Tate McRae Swears by This Unexpected Makeup Tip for an On-Stage Glow

Plus, her backstage must-haves.

The One Thing

Our series The One Thing is a Sparknotes version of the products, rituals, and moments your favorite celebrities and influencers swear by—their go-tos, must-haves, and can’t-live-withouts. So go ahead—take a brief, intimate peek into the lives of your favorites through the things (and people, and moments) they hold dear.

Tate McRae is inescapable. The 20-year-old singer's hits "Greedy" and "Exes" have TikTok in an absolute chokehold, and her performances on SNL and at the Billboard Music Awards were the talk of my Twitter feed for weeks, even drawing comparisons to a young Britney Spears. Following the success of her album Think Later, which she dropped at the end of 2023, McRae is gearing up for her world tour, which kicks off in Dublin on April 17.

When I spoke with her back in February, she was hot off the Brit Awards and diving headfirst into tour prep, which includes choreography, rehearsals, and hitting the studio. Of course, she has to stay hydrated through it all, which is where her long-time partnership with Essentia water comes on. In honor of Essentia's new Hydroboost flavored water, I caught up with McRae to chat about her beauty essentials, what keeps her grounded, and the early 2000s icons who inspire her the most.

Her Backstage Essentials

"I always have this one throat spray in case my throat gets dry or I get nervous and scratchy. I also always have honey in my dressing room. I always have Essentia water on me. And then I always carry a little pink crystal to calm my energy a little."

The Beauty Products Always In Her Bag

"I usually just like to have a lip balm with me at all times. And a mascara, or a little concealer. Those are the three things that I will have with me if I'm looking crazy at rehearsal and I need to touch up."

The One Thing That Changed Her Skin

"It's been a process with my skin. I went through a lot of skin issues last year when I was doing six performances back to back, and [had] makeup caked on my face so many days in a row. So I've been trying to clean up my diet and make it a lot less processed, and [eat] more whole foods and organic, which obviously helps my skin. A simple routine is best for me. When I try to put too many steps into my routine, that's usually when my skin starts to go crazy."

The One Thing She Swears by for Healthy Hair

"I use a lot of Olaplex and K18. And then I also use this root-strengthening and cleansing spray after the shower. Using heat protection before you do your hair is very important."

The One Outfit That Always Makes Her Feel Herself

"Usually, it's basketball shorts and a big baggy tee. It's so tomboyish for me, but usually when I'm at rehearsal, I just want to feel cool and want to rehearse my vocals and not think about what my body feels like."

The One Thing She Does Every Morning

"Right when I wake up, I've been trying to incorporate lemon into my water—I always drink Essentia water in the mornings. I use it for my coffee, too. I try to cleanse [my face] in the mornings before I drink my coffee, but it's sometimes hard. And then before bed, same thing—I try to chug a bunch of water, clean my face, put on a moisturizer, and then go to bed."

The One Beauty Trend She's Been Wanting to Try

"I've always wanted to try where they take [a ton of] foundation on their hands [and rub it in]. I honestly just think that my skin doesn't work well with that much foundation because I always end up looking like I have 10 pounds with makeup on my face. So I hope someone can do my makeup like that just so I can feel it because I'm curious about the texture."

The Surprising Thing That Makes Her Makeup Look Better

"My makeup artist, Lilly [Keys], is the greatest of all time. So, I feel very fortunate to have a great glam team who does my hair and my makeup. And I have no idea how it stays on, honestly, because I am looking crazy at the end of rehearsal, but I think she just uses setting powder. And I think sometimes when you actually sweat—and it's so gross—but when you sweat in your makeup, sometimes it looks a little better."

The One Thing That Keeps Her Grounded

"I try to stay mentally sane by listening to podcasts or meditations when I'm driving. Working out is really important for me. If I get my workout done in the morning, it releases a whole bunch of endorphins and makes me feel so much better.

"And then obviously staying hydrated. If I don't drink water when I'm going to the session, I feel like my brain gets all cloudy and foggy, and it's hard for me to think straight going into the creative process."

The One Era That Inspires Her the Most

"I don't think I reference too many people when it comes to creating my music because a lot of it is just experimental in the room, creating a cool sound and then lyrically telling a story. But definitely, for performances, I look to the dancers of the past. I mean, Britney was an icon. Janet Jackson, Michael Jackson, Ciara. I watch a bunch of Nelly Furtado.

"The old 2000s girls just had so much charisma and star power, and it's so fun to go back and watch their music videos just because they own the room. I also always watch Rihanna."

The One Way She Would Describe Her Upcoming Tour

"More theatrical."

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