Mikayla Nogueira, the magnetic beauty influencer renowned for her artistic prowess and infectious enthusiasm on TikTok, is actively leading a movement back to high-impact glamour. Having recently launched her own brand, POV Beauty, Nogueira is adamant about eschewing the minimalist “clean-girl aesthetic” in favor of dramatic, full-coverage makeup that celebrates artistry and personal transformation. Her philosophy centers on the idea that applying makeup is a cherished moment of self-care and creative expression, one that should result in a visibly blended, red-carpet-worthy finish. In a recent interview, she unveiled the exact product staples that anchor her signature look, from a versatile, decade-long holy-grail concealer to the specific blush formulas that keep her look modern and vibrant.
The Holy-Grail Base: Concealer and Foundation Staples
For a makeup artist whose style prioritizes a perfected, full-coverage canvas, the base products must be reliable, long-wearing, and highly versatile. Nogueira’s holy-grail product is one she has faithfully relied on for a decade due to its multi-functional capabilities.
Her number-one, must-have product is the NARS Soft Matte Complete Full Coverage Longwear Concealer. She uses this matte formula for far more than just spot-concealing blemishes and acne scarring; she employs it as a precise tool for carving out and defining her eyebrows, applying it beneath her eyes when seeking a matte finish, and even utilizing it as an effective eyeshadow primer. Nogueira calls it the essential “staple product everybody needs” in their rotation. Given her commitment to glam, this product’s full coverage and long-wear properties make it the undisputed foundation of her complex routines.
Despite her love for matte coverage, Nogueira is open about having very dry skin, which means her choice of foundation often needs to be hydrating. However, when she opts for a matte finish, such as with the classic L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Matte Liquid Longwear Foundation, she pairs it strictly with intense skin prep. She emphasizes that without meticulous skin preparation, a matte formula can look “awful” on her skin, underscoring the critical relationship between skincare and flawless makeup application.
The Power of Prep: Why She’s Team Primer
Nogueira is firmly Team Primer, believing it to be a necessary step that goes beyond simple hydration to create a functional, long-lasting canvas. Her philosophy is built around products that actively help the makeup last and blur imperfections.
She relies on her own brand’s primer, the POV Beauty Glaze It Glazey Tack Primer, defining a good primer by two core components: it must contain polymers to effectively blur pores, refine texture, and smooth the skin’s surface, and it must provide grip to ensure that the layered makeup adheres to the face and maintains wear throughout the day. This emphasis on tack and grip is crucial to her signature full-glam looks, which require longevity and the ability to hold multiple layers of product without slipping or migrating. Furthermore, her brand recently expanded into the lip category with the launch of its Amp (K)its, which feature a contour pencil and the Amp It Lip Plumping Oil, designed to offer both hydration and long-wearing color, extending her “prep and lock” philosophy to the lips.
Blush and Bronzer: The Color Comeback
While foundation and concealer set the stage, Nogueira’s look is defined by her generous application of color—particularly bronzer and blush, both of which she uses to add dimension, warmth, and vibrancy.
Nogueira is a major enthusiast of blush, noting that the “blush addicted” trend has been the longest-standing she has observed in recent years. She is particularly drawn to innovative cream-to-powder formulas that possess a unique, squishy texture upon application but dry down to a beautifully blurring powder finish. Her current favorites in this category include the Kylie Cosmetics Pressed Blush Powder, Tower 28 GetSet Matte Powder Blush, and the finely milled, high-performing YSL Beauty powder blushes. She also cites the iconic Dior Backstage Rosy Glow and the viral Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Matte Bouncy Blush, confirming her broad love for blushes that provide intense color payoff and a modern finish.
When forced to choose between them, she selects bronzer 1,000 percent over highlighter. Nogueira admits she wears a “ridiculous amount” of the product, often layering three different formulas—a liquid or cream contour, a liquid or cream bronzer, and a final powder bronzer—to achieve depth. For her pale complexion, this multi-step bronzing ritual is essential for making her skin look “a little bit more alive and warm.” This extensive layering technique is a hallmark of the dramatic 2016-2019 style she still champions, adapted today with cleaner, more refined blending.
Essential Tips: Hygiene and Inspiration
Nogueira’s commitment to makeup performance extends to her professional habits, most notably her strict adherence to product hygiene and her foundational inspiration.
She maintains a strict policy of using a makeup brush only once before placing it into the “needs to be washed” pile. She notes that while this results in her sink often being filled with thousands of brushes needing cleaning, she considers it non-negotiable, stating, “You’ll never catch me using a dirty Beautyblender.” This practice is rooted in her 360-degree learning experience, which started with special effects makeup at a haunted house from age eight, progressed through the era of YouTube glam tutorials, and was formalized during her time working at Ulta Beauty.
Her single biggest makeup inspiration is Mario Dedivanovic (Makeup by Mario). Nogueira cites him as a key influence, admiring his signature glam style, his legacy, and the success he achieved after starting from humble beginnings. This admiration for professional artistry perfectly aligns with her core mission to steer the beauty conversation back toward the transformative power of a full, intentional makeup look.
