Straight from the Best YouTube Makeup Artists: 4 Speed-Boosting Beauty Hacks

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As we navigate our mornings, we understand that wearing makeup has become a part of our daily routine. Mornings can be a struggle, and it feels like time just flies by, leaving us with limited minutes to get ready. We all want to achieve that perfect balance between looking fabulous and flawless. So, we’ve rounded up time-saving beauty hacks, plus product picks inspired by popular YouTube makeup artists, to help you get ready faster, even if every morning feels like an Olympic trial!

Key Takeaways

• Organize a small kit of everyday essentials and toss expired makeup to save time.
• Multi-use products like lip-and-cheek tints cut steps, as long as they’re labeled for each area.
• An overnight hydrating mask and a simple daily skincare routine make makeup go on faster.
• A red lip with liner and a messy bun is a five-minute way to look put together.

One of the reasons we’ve become more knowledgeable about makeup is the influence of YouTube makeup artists. The beauty community on YouTube keeps expanding as we all strive to learn how to do our makeup like professionals. That’s why we wanted to share the top tips, tricks and products we’ve learned about from some of the best YouTube makeup artists out there. Their expertise will elevate your makeup game and leave you feeling like a true pro.

Beauty Hacks That All MUA Have in Common:

These beauty tips are an absolute must for any makeup routine. They are the secret ingredients that can elevate your look and help you achieve flawless results in a blink. With these tips in your arsenal, you’ll be able to speed up your makeup application while still achieving professional-level results. From clever hacks to time-saving products, these are tips you’ll see again and again in YouTube tutorials.

Tip 1: Organization

To start, let’s talk about organization! Organization is the key to a smooth makeup routine. If you have stuff all over the place, then you’re going to waste time scrambling.

First up, look at where you store your makeup and throw out any expired makeup. Once you clear the space, find a container that only holds the essentials. This functional makeup display rotates 360 degrees for you to see everything that you have for your makeup routine.

There are spaces for brushes, lipsticks, mascara, palettes, and whatever else you deem necessary. Remember this is about the basics, not about makeup that you wear while going out and you have two hours to get ready. As such, our focus is on the fast and functional.

Another pro tip is to clean your brushes regularly when you’re not in a rush, so you’re not spreading bacteria onto your skin. And never share eye makeup.

Tip 2: Use products that double up

There is makeup for everyone and every little thing you could want to do, but that can be overwhelming. While you generally want to be mindful of makeup that goes on multiple places like cheeks and eyes, they can be real time saves. It’s no secret the skin on your eyes is incredibly sensitive, but there is makeup that allows you to use it anywhere on the body and face. Just stick to products labeled for each area you use them on. Take for example this Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge for lips and cheeks.

This customizable face cream can be blended to create the right shade for your lips and cheeks. Multipurpose products can save you time, space, and money. Another pro tip, since you all are so sweet: use a highlighter on your T Zone to also brighten up your face, especially when you’re lacking some much-needed sleep.

Tip 3: Hydrate your skin as you sleep

We all know that drinking water is crazy important for our internal and external health. However, sometimes we come up short, which means our skin is going to be cranky about the lack of hydration. Now, what’s the solution, besides drinking more water? Do a hydration mask overnight! Products like this hydrating sleep mask with chamomile help prep your skin for the morning rush.

These types of masks are great for hydrating skin and can help you look more rested, which will make your makeup application so much smoother. A prepped face is essential to speed up your makeup routine. We can’t say this enough but wash your face, tone your face, and put some moisturizer on there. Do this every day and your makeup routine will speed up and improve tenfold!

Tip 4: Red lipstick and a messy bun

The last beauty hack we have listed, is to be simple! Let’s say your skin is luscious already, so you’re ready to grab a lipstick and make a dash for it. If you’re looking for a quick and stylish hairdo, try a messy bun and bolt out the door.

But if you have short hair, consider using a scarf or even a headband to tie around your locks. These two items for some reason have the power to make you look more put together and also confident; not to mention, they’re perfect if you have five minutes to get ready. Now, how about a red lipstick? Yes, we know red is bold, but if the rest of your makeup isn’t done, then a red lipstick still makes you look put together and ready for the day.

However, make sure you find the right shade of red that doesn’t look washed out. If red lipstick is too much, then try a matte shade like this one by NYX, which by the way is vegan and cruelty-free. Pro-tip for all the new red lipstick wearers: use a liner! The color molecules in red can escape the lip line, and looking like the Joker will not score you any points. Finally, to avoid lipstick on your teeth, make sure you do a once suck on your finger. This means placing a finger in your mouth and then pulling the finger out. The finger will collect any lipstick that made its way into your mouth.

Bonus tip! If you’re into minimalism, you’ll want to check out this article on skinimalism. Skinimalism is exactly what it sounds like, using fewer, but more targeted products for your skin-care routine. Click the link above to find out more.

YouTuber’s Product Choices:

Now, whilst we are on the topic of YouTubers and hacks we have learnt from them, why don’t we also dive in and discuss a recommended range of beauty products that are absolute game-changers, according to some of best YouTube makeup artists. Below are product picks that fit the styles and techniques these creators are known for.

Jaclyn Hill

If you want dewy, luminous skin, then Jaclyn Hill is the YouTuber you need to follow. Her tutorials have long focused on glowing skin. Here are tips in that spirit for anyone (especially if you have dry skin) who wants a smooth, glowy complexion.

Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist

One of the best ways to see impressive results is by spraying some setting spray directly onto your beauty sponge or brush while you’re applying your complexion products. Just spraying a dewy setting spray into your sponge while applying your foundation will help you get a flawless, skin-like base that is going to help the rest of your makeup lie beautifully on your skin. You really could use any dewy setting spray, but the Luminous Dewy Skin Mist from Tatcha is one of the best.

Too Faced Born This Way Foundation

This is one of the best foundations available in Sephora. If you want a beautiful skin-like glow, then this is the foundation you should pick up. It’s a favorite in many beauty routines. If you suffer from dry skin, especially in the dryer winter months, then using the Too Faced Born This Way Foundation by itself or paired with the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist would be perfect for you.

Jackie Aina

Jackie Aina impresses with her complexion routine. She has some of the most skin-like products, and her contour is always seamlessly blended to perfection. If you are someone who tends to have oiler skin, then some of her tips are going to be perfect for you.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

We all know this is one of the top-selling makeup setting powders of all time, but there are so many ways you can use this. If you tend to have oilier skin, you can use this to set your primer before you apply foundation. It’s a popular technique for oily skin.

Sure, this technique might sound different than everything you have ever heard about how to use powder and liquid products. However, if you use your primer and apply the lightest amount of translucent powder to the skin with a damp beauty sponge, then you can instantly smooth out and mattify your skin. This is perfect for anyone who suffers from oily skin that makeup just won’t seem to hold onto.

James Charles

It is no secret at all that James Charles is the king of eyeshadow looks. He is one of the best YouTube makeup artists. There are so many out-of-the-box and artistic looks that he continues to do on his channel. It seems as each week goes by, there is something new he is creating that completely blows our minds. Here are some of his top tricks for getting the most beautiful eyeshadow looks your mind can imagine.

Morphe X James Charles Eyeshadow Palette

Update (October 2026): Morphe ended its partnership with James Charles in 2021, and this collaboration has been discontinued. Of course, if you are going to try out some of these artistic looks, then you are going to need his eyeshadow collaboration with Morphe. It was known for having almost every imaginable color at an affordable price. You really can make any look you can think of. Whether you get the full-size or mini version, this palette is a great addition to anyone’s collection or even as a Christmas gift for any beauty lover.

Morphe X James Charles The Eyebrush Set

If you want to do your makeup like the best YouTube makeup artists, then you are going to need more tools. Remember, an artist is only as good as their tools. Luckily, the days when you had to spend an arm and a leg on a single eyeshadow brush are gone. Update (October 2026): Morphe ended its partnership with James Charles in 2021, and this collaboration has been discontinued. The more brushes you have of different shapes and sizes, the more detailed your eye looks can be.

Nikki Tutorials

“Not to prime is a what? A crime.” These are the wise words of one of the best YouTube makeup artists ever, Nikki Tutorials. She’s a big fan of skin and eyeshadow primers. She has some of the best makeup on all of YouTube, so it would be smart for us to follow her advice. She has been on YouTube for well over a decade. Here are some primers that fit her advice.

Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Mattifying Primer

It’s no secret that Rihanna has one of the best makeup lines out there, so any primer from her line is sure to be a hit. A popular trick is to use this primer only on your T-zone, which tends to get oily throughout the day. This is a great tip for anyone who gets an oily t, especially if you have combination skin. You want to add a mattifying primer where you are oily and a nourishing, hydrating primer where you tend to be drier.

P. Louise Makeup Academy Eyeshadow Base

This eyeshadow base has a cult following, and it’s easy to see why. This eyeshadow primer has a texture like no other. It almost feels like a very dry concealer. You can get away with using a very tiny bit of it to cover your entire eye and eliminate any discoloration. Eyeshadow grabs onto this base and blends so beautifully that you’ll be wondering why this wasn’t always a part of your kit. Be sure not to add too much; otherwise, you will experience some creasing.

Conclusion

Hopefully, there’s something here that you could learn from these time saving hacks or product recommendations. These makeup artists all rock different skin types, tones, and styles of makeup with flair. As a result, there is doubtlessly something you could learn from each of them no matter what kind of look you’re going for. Jaclyn Hill and Jackie Aina, the queens of complexion, are here to help all of us, while eyeshadow royalty like James Charles and Nikki Tutorials are here to ensure our eyeshadow looks get a second glance. No matter what beauty guru you decide to follow, they all have something new to teach you.