Sam and Nic are the OG influencers. Back when YouTube was a little known platform we’d only visit for cat videos and bloopers, they set up a channel dedicated to sharing the skills they’d accumulated over their careers as makeup artists.
Now, everyone and their mum are at it, but few have as loyal a following as Pixiwoo, who have taken many of their fans from their teens well into their twenties.
Today Sam and Nic remain as relatable and as infinitely wise as ever, dishing out tips, tricks and the insider track to followers – despite their careers hitting heights they’d never dreamed of.
Now, with a cult YouTube channel, a million dollar makeup brush brand and even a BBC documentary under their belt, they spill on their biggest beauty disasters, favourite haunts to shop for products and what the future holds.
SAM: “The Victoria Beckham palettes are currently stealing the show, I’ve been wearing the Tweed palette a lot.”
NIC: “An effortless barely their base I really like the Pat McGrath foundation and cream longwear eyeshadow, my current favourite is Tom Ford spice. I like a rich brown eye pencil, (I tend to reach for either MAC coffee or costa riche), tons of Laura Mercier Volume Caviar Mascara and Chanel Soleil De Tan.”
SAM: “Badly applied fake tan, always. I don’t have the patience to exfoliate, moisture the right bits, apply, buff and smell like biscuits for 10 hours so I just don’t bother anymore.”
NIC: “I have had so many. Actually one I recently documented in my IGTV. It’s called how to not dye your eyebrows. If you fancy a laugh you should check it out. My look is utter shock and panic when I realise it won’t come off. It’s quite funny.”
SAM: “SpaceNK for skincare, Liberty for fragrance and Surratt, Cult Beauty for online, Selfridges for Pat McGrath.”
NIC: “Selfridges, Space NK, Liberty’s, Cult Beauty or Feel Unique.”
SAM: “Anywhere I can find it. Mostly films from the 60s, 70s and 90s”
NIC: “Anything and everything but normally fashion and season changes.”
SAM: “I despise nose contouring. Noses are fabulous in all shapes and sizes, I hate the small, upturned, shaded, highlighted drag nose asthetic that has become so popular (unless it’s actually being worn for drag) it always looks obvious and terrible in daylight.”
NIC: “I have never been able to get on board with so much fake tan that you look like an Oompa Loompa.”
SAM: “Rimmel pale biscuit foundation (it was the wrong colour).”
NIC: “Shu Uemura brow pencil in seal brown hard 9. It’s a fantastic brow pencil that has no red in it.”
SAM: “Keeping it simple. One shadow, one brush.”
NIC: “Use a stone coloured lip liner around the outside of the lip to create a fuller lip.”
SAM: “Skin care. I can’t talk about it. It’s too upsetting.”
NIC: “Having facials regularly.”
SAM: “Soap & Glory’s towel hair turban. My kids are always stealing them!”
NIC: “Maybelline’s Instant Anti Aging Eye Eraser.”
SAM: “Undone.”
NIC: “Glowing.”
SAM: “Retinol.”
NIC: “Always take your makeup off and always moisturise your entire body when you get out of the shower.”
SAM: “I don’t in my day to day. I’m a huge advocate for sludgy colours, Navy is my bright colour. Strong makeup looks rarely translate from the catwalk to real life.”
NIC: “I don’t really very often. I tend not to follow the trends. I will sometimes add a pop of colour whether it be a coloured eyeliner or lip.”
SAM: “Swap your eyeliner brighter/lighter/darker/ on your waterline. Change nothing else.”
NIC: “Try a red lip. Don’t wear it out straight away if you don’t feel comfortable but do wear it around the house. As you walk around look in the mirror and get a glance of yourself until you start to get used to it and eventually love it. Then you are ready to wear it out.”
SAM: “I think we’re seeing a return to a bit of an undone smokey eye. Less product, less blending, less false lashes, less photoshop and filters.”
NIC: “I think people have less time so inevitably the make up is moving to less structured looks. This really excites me as makeup has been so heavy and full on for so long. I also think people are starting to take care of their skin a lot more, so are more aware of what they are putting on it and also realising they don’t actually need to cover it so much.”
SAM: “Real Techniques Powder Brush, MAC Face & Body, Surratt brow pomade and Charlotte Tilbury dry sheet masks.”
NIC: “MAC Face & Body, Elizabeth Arden 8 Hour Lip Balm, MAC Pro concealer palette and Real Technique’s Custom Collection, it's three brushes in one so a good one for on the move.”
SAM: “Preparing skin for makeup with dry masks, skincare and primers (where needed). Using the RT Custom Collection brushes you can customise your finish from sheer to full coverage all with one brush.”
NIC: “Minimal products.”
SAM: “Our MAC lipsticks that launch in June 2020.”
NIC: “Oh my gosh so many. Our BBC documentary, Hollywood Icons, our book, launching Real Techniques. So many.”
