Game-Changing Makeup Tips We Learned From Our Favorite Drag Queens

If you think Kim Kardashian invented contouring, please take a seat. For decades, drag queens have been killing it in the makeup department, adopting traditional theatrical techniques — and making up some of their own — to create the ultimate high-glam looks for the stage (and the 'gram).

We chatted with five of our favorite drag queens to get their tips (you may even recognize one of them from A Star Is Born), and we're obsessed with what we learned. These iconic performers bake up perfectly sculpted illusions on the regular, so we can attest that their makeup advice is tried and true.

Selecting a quality, high-coverage foundation and doubling up on lashes (#stacksonstacks) are common practice among this group, but we also picked up a few other unexpected tricks. Read on for the scoop and get ready to elevate your makeup game with these tips and tried-and-true products from our favorite drag queens.

Alaska

Hieeeee! First of all, we live for Alaska's unapologetic attitude and extraterrestrial-glam aesthetic. Alaska is a true chameleon, consistently evolving since her debut on RuPaul's Drag Race. She's now touring the world following her recent album drop, and we couldn't be happier that she took the time to chat makeup with us.

Aside from harboring a desperate curiosity about the contents of her beauty bag, we were also dying to know how one blossoms into such a unique being.

"When I was a teenager I had two posters on my bedroom wall," Alaska told us. "One was a velvet gray alien and one was Marilyn Monroe. I think they somehow fused in my mind to create my personal aesthetic." 👽

If you, too, would like to channel an effortlessly chic alienesque Marilyn (who doesn't?), we got the scoop on her favorite products to use for drag makeup looks.

"I love a Kryolan TV Paint Stick," she said. "I use them for foundation over my beard and eyebrow areas. They last a long time and they come in a wide variety of colors."

Kryolan Kryolan TV Paint Stick

$28 at Amazon

Pros

• Convenient and easy to apply
• Highly pigmented
• Available in a wide variety of shades
• Lasts a long time

Cons

Aside from the paint stick, Alaska's fave makeup tip is: Stacking lashes! "I don’t feel right unless I’m wearing three pairs of 301s," she said. "I stack them on my eye on top of a smaller base pair. And I always cut about a quarter of an inch off every pair so my eyes don’t droop."

Shangela

You might remember Shangela's first stint on RuPaul's Drag Race back in the second season, but soon you'll know her as Lady Gaga's costar in A Star Is Born. We literally cannot wait to see these queens on the silver screen together! We're almost as excited about that as we were to chat with Shangela and learn all of her epic beauty secrets.

Secret number one: Shangela swears by Dermablend Full Coverage Foundation. "I’ve been using this product since I first started drag and have watched drag queens for years share this around a dressing room," she told us. "I love how it helps me go from dude to diva with its creamy consistency. Also, it’s perfect for long wear and can withstand sweat, weather, and even me falling into a swimming pool!"

DERMABLEND Dermablend Cover Creme Full Coverage Foundation

$42 at Amazon$57 at Walmart$42 at Dermstore

Pros

• Creamy consistency
• Lasts for hours
• Can withstand sweat, humidity, and water

Cons

Shangela's ultimate makeup tip? A seriously unique hack for keeping lashes on longer. "Shhh! Don’t tell the queens I’m telling you this, but I like to use weave-bonding glue on my lashes," she confessed. "Yes, the glue one uses to secure false hair tracks into a wig can be used safely to secure large lashes."

Kameron Michaels

Kameron Michaels, the muscle-glam beauty of RuPaul's Drag Race season 10 fame, has two styles of drag: "Old-school dancing queen and fantasy," she said. "For events, I love to look like a fairytale character. For stage, I like fringe, sequins, and anything that sparkles."

Her transformations are truly epic, so we were eager to hear what products live in her makeup bag. "My favorite product to use for my makeup as a boy is the Anastasia Brow Wiz," she said. "It’s amazing for detail."

Anastasia Beverly Hills Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz

$25 at Amazon$19 at Walmart$25 at Nordstrom

Pros

• Great for detail
• Easy to use
• Smudge-proof formula

Cons

For drag, her favorite product is the Strobe Cosmetics chunky glitters. Here at BestProducts.com, we also want all of the makeup, so we're totally OK with Kameron's more-is-more approach to favorite beauty products.

Kameron's also not lacking in the beauty tip department! "I have SO many little tricks, but I’ll leave you with two," she said. "I always apply a small eyelash first before applying my big lashes. It creates like a little guard rail for the large lash to lay against so they sit up instead of dropping. Nothing drives me crazier than droopy eyelashes!"

Her other trick? Scotch tape. "Tape will pull off any mascara oopsies if you catch them quickly," she explained. "It pulls off the wet spot without removing the rest of your makeup."

Gia Gunn

The beautiful Gia Gunn, drag performer and trans activist, also knows a thing or two about proper makeup application.

"I really like MAC products because they are usually full coverage and they normally do exactly what they are made for," she told us. "My absolute favorite, however, is the Charlotte Tilbury pressed powder. It’s simply magical!"

Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder [variation_tag_finish:Natural]

$45 at Sephora$62 at Walmart$41 at Revolve

Pros

• Blurs imperfections
• Reduces shine
• Leaves radiant, airbrushed finish

Cons

Her favorite beauty trick is a classic. "The best beauty trick I’ve ever seen is spraying hair spray over your makeup for an extra setting finish," she told us. For the record, it totally works, especially if you're in a pinch and you forgot your makeup setting spray!

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Yuhua Hamasaki

Yuhua Hamasaki's unique, exaggerated looks caught our eye immediately. "I love big lashes, dramatic eyebrows, bold lips, harsh contours, glitter, rhinestones, and sparkly things," she said. "I want people to go, 'Bam!' when they see the makeup creation I have painted on my canvas, which is my face."

SAME, Yuhua, same. So what products does she swear by to effectively execute these over-the-top looks?

"I LOVE primers! They're so soft and silky! They can totally change the way the the rest of your makeup is applied," she told us. "It applies faster, smoother, looks more seamless, and helps protect the skin as a barrier from the makeup. My favorite is from MAC Cosmetics."

MAC MAC Prep + Prime Skin Base

$36 at Amazon

Pros

• Allows seamless application
• Keeps makeup from fading
• Evens out complexion

Cons

She also had some solid advice for leveling-up your makeup routine. "Use a business card or any type of card to create the cat-eyed effect using eyeliners," she said. "Not only is it faster, but it will create a straight line for you without much effort. Give it a try!"

Read More:

7 Ways to Channel Marilyn Monroe This Halloween

Our Favorite Makeup Setting Spray Keeps Your Look Fresh for 16 Hours

Fake Eyelashes That You Need to Try ASAP

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Katie McBroom

Beauty Editor

Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.