I Tried Monet McMichael's Makeup Routine — and Damn, It's Good

As a minimalist, my makeup routine consists of three things: tinted moisturizer, lipstick, and mascara. I sometimes even forego two steps, and opt for a bold lip instead, depending on my mood. I credit this no-makeup, makeup ethos to my upbringing where my sisters and I weren't allowed to wear makeup, and my obsession with a natural look and dewy glow from my favorite skin-care products.

Because I don't really wear makeup, I'm not very good at putting it on. That's why I was intrigued when I came across TikTok influencer Monet McMichael's easy-to-digest tutorials where creates looks that are much more accessible for newbies like me. (For the record, she also has incredible fashion, hair, and fitness tips.) Now, I don't get influenced easily, but one of her GRWM (aka get ready with me) videos seemed to encompass pops of color and lots of mascara, while still leaning on the natural side. I decided to try it out for myself.

With hopes of recreating her makeup magic, I got my hands on her favorite products and cult-favorite brushes and started testing the look – you know, for research.

McMichaels began her look with Glamnetics Everyday Kit ($64) to make her lashes really pop, so I did the same. I love mascara and typically only wear false lashes for weddings, so this was a fun way to start the routine.

Glamnetics Everyday Kit

From

$64

$64 at Glamnetic

Next, she soaped up her eyebrows to give them a laminated look. For this I used Ami Cole Ultra-Flex Brow Shaping Gel ($20). I chuckled as I looked at my never-been-laminated-before brows, wondering if it was too much gel and was quickly reassured by McMichael's candid "Got to be super glue" approach. I decided to trust the process.

Ami Cole Ultra-Flex Brow Shaping Gel

From

$20

$20 at Ami Cole

Next, she grabs Sigma Spectrum Color-Correcting Duo ($30) – a staple product in majority of her routines – to spot correct troublesome blemishes, or as she calls them, "homies in town." As I stared at the zit and hyperpigmentation surrounding it, adjacent to my right ear, I followed suit.

Sigma Spectrum Color-Correcting Duo

From

$30

$30 at Sigma Enterprises, LLC.

From there, it was time for the heavy-hitting foundation. I mixed shades 24N and 30P of Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Full Coverage Multi-Use Concealer ($20) and applied it all over my face paying special attention to the T-zone and under eye area, just like McMichael. I'm always looking for ways to treat my undereye bags so this step was particularly exciting. I took my Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge ($20) and worked it in.

Sephora Collection Best Skin Ever Full Coverage Multi-Use Concealer

From

$20

$20 at Sephora

Beauty Blender Makeup Sponge

From

$20

$20 at beautyblender

Then, it was time to contour, a step I've never done, but again, seemed easy under McMichael's direction and fun tunes in the background. I worked in Ami Cole Dessert Date Cream Multistick ($22 ) in 'dune,' then blended it out with Refy Duo Face Brush ($24), another hero product in McMichaels' makeup routine. As for blush, I grabbed Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick ($30) in 'pale petal' and dabbed a couple dots on my cheekbones and blended in with the beauty blender makeup sponge.

Ami Cole Dessert Date Cream Multistick

From

$22

$22 at Ami Cole

Refy Duo Face Brush

From

$24

$24 at Sephora

Makeup By Mario Soft Pop Blush Stick

From

$30

$30 at Sephora

To set all the colorful goodness, the TikTok star uses Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($43) and blends out with the user-friendly beauty blender. I swipe the powder under my eyes and forehead, making sure nothing is shiny or moving. Then, McMichael takes eyeliner – I used Covergirl Ink It Eyeliner ($7) – to create a super soft cat eye and swiped Thrive Cosmetics Focus Eyeshadow Palette ($36) across my lids and in the corner of my eyes to make them pop.

Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder

From

$43

$43 at Sephora

Covergirl Ink It Eyeliner

From

$7

$7 at Ulta

Thrive Cosmetics Focus Eyeshadow Palette

From

$36

$36 at Thrive Causemetics

Lastly, a step I'm very familiar with: lips. McMichael opts for a chocolate brown theme so I grabbed Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner ($15) (pro tip: this is a hot commodity in the beauty space and often out of stock so make sure to snag a couple shades when you can) in 'gifted' as a base, gliding over Ami Cole Lip Treatment Oil ($20 ) in 'excellence' on top for a glossy look. And boom — glam city.

Rare Beauty Kind Words Matte Lip Liner

From

$15

$15 at rarebeauty.com

Ami Cole Lip Treatment Oil

From

$20

$20 at Ami Cole

While McMichael's makeup routine was loads more product than I'm used to, I still found the look to be natural with a bit of sass. I won't be using it everyday, but now that I've successfully applied it, I'll definitely incorporate the glam on nights that I paint the town.