'I sat down with the Kardashian's makeup artist. Here are 6 surprising tricks I learned.'

If you know the Kardashians, you most likely know of Ariel Tejada (most commonly known as @MakeupByAriel). 

In 2015, the New York-born makeup artist received a DM from Kylie Jenner, asking him to come to LA for a weekend to do her makeup. 

That weekend turned into a week, and that week turned into a now-almost eight-year collaboration between the makeup artist and the Kardashian-Jenner family. 

Ariel is currently in Sydney, Australia to celebrate Naked Sundays' SPF TOP UP DAY, and I sat down with him to ask all about the tricks and products he uses on his celebrity clients. 

Here is what he told me.

1. Ariel rarely 'bakes' these days.

Do you remember the days when celebrities and their makeup artists, like Ariel, told us to bake our faces with powder? Well, those days are mostly over.

Ariel instead lightly presses powder into the skin, making the finish look less cakey. There are two powders he often reaches for.

"I obviously will never get rid of my Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, ($72), because it's a classic and I always go back to it," he told Mamamia.

"I also love the Givenchy Prisme Libre Loose Powders, ($105). They do have a slight reflect but it never looks oily and just makes your skin look healthy."

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2. He also doesn't use setting spray.

Before our chat, Ariel mentioned during a Q+A that he doesn't use setting spray. It. Shocked. Me.

He explained that because many contain alcohol, they can cause makeup to crack after a while; and instead, prefers using mists like Avene Thermal Spring Water, ($14.99), and the Caudalie Beauty Elixir, ($26).

But most of the time, he doesn't use a mist at all.

"If I need the makeup to last, I'm layering a cream with a powder, and a powder with another powder, in very small increments to lock it in," he said.

Right now, Ariel's favourite pressed powder is the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder, ($64).

3. There's an unusual but genius product in his kit.

"I always carry a lighter in my kit," Ariel told me. Why? Good question. 

"I use it to heat up my lash curler," he said. "Just give it a little warmth and it fully curls the lash and doesn't go anywhere all day."

"Straight lash girls, this is the trick," he added.

4. Ariel uses eyeshadow to colour correct.

"A lot of people use a cream or liquid colour corrector, but it can mix with your concealer and look orange," the makeup artist said.

Ariel instead uses a light peachy eyeshadow on the area that needs it most.

"I remember [my client] was once really tired and had a little darkness showing, and I took a little bit of powder and applied it after I did her makeup and it corrected it," he said.

The trick also allows you to use less concealer.

"I don't need to fully cover the under-eye, because at the end I can go in and perfect the area with that powder."

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5. How he achieves a flawless base.

If you scroll through Ariel's social media, you'll see photo on photo of his clients with the most seamlessly blended faces. 

It's something the makeup artist takes pride in.

"I never want to look at a face and see lines of demarcation or see a strong contour line on the nose," he said. "Blend until you can't blend anymore."

"And that's also why I did a brush collaboration [with Morphe], because I needed really good tools to help ease my process so that everything looks super blended."

(P.S. I bought the brushes online a few months back, and yep, they are that good.)

Ariel also shared his favourite foundations.

"Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, ($105), because it's a classic, no one has ever been able to crack the formula," he said.

"Haus of Labs Triclone Skin Tech Foundation (sadly not available here yet), it's actually insane, and Estée Lauder Double Wear Sheer Long-Wear Makeup, ($68), because it gives the most beautiful finish for everyday vibes."

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6. Ariel's go-to lip combo on clients.

Finally, I couldn't end without asking about Ariel's favourite lip products.

"I can't live without KKW Beauty Number 2 Lip Liner and 1.5," he said. 

"It doesn't exist right now but they're coming back in a better formula.

"But my all-time favourite lip liner, and I'm not saying this because she's my client, is Kylie Cosmetics Iced Latte, ($24 USD).

"I carry it with me everywhere and it works on almost everybody."

Feature image: Instagram/@makeupbyariel and supplied.

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