Vanity Affairs: Samantha Jade Is A Certified Beauty Buff With All Of The Best Product Recommendations

We’re taking notes. Trust us when we say, these products are good.

Welcome to Vanity Affairs – an editorial series where we document the early morning beauty routines of notable women. 

There are some women who have an I-can’t-put-my-finger-on-it kind of glow – a certain je ne sais quoi, if you will. You know the ones – their hair falls just right, their skin is dewy but never shiny, and they exude confidence without being arrogant. 

In the interest of public service, we’ve set about tracking these aforementioned unicorns down to find out their secrets. Have you got your pen and paper ready?

Previously, we’ve spoken to Georgia Fowler, Jonathan Van Ness and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Today, we’re going inside the beauty bag of Australian popstar, songwriter and actress, Samantha Jade. 

Samantha first shot to fame in 2012 when she took out the fourth season of The X Factor Australia. Since then, the 33-year-old has had a series of hit songs including What You’ve Done To Me (which debuted at number one on the ARIA singles chart), Soldier, Bounce and her two new singles: BACK 2 BACK and New Boy. 

But you already knew that. What you most likely didn’t know, however, about this starlet is that she is a highly skilled makeup artist. In a former life, before she received her big break, Samantha Jade worked as a makeup artist as her side hustle while gigging and pursuing her singing career. In 2017, she even collaborated with Models Prefer on a line of makeup products that was stocked in Priceline stores nationally – so basically, when it comes to beauty recommendations Samantha knows what she’s talking about. “My mum was always someone who took care of her skin and loved makeup and all the girly things so I definitely followed in her footsteps,” she tells Gritty Pretty.

Which beauty products make it into this popstar-slash-makeup-artist’s kit? We have all of the insider intel. Here, Samantha shares every single product she uses in the morning – from start to finish.

“I love Rationale – I discovered it last year and it has truly changed my skin. I use Rationale’s Essential Six collection ($979) and I also love Clinique – especially Clinique Moisture Surge 72-Hour Auto-Replenishing Hydrator ($65).”

“I love makeup and really enjoy expressing myself through it. I love doing my friends’ makeup and the joy they feel when they see the finished look. 

“For an everyday face, I think less is more. I start with my Rationale B3-T Tinted Superfluid ($77) which is SPF 50. I absolutely love this product if I’m not working. I will wear this on its own; it has a beautiful slight tint and goes on smoothly. 

“Then a light layer of foundation. I use Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk ($100) – I love this foundation because it’s buildable and doesn’t feel like you are wearing anything.

“I set my foundation with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder ($62). I find this powder is nice and lightweight and doesn’t sit within the crevices (’cause who wants that?). It also helps the foundation to stay on all day!

“Clinique Powder Pop Flower Bronzer ($52) goes on my eyes and cheeks. This bronzer is a perfect warm shade – not too pink or orange!

“Melissa Sassine Glow Lighter ($42) is my all time favorite highlighter. When I had my own makeup line, the highlighter was the best seller and after the range, I struggled to find a highlighter that I loved as much as the one we created. That is, until I found the incredible Glow Lighter! It is the perfect sheen, no glitter and has tiny light reflectors to really capture the right highlight!

“Amy Jean Privée Collection Brow Velvet Duo ($50) is the best eyebrow powder – it’s a great colour and texture for my brows!

“For lips, I use M.A.C Lip Pencil in Stripdown ($30) and NARS Lipstick in Belle De Jour ($42),  I have been wearing the same lip combo for a while now, NARS’ Belle Du Jour is the absolute perfect nude with a nice glossy finish!”

“Fragrance is something I can’t live without – it’s a part of all my memories. When I smell certain fragrances, it always takes me back to a certain time. My everyday fragrance is Byredo Rose of No Man’s Land ($226) – I love how fresh and clean it smells. I have day fragrances and night fragrances, I feel during the day I like a light floral smell and at night I like more of a stronger deeper scent. 

“In the evening, I love Tom Ford Noir de Noir ($345) or Tom Ford Soleil Neige ($340). 

“My mum used to wear Dior J’adore ($198) so sometimes I wear that as it gives me a nice comforting feeling.”

“If I’m not working, I like to leave my hair as it is – it has a natural beachy wave if I use the right products. Otherwise, I’ll put OLAPLEX N°6 Bond Smoother ($50) in it and slick it back into a tight bun for the day!

“Iles formula Haute Performance Finishing Serum ($76.50) is my favourite leave in hair conditioner and truly has changed my hair health! 

“If I’m styling my hair, Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($68) is my favourite for adding texture and feel into my style and it also smells devine (the scent was designed by Tom Ford). I like KEVIN. MURPHY Fresh. Hair Dry Shampoo ($39.95) because it somehow fixes the colour when it needs to and for hairspray you can’t go past FUDGE Membrane Gas ($21.99) – it brushes out and doesn’t feel wet and hard like other hairsprays usually do.”