If there's one person you'll want to listen to when it comes to everything beauty, it's Leigh Campbell. She's Mamamia's Executive Editor and co-host of the You Beauty podcast.
She's also been in the industry for over 20 years, interviewing experts and trialling thousands of products in her time. So, you could say she's learnt a thing or two when it comes to beauty.
In our exclusive You Beauty Bites video series for Mamamia subscribers, Leigh shares all of her best beauty tips, tricks and hacks - whether it's how to hide under-eye circles or the secret to looking a little more alive.
Below, you'll find a pervy list of Leigh Campbell's top beauty rules.
1. Use a separate concealer for brightening under eyes.
The whole concealer game can be confusing. Daunting, even. There are so many different options out there, it can be hard to know what's what.
But according to Leigh, there's one simple rule when it comes to selecting a concealer.
"When you're looking for an under eye concealer, you want to keep it completely separate from the concealer you use to cover your blemishes or sunspots or anything like that," she shares.
"For sunspots and pimples, you want a matte, high coverage concealer. You don't want to use it under your eyes or it'll make them look crepey. It's also going to get in your fine lines."
Instead, she always opts for a dewy concealer that brightens and adds radiance to the under eye area.
Her product of choice? She uses the cult YSL Touche Eclat Radiant Touch, $72.
With an easy-to-use pen featuring a brush/wand applicator, she said it offers radiant coverage for a more rested appearance.
"It's very lightweight and creamy," she shares. "It has light reflecting particles, so it's not very heavy duty but when the light hits your face it kind of bounces off and makes the whole area really nice and luminous. It's beautiful."
For a more affordable option, Leigh recommends Maybelline's Instant Age Rewind Eraser, $20.99.
"It's full of really delicious, juicy, hydrating ingredients as well as concealer. Again, it offers radiance," says Leigh.
Image: Mecca; Woolworths/Mamamia
2. Fake tan drops are the secret to looking fresh.
If you have approximately zero time for makeup, ever - then this one's for you. Because there's one simple hack Leigh uses to make her skin look fresher, glowing and more alive - without makeup.
"A really clever, quick trick is to use fake tan drops," she shares. "And you don't have to do it as a separate step. All you do at nighttime is get a beautiful, nourishing night cream and mix a few drops in there. I'd say about three. Apply it and go to bed."
"When you wake up, your skin will just be a little bit more uniform and glowy. For me, I just quickly put on a tinted moisturiser - and that's all I need to do."
One of Leigh's picks? Isle of Paradise Self-Tanning Drops, $42.
Image; Mecca; Mamamia
"When I had a newborn, and I was feeling tired, exhausted and had no time for any kind of beauty routine - I would do this. And the next morning I would be so thankful to nighttime Leigh, because it made my face look alive and a little bit happier."
3. SPF mists are for top-ups only.
Like any beauty afficionado, you might've noticed all the swanky new SPF mists getting around - which is great, because sun protection is really important.
However, there's one particular rule Leigh follows when it comes to SPF mists. That is, she only uses them for top-ups during the day.
And there's a pretty good reason behind this...
She said, "The amount of sunscreen for the first application of the day is a lot. It's about half a teaspoon and you really want to apply it to your face, your ears, down your neck - everywhere."
"With a spray, I feel like it goes everywhere, but secondly if I'm going to properly apply the correct amount of sunscreen, my face would be drenched."
"Having said that, if I need a top up in the afternoon, I'm very happy to do a mist and let it set on top of my makeup - so I don't have to remove my makeup and do it again."
"So, personally, I use SPF mists as a top-up only."
However, if you're going to use an SPF mist as your primary sunscreen, she recommends making sure you apply the correct amount (get that tablespoon out).
4. Use a concealer brush to cover pimples.
Fact: Even beauty experts have to deal with breakouts.
"Normally I get a lot of hormonal breakouts along my chin, so I'm very good at concealing pimples," shares Leigh.
But there's one simple hack that makes covering them up totally seamless.
First off, what you don't want to do is go for one of those light reflecting concealers (the ones we were talking about in rule number one) - Leigh said it won't provide enough coverage.
Also, because it's light reflecting and illuminating towards the eye area, it could draw attention to the pimple. Which is everything you don't want.
That's why you need something a little different. That is, a heavier formula that provides a little more coverage.
Leigh's product of choice? Bobbi Brown Skin Concealer Stick, $57.
"It is fantastic because it's on a stick. You essentially want to go for a concealer that's either a stick or a pot, because it's generally thicker and offers more coverage."
Now, here's the trick.
After applying her base first, Leigh said she then works her magic at hiding her pimples using a trusty concealer brush.
"If you've got a raised pimple or a picked pimple - which I usually have - it's hard to get the concealer everywhere if you're kind of dotting it on," she explains.
"So, grab a concealer brush. Every brand does them. You want to load up the brush with some concealer and then dab it on the top of the pimple. If there is some sort of crusty head, go in and around the pimple, and then blend it out."
Image: Mamamia.
"Then normally what I would do is use my finger to blend it into the skin. So the highest concentration of concealer is on and around the pimple - and then sort of blend it out into your base."
Pimple? What pimple??
5. You don't always have to use the same skincare products.
When it comes to skincare routines, Leigh switches things up pretty regularly. That's her job after all. But she said you shouldn't be scared to do it, either. While consistency can be good for tackling specific skin concerns, if you're also a person that's just really into skincare - don't be afraid to play around.
"If you've got one or two primary concerns you want to treat - maybe you've got dark melasma or pigmentation you want to fade or you've got some acne breakouts - then I'd say stick to what is working on those. It might be your prescription retinol for pigmentation or some acne treatments," said Leigh.
"However, if you've got relatively good, happy skin and you just really like products - chop and change. I chop and change every single week, nearly every single night, in fact. It is kind of hard to figure out what it's doing what for your skin - but like I say, if your skin's happy, just keep going with it."
Either way, it's definitely an individual approach and depends on your personal skin type and concerns.
"If you are employing a product to do something specifically, then, yes. Give it a hero point on the stage and let it really do what you want it to do. But there's so much skincare and only one face - so I'm a chopper and changer."
6. Cheat glass skin. Always.
Want to know how to cheat the 'glass skin' trend? Leigh's has a trick for that, too.
It's all in a clear translucent highlighter.
"Mecca Max Off Duty Glass Highlighting Stick ($19) is a fantastic one, Ciate London also does a fabulous one - lots of brands are coming out with one. It's almost like an illumination stick but instead of there being shimmer to give you the pigment, it's just a gloss. Think of it like a lip gloss for your face. No shimmer, just glass.
Image: Mecca; Mamamia
These are generally formulated to be nice and shiny, but not quite as sticky as lip products - meaning your hair isn't going to get stuck to your face if it's windy.
To apply translucent highlighter, Leigh said: "Find the high points on your face, up in the cheekbone area, and literally just swipe it on and blend."
"When your face catches the light, it's going to look like you've done a fabulous hot yoga class."
"If you don't have one of these, a good old untinted lip balm or a beautiful lip gloss that's clear and glossy will work just as well," she adds.
7. Use touch-up spray in between hair colouring.
"I've been fully grey since I was 25, thanks to my mum and her hereditary genes. So, [after] 15 years of grey hair, there is lots to cover."
We're all ears, Leigh.
Her secret weapon? Root cover-up sprays.
Heard of them before?
"Root cover-up sprays are literally the best invention since micellar water," she shared. "They are coloured, tinted sprays that are used to conceal the visible roots between colour [treatments]."
If you're looking for some solid options, Leigh's two favourite brands are L'Oréal Magic Retouch Temporary Root Concealer Spray, $17.99 and the R&Co Bright Shadows Root Touch-Up Spray, $26.
Image: Chemist Warehouse; R&Co; Mamamia
"They deposit the colour really well, they don't cough and splutter pigment everywhere," she shares.
8. Never blow excess powder off a brush.
Did you know this was a thing? We... did not. But according to Leigh, there's a very good reason why you shouldn't blow powder off your makeup brush.
While applying bronzer, Leigh said, "I always tap my brush to get the excess [product] off because, otherwise you go to pop it on your face and because your foundation is still a bit dewy, it might grab that pigment on the brush."
She notes, "But you should always tap the powder off - never blow."
And... oh.
Image: Mamamia.
Why?
"Because you could end up with little particles of saliva on your brush and it could get a bit... murky."
Enter: Makeup brush bacteria, potential skin irritations and all of that fun stuff.
No good.
9. Always curl lashes before mascara.
Are you an eyelash curler person? For Leigh, it's the one tool she can't live without when it comes to perfectly curled lashes.
"Everyone has their own method, but I always curl my lashes before mascara," she said. "I have okay lashes but they're quite straight. If I don't curl, I don't get that 'wow' factor."
Her product of choice is the crowd favourite Shiseido Eyelash Curler, $30 - but brands like Manicare, ModelCo and MCoBeauty all make really good affordable options.
When it comes to Leigh's expert-approved technique, she shares "Put your lashes in [between the curler] and don't squeeze too hard - that's where I think most people make a mistake and snap their lashes off."
Ouch.
10. Avoid darker colours on the lower waterline.
Brighter eyes, this way.
When it comes to liner, Leigh said she tends to avoid darker colours on her lower waterline and instead opts for a nude liner. It instantly opens up her eyes, she shares, making them look bigger, brighter and more awake.
"I never put mascara on my bottom lash line or really even darker eye shadow. The reason being, I have quite small eyes and I want them to look bigger, or I'm often tired and darker [shades] can make you look even more tired."
Feels.
"So, the only thing I ever put on my lower lash line or the lower waterline is a nude liner because it does kind of take that redness out and make you look a bit more awake."
Image: Mamamia.
However, Leigh reminds us that everyone obviously has different features and to do what works for your face - because what might work for her, might not work for you and vice versa.
"It's totally a personal choice. Many people do put a liner through their lashes or on the waterline and that's fine too. It's totally up to you - this is just what works for me."
So, there you have it! Are we beauty experts yet?
Want to find out more beauty hacks from Leigh Campbell? Check out our subscriber hub - full of exclusive You Beauty Bites content.
Feature image: Supplied/Mamamia.
