After years of unexplained skin issues, I stopped using tap water to wash my face and was gobsmacked by the results. If nothing is working, try using filtered water (or use a tap filter) to wash your face for a week and you’ll never look back.”
SIMON BRIGHT, celebrity colourist
“The best hair colour doesn’t follow trends, it enhances your natural beauty and works with your skin tone, eye colour and lifestyle. Treat your hair like a delicate fabric: use quality shampoo and conditioner and always ask for dimension, whether it’s soft balayage, face-framing highlights or a lived-in root colour to keep the colour flattering.”
DR DENNIS GROSS, dermatologist and founder of Dr Dennis Gross
“Start caring for your skin early. A blemish that you can see today started forming two weeks ago, and that crinkle becomes a wrinkle if you don’t act fast. As soon as you notice an issue, begin treatment right away. Do your research and get educated to understand the root cause. Skin concerns rarely resolve on their own and the longer you wait, the harder they are to treat.”
“I always use two to three foundation colours to keep the natural tonality of the skin looking even. I match the forehead shade to the forearm colour, the centre of the face to the chest, and the bottom of the face around the jawline to the neck. This technique enhances dimension and stops your base from looking flat and mask-like on the face.”
PETER BEARD, makeup artist
EMMA LEWISHAM, co-founder and CEO of Emma Lewisham.
“Instead of asking what ingredient will fix my skin, ask what is my skin trying to achieve. It already knows how to heal and renew … revolutionary products have a conversation with your skin, amplifying what it’s naturally designed to do.”
KIRSTEN CARRIOL, founder and CEO of Lanolips
“When it comes to your skin, do more with less – use exceptional ingredients with more than one purpose.”
“Brows are so important. The colour and shape of your brows can change a look dramatically. Beauty tricks like lamination or lightening the brows can transform and take years off your face”
STOJ BULIC, makeup artist
GILLIAN CAMPBELL, makeup artist
“If you are struggling to get your lashes to stay lifted, set them with a waterproof mascara after you’ve curled them.”
YASMIN SEWELL, founder of Vyrao
“Start your day with plenty of hydration. I like to drink three to four glasses of water right after I scrape my tongue. Then, take a moment to check in with yourself. Look up at the sky, take a deep breath, and ground yourself before the rush of daily thoughts begins.”
“No matter what my day looks like, whether I’m going makeup-free or getting stage-ready, keeping the skin moisturised is non-negotiable. And I never skip SPF – it’s the final, essential step in my skincare routine before makeup. Think of it as the full-stop that protects everything underneath. No excuses.”
JESSICA MAUBOY, singer and founder of Desert Rose Australia
SARAH LEE, co-founder and co-CEO of Glow Recipe
“A go-to hack that I love is using toner-soaked cotton pads as mini masks to deeply hydrate and smooth the skin before makeup, especially when my skin needs a little TLC. I saturate each cotton pad with toner and apply it to the cheeks, forehead, nose and chin for five to 10 minutes. It’s a game-changer for glowing, silky-smooth glass skin.”
JOHN PULITANO, hairstylist and creative director of Headcase Hair
“Always comb conditioner through your hair in the shower – most people just slap it on and rinse. When you comb it through, the nutrients actually penetrate the hair shaft instead of just sitting on the surface. It’s the difference between treating your hair and just coating it.”
NEDAHL STELIO founder of Recreation Beauty
“To keep smelling your own perfume, spray it below the neck. If you spray on your neck and above, your senses can get overwhelmed and you’ll stop smelling your own perfume more quickly. I spritz twice on the heart, the stomach and each wrist. That way, the scent will waft upwards all day.”
KATE LANCASTER, beauty editor
“Not all breakouts are the same! Acne can be triggered by a number of factors and in some cases, it might not be acne at all. Different types of breakouts require different treatments, and you’ll save a lot of money and time on skincare by skipping the TikTok shopping list and investing in a visit to a dermatologist.”
“To create your perfect brow, always use three measurements. Brows should begin directly above the middle of your nostrils. Brows should end where the corner of the nostril connects with the outer corner of the eye, and the highest point of the arch should connect the middle of the tip of the nose with the middle of the iris.”
ANASTASIA SOARE, brow expert and founder of Anastasia Beverly Hills
NICOLE ECKELS, founder and CEO of Glasshouse Fragrances
“When scenting your space, never burn your candle for less than two hours, and then no more than four hours at a time. Believe it or not, candle wax has a memory and if you only burn the candle for a short period of time, the candle will remember to burn to that rim every time after that and cause tunneling.”
ZOË FOSTER BLAKE, founder of Go-To Skincare
“I’m in the business of making skincare easy to understand and even easier to use, so it would have to be one of these: your face stops at your boobs (especially with regards to SPF), go thinnest to thickest, or most active to least active (for a simple way to remember order of products). Oh, and wear SPF everyday, obviously.”
“Rather than being influenced by trends or newness, I really believe in taking the time to understand your unique complexion and concerns, then focusing on ingredients and formulas designed to target them. Your regimen should work for you and not the other way around.”
MELANIE GRANT, Melanie Grant, founder of Melanie Grant Skin and skin expert for Chanel Beauty
CHRIS HUNTER, hairstylist and Shark Beauty ambassador
“Invest in high-quality tools. As a stylist, I see it all the time – great hair doesn’t just come from products or techniques, but from the tools you use.”
ROJ TORABI, Skinflencer
“Clarity – about your skin, your routine, and what it needs – is everything. The more you understand what actually works for you, the less noise you need to sift through. It’s not about doing more, it’s about doing what matters, consistently”
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