Beauty
Essential All-Night Makeup Tips From Your Favorite Musicians And DJs
Well that’s a new use for Land O’Lakes butter
We've all had evenings where we look perfect before leaving the house, then barely recognize ourselves in the mirror after hours of dancing away in a packed, sweaty room. We're sure you can relate: an errant eyeshadow crease, patchy lipstick, a stray false lash becoming unglued... sound familiar? If you think this is unavoidable collateral damage for a night of fun, we're here to tell you that's not the case. We went straight to the experts in this arena (pun intended), to get the best product recommendations and tips for all-night wear.
That's right, we're talking musicians. After all, who better to ask than those who have to maintain a look through hot stage lights, crowd surfing, singing, DJing, playing instruments, and choreography, all while on tour. It's even more impressive when you throw in the added task of looking refreshed every day with minimal sleep and maximum energy spent. So, how do they do it? We asked everyone from Brooke Candy and Mykki Blanco to Nervo and Sharon Needles to dish on how to look pristine, no matter how long you stay out, or how hard you go in. Party on.
NERVO
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
A hair product must-have is Kérastase—any of their hair conditioning treatments. L'Anza hair products are great too. We love their Healing ColorCare shampoos, conditioners, and treatments. We also love their hair oil. It's important to treat our hair to good products when we're constantly having it traumatized through videos, shoots, and even just everyday blow-drying. We also love Fat Hair "0" Calories hairspray for Mim's mohawk; keeps her mohawk up all night. And Bobby Brown Pot Rouge for lips and cheeks in Calypso Coral. It's just the best color. It brings you to life if you're super tired and in need of some color on your cheeks.
What beauty treatments are in your regular routine?
Taking our makeup off before we crash out to sleep. When we get back to our hotel at four, five, or six in the morning, this is about all we can summon the energy for.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?
Confidence equals beauty. It's super simple advice, but the older we get, the more we realize that no amount of makeup or beauty products are going to help us feel good; it needs to come within. Sounds cheesy, but it’s true.
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all-nighter?
Clean hair always makes you feel better, so don’t underestimate the extra 10 minutes it takes you to wash your hair before leaving the hotel.
MYKKI BLANCO
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
MAKE UP FOR EVER Microfinish Powder. Being a man, I need makeup and coverage that lasts all night, and because my look isn't so much traditional drag, I like my makeup to sweat a little and set on my face. So a light dusting of translucent powder keeps me fresh faced.
If I've had the makeup artist, I'm working with, go heavy on my eyes with false lashes and shadow, contour and blush, I leave my lips bare. Nothing works like Carmex for that nice juicy clean look.
Dries Van Noten pour Frédéric Malle perfume. If I'm dancing all night, running from cab to metro, or just hanging at a dinner party with friends, I'll always come unscented, dash into the bathroom, and come out having everyone ask, "What is that lovely scent your wearing?"
Are there any products you like to keep close by during gigs?
Kiehl's Clearly Corrective Purifying Foaming Cleanser for pre-show and post-show. I'm a messy makeup monster and Kiehl's always helps bring my pile of makeup removing wipes together.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?
"Don't wear eyeliner underneath your eyes, it makes you look like a hooker." —Mom
Do you have any makeup hacks you regularly use?
I once at a continental breakfast and used Land O'Lakes butter to remove my smokey eye makeup and it worked.
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all-nighter?
Drink two bottles of water before bed. Chew four cloves of raw garlic before bed. Take a very hot shower. Put ice cubes on your eyes. Put Nivea Soft Moisturizing Creme under your eyes and let it naturally seep in for 10 minutes before rubbing it in.
BROOKE CANDY
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
Retin-A is absolutely necessary. It peels off the top layer of skin while you sleep and really helps to combat blemishes and discoloration.
ISUN Peptide Eye Cream is perfect for combating crow's feet and dark circles.
Lancer The Method: Polish—I wash my face with this right before bedtime to help exfoliate dead skin and keep my complexion tight and smooth.
Are there any products you like to keep close by during gigs?
I always like to have Clinique facial cleansing wipes handy to combat smudged lipstick, and loose powder to absorb oil and help with overall coverage.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?
Love yourself and beauty will radiate through.
Do you have any makeup hacks you regularly use?
When I have eyebrows, I use glue sticks to stick them down and mold them before applying foundation. Also, safety pins are great for separating lashes after applying mascara.
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all-nighter?
Lots of water with chlorophyll and a chic and extra-large pair of sunglasses!
Do you have any secret tricks for getting your makeup to stay in place all night?
Loose powder and oil absorbing sheets help, but if you're having fun, who the heck cares?!
PWR BTTM
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
Ben Hopkins: My beauty products are largely theater makeup and weird children's art supplies, but I am a big fan of Neutrogena Oil-Free Pink Grapefruit Acne Wash to clean out my large queer pores.
Liv Bruce:Revlon Colorstay Moisture Stain! It has the staying power of a stain, but it doesn't dry your lips out.
Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer because it conceals problem skin without exacerbating it and sometimes makes it go away faster.
Benefit BADGal Lash Mascara because it looks better and better as the night goes on.
Manic Panic Lust Dust Eye Shadow is great because it really pops under stage lights and has staying power.
Are there any products you like to keep close by during gigs?BH: I use the Ben Nye Ultimate F/X Palette to start almost all of my looks because it has so many different highly pigmented colors. Next, I usually dump a fistful of (yes, I am actually saying this) Martha Stewart brand craft glitter all over my face with the reckless abandon of an exhausted five-year-old, and then I use Duo Eyelash Adhesive to stick other weird objects to my face, friends, and family.
LB: Forty-five minutes of sweaty drumming blends my makeup better than any sponge could.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?BH: I know this is totally crazy, but I didn't moisturize daily until, like, last year, and it changed my life. With the amount of heavy makeup I wear, exfoliating and moisturizing is so key.
LB: I forget who told me this, but when I'm doing my makeup for a show, I like to periodically pause, take 10 steps back, and look in the mirror from a distance to see how the look will read from far away.
Do you have any makeup hacks you regularly use?BH: I actually use hairspray to seal my face when I can get my hands on it, but a good beauty hack for people who sweat is to just keep adding glitter until you are shining your way through the pain.
LB: I frequently use Boo-Boo Cover Up Concealer as an eye primer/base. It has staying power and works for high-glam and natural eye looks.
What's a common mistake you see people make with doing party makeup that's supposed to last all night?Ben: People being afraid of trying a more daring look. We can't all be a Kardashian, but why not be a Kandinsky?
Liv: Piling on a ton of cheap product. If you're using good, high-pigment makeup and good primers, a little goes a long way.
KREWELLA
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
Tea tree oil. We're firm believers in natural remedies for skin care. This is great for on the road when we are playing two shows a night while the sweat builds up over hours. Sometimes a shower before bed isn't enough to get rid of all the sweat scum on our faces, and this is one extra step to remove dirt and oil.
. Hotel air usually dries out our lips. I noticed a huge difference when I use this before bed. We've been wearing this brand for years, and it doesn't create a dependency on the ointment like other brands do.
Jojoba oil. Sometimes there are still remains of eyeliner and mascara after the shower. This natural oil gently removes it and leaves the skin around the eyes feeling hydrated. No need for makeup remover with added chemicals.
Are there any mainstay beauty must-haves you keep handy while performing?
We're pretty loyal to
Smashbox Jet Set Waterproof Eye Liner
which can withstand our two shows a night, where our faces are literally dripping with sweat. While everything on us looks like a mess after, the winged eyeliner is usually the one thing that stays intact.
Burt's Bees Sensitive Facial Cleansing Towelettes
. These are great for a quick wipe down of our faces and chests (and armpits!) when we leave the stage and head to play the after party.
What beauty treatments are in your regular routine?
We both are very low maintenance. As the years go by, I've found myself wanting to be closer to nature, whether that's tweezing my eyebrows and letting my natural bushiness thrive, or using natural oils on my face and body rather than body lotions with dozens of unnecessary ingredients.
We're also both committed to letting our hairy arms exist! We spent years removing this hair. As a half-Pakistani girl growing up in the States, I felt embarrassed in school because my arms had so much hair. Making the decision to grow it out for good a couple years ago was liberating. Now, I think my California sun-bleached golden locks on my arms are hot.
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all-nighter?
Coffee. Vitamin C crystals. Burt's Bees chapstick. Peachy blush.
What's a common mistake you see people make with doing party makeup that's supposed to last all night?
I quite enjoy seeing a girl looking like a hot mess. Just own it.
SHARON NEEDLES
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
Kryolan TV Paint Stick. This foundation is one part makeup, one part concrete. You can literally pass out drunk in your face, wake up, and do a show.
NYC Liquid Eye Liner. Not only is it cheap and easily shoplifted, but it is blacker than all of the more expensive, high-end similar products.
M.A.C Lip Pencil in Night Moth. If a vampire was a pencil, this one would be it. It’s the color of a fresh black eye.
What beauty treatments are in your regular routine?
Being someone who always strives for the “natural” look, I find imperative a responsible regime of Juvederm, Restalyne, Botox, and Voluma. From thriller to filler.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?
That beauty comes from within. Let’s face it, with Instagram and YouTube beauty tutorials so abundant, we all look like pros. Makeup is just high-end dirt.
Do you have any makeup hacks you regularly use?
Most women wear Duo Eyelash Adhesive. But as a performer with larger than life lashes, I always make sure to have weave bonding glue.
What's a common mistake you see people make with doing party makeup that's supposed to last all night?
The thing about extreme makeup is that once applied, it must be preserved with an equal amount of powder.
RILAN
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
Black waterproof pencil eyeliner. The cheaper, the better. I sweat like a whore in church, so my makeup always runs, especially my eyeliner. I've tried every type of liner: liquid, cream, marker, and pencil, from every brand. Nothing works better than a waterproof pencil from the drugstore. Get the cheapest you can find. I don't even look at the name, just the price. It stays on all night and never fails me.
Neutrogena 3-in-1 Concealer For Eyes
. Again, I don't splurge, so long as it's liquid. Cream concealers come right off of me the minute I sweat. I blend a lighter colored liquid concealer (then I use on the rest of my face) under my eyes and lower lids. CVS chic. Get with it.
I cake my lower lids with
Bobbi Brown Sheer Finish Pressed Powder
after I do my eye makeup. I use a shade lighter than my full-face loose powder. It keeps my liner and shadow from falling no matter what shenanigans I get into.
Maybelline The Rock Nudes Eye Shadow Palette
. I cake basic black on my upper lids, tracing over my eyeliner with the palette's included applicator. Then, I blend with a small eyeshadow brush and go over and smudge my lower liner with the same shadow. I go for a smokey eye that an '80s gutter punk would be proud of.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?
Don't touch your eyebrows. Ever. Natural looking brows are where it's at, in my opinion. I think people sculpt too much these days. Take a seat kids. You're not Michelangelo. I just make sure I have two separate caterpillars on my face and call it a day.
Do you have any makeup hacks you regularly use?
I like to apply loose glitter to my upper lids. I do my normal eye makeup, dab a little Vaseline over my eyeshadow, lean back, and press the glitter onto the lid. Add two to three layers of glitter, wait a minute, then shake your head a few times to get off the excess. Spray your face with max hold hairspray, and your glitter's there to stay.
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all-nighter?
Reapply and set your makeup the second time you go to the loo. That's my rule of thumb. That, or buy everyone tequila shots. They'll love the way you look after that.
What's a common mistake you see people make with doing party makeup that's supposed to last all night?
Don't expect perfection. Always make your eyes smokey. Hard lines become limp noodles real quick. Heard of whiskey dick? It's the same principle with your winged liner bitches.
NICK MONACO
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
. It's my own brand of lipstick that invariably lives on my lips all night. All of the proceeds from the sale of it go toward a foundation that pays for gender-reassignment surgery.
Kiehl's Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer
. After a couple sleepless nights and early morning flights, those under-eye bags start hanging out. I keep this eye de-puffer, which comes in a chapstick-like applicator, to combat that rave zombie look (no offense to rave zombies).
Rose water/lavender mist. Hydration nation! It's also a nice thing to pass around the party to refresh weary dancers in the front row.
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all-nighter?
Most weekends I stay up all night, so I have a lot of experience in this department. Makeup wipes are obviously a good thing to have to reset your situation. If you have five minutes, giving yourself a mini facial wherever you are—it makes you feel like a new person. I swear by facial mists and moisturizers with caffeine and vitamin C as well.
What's your favorite piece of beauty advice?
Beauty starts with your diet. Feeling beautiful inside invariably translates to the exterior.
Do you have any secret tricks for getting your makeup to stay in place all night?
I've just discovered the wonders of lip liner! I know I'm probably late to the game, but it keeps where it needs to be all night. Putting a gloss on top of lipstick gives you extra mileage and shine.
What's a common mistake you see people make with doing party makeup that's supposed to last all night?
I see people putting on
way
too much makeup, which usually doesn't bode well at the end of the night. Keep it manageable.
VARIEN
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?
Kat Von D Shade and Light Eye Contour Palette
. I am a bit of a brand loyalist, but for good reason. This palette is an absolute go-to for anything gothic or dark chic related.
Kat Von D Lock-It Setting Powder
. This is the best "lock-in" powder I've ever tried. Nothing is moving on that face, darling.
Missha M Perfect Cover BB Cream
. This stuff moisturizes, and does a great job of setting a good natural foundation. Way more forward-thinking than all these different types of foundations. Foundations are harsh on your skin and not good for acne-prone people. This particular BB Cream, unlike its competitors, lasts all damn day and night. Can I get my endorsement now?
What's in your regular beauty routine?
I absolutely believe that beauty starts from the inside, so I would say that a plant-based diet, great sleep, and great sex will keep your body healthy and satisfied. You'll look a ton healthier too. On the product side, I mask one or two times a week. Commit yourself to your self!
Do you have any beauty hacks you regularly use?
Coconut oil and apple cider vinegar washes for your hair. Your hair will thank you.
Do you have any secret tricks for getting your makeup to stay in place all night?
It's gonna move around a bit no matter what, just due to your environment, and that's okay. Stay hydrated, cool, and make use of your friends to spot check you if you don't have access to a mirror.
What's a common mistake you see people make with doing party makeup that's supposed to last all night?
Too much makeup in general. Love, you're not starring in a kabuki play; you're at a sweaty gross club listening to a song called "Cheap Thrills." Less is more, and, truly, you only need makeup to emphasize what's already beautiful about you.
PRINCE FOX
What are some of your favorite products that last all night long?I personally usually get ready in the mornings for the day and night, however the staple product across the board is Kiehl's Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer. Its a tiny, almost deodorant-like stick applicator and fits in the pocket that I put my USBs in, so its super easy to have with me. I'm always self-conscious of my under eye area so I try to minimize the puffiness as much as possible. I also often use Neutrogena Visibly Even BB Cream if my under eye circles get really bad from being tired and not sleeping on the road. For lips, I swear by Burt's Bees Lip Balm. I'll slather it on but in one day they're all better!
What tips do you have for looking refreshed after pulling an all nighter?
Every morning I wake up and wash my face with cold water before the shower (mostly so I don't fall back asleep but thats a different story all together!). In the shower though, I use
Neutrogena Invigorating Face Wash
. It keeps my skin clean, but almost as important, if not more important, the cooling sensation is incredibly refreshing and gets me ready for the day, especially when I apply it closer to my under eye area and eyelids.
What is the best beauty advice you have ever received?
"Get ready for yourself, and for your own look. If you have curly black hair, you cant try and make your hair like Justin Bieber," my barber in Brooklyn once told me. Effectively, just a play on do you, and get ready how you feel you look best, not because you're trying to be someone else.
What's your favorite song to listen to when getting groomed and dressed for an event or DJ gig?
I have this playlist that I listen to called "flight turbulence" (because I have been trying to train my fear of turbulence into positive energy and excitement) that is stacked with old AC/DC, Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Van Halen, and other hard rock and hair metal cuts. I just bump it in my bathroom pretty much consistently.
