24 Hours With Instagram's Favorite Makeup Artist

Welcome to Beauty Around the Clock, Marie Claire's weekly peek into the daily lives of some of the most game-changing women in their industries. Ever wonder how they get it all done in a day? Here's your answer.

Makeup artist Danessa Myricks (opens in new tab) has built an empire on her terms. After developing products for top brands like Benefit Cosmetics, the entrepreneur took on the industry's inclusivity problem by launching her own namesake brand (opens in new tab). Here, the CEO shares a day in her life.

Rise and Shine

I wake up between 4:30 and 5 a.m. daily, and the first thing I do is drink eight ounces of water. I turn on some devotional music (my current morning soundtrack is “R I S E,” by Willow Smith and Jahnavi Harrison) and write down five things I’m grateful for. I follow this up with a brief workout and 20-minute meditation.

Power Start

I do intermittent fasting, mainly for mental clarity. My diet consists of black coffee and water until noon.

Morning Maintenance

My beauty routine is super quick—15 minutes and out the door! I cleanse with Good Molecules Rosewater Daily Cleansing Gel (opens in new tab), then apply my Danessa Myricks Beauty Beauty Oil (opens in new tab) all over my face.

A.M. Hair Situation

My deceivingly high-maintenance hairstyle is actually pretty low-maintenance. I sleep in a silk headband and bonnet, which protect my hair and style through the night. When I wake up, I simply spray it with a touch of custom hair oil, and I’m good to go.

Shop Danessa's Effortless Routine:

Zoom Beauty Hack

My signature look is polished yet natural and fresh. I sport a fluffy groomed brow using a combination of Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow Pencil (opens in new tab) and Brow Microfilling Pen (opens in new tab), then add one drop of my brand’s Vision Cream Cover Foundation (opens in new tab) to my under-eyes and T zone. Then I add shape and dimension using my Balm Contour (opens in new tab) and finish off using Dew Wet Balm (opens in new tab) on my lips, lids, and cheekbones.

Signature Scent

Mugler’s Angel (opens in new tab) has been a go-to for decades. It instantly makes me feel powerful and strong!

Cheap-But-Chic Secret

Forever in love with the lip-soothing power of Lucas’ Papaw Ointment (opens in new tab).

Beauty Icons

Angela Bassett and Naomi Campbell.

Work From Home

On a daily basis, I work to balance my business and my creative side. As a CEO, I have loads of Teams meetings and Zooms. I make sure to leave a few hours a day to focus on product innovation and at least two hours for private group check-ins with my mentorship group and to connect with the supporters of my brand through social media. Then at least two days a week are dedicated to creating in my photography studio and doing makeup with my model playdates.

Nightly Wind-Down

I love a relaxing hot bath filled with oils and Dr. Teal’s bath salts (opens in new tab). I surround the bath with healing candles; a current favorite is Rebels and Outlaws’s Artists and Angels candle. (opens in new tab)

Evening Glam

After I cleanse, I apply eye cream, followed by my brand’s beauty oil all over my skin.

Lights Out

On a good day, I’m in bed by 9:30. The last thing I do is throw on a Deepak Chopra or Wayne Dyer nighttime meditation.

This story appears in the April 2021 issue of Marie Claire.