I’m Tiffany Nguyen of Will Work for Makeup, and This Is My Makeup Life

Name: Tiffany Nguyen
Location: Portland, Oregon, U.S.
Day job/current gig: Pharmacy student
Hangouts online: willworkformakeup.blogspot.com, Twitter and Instagram
Current favorite product: Guerlain Terracotta Light Sheer Bronzing Powder in 04 Sun Blondes. Instantly believable sun-kissed skin? Yes, please.
Beauty inspirations: My best friends, clear blue skies, tropical beaches
One word that best describes your outlook on beauty: Ever-changing

What makeup/beauty products can’t you live without?

Armani Master Corrector in 1 to neutralize under-eye darkness, Urban Decay Primer Potion, Dior Matte Bronzer in 002 Honey Matte (bring it back, Dior…or else!), Shu Uemura eyelash curler, Stila Stay All Day Waterproof Volumizing Mascara, and C.O. Bigelow My Favorite Night Balm, for the softest lips ever come morning.

When did you start getting into makeup?

I’ve been enamored with makeup for as long as I can remember, and I think my mom not allowing me to wear it during my teens just made me obsess over it even more. It had become a full-blown addiction probably by the time I turned 16.

What’s your best beauty time-saving trick?

Skip the foundation. Instead, I like to dab liquid concealer liberally on any spots and hyperpigmentation, and blend it out using a big buffing brush, so that it kind of spreads the concealer all over like a foundation, while still being concentrated in the areas where I need the most coverage. In a time crunch, a good full-coverage liquid concealer like NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer can serve as a foundation, spot concealer and under-eye concealer, all in one. I like to think of it as a one-stop shop for all of my complexion perfecting needs.

What’s your favorite beauty tool?

Hands down, my Shu Uemura eyelash curler. My lashes are nothing without them, regardless of what mascara I use.

What’s the best beauty advice you ever received?

Makeup comes off. For this reason, I don’t really care if in 30 years I look back and think I looked ridiculous with neon pink lips or glitter on my cheeks. To me, makeup is a form of self-expression that requires little to no commitment. 


What’s your skincare routine?

In the morning, I just wash my face with the Pai Camellia & Rose Gentle Hydrating Cleanser and moisturize with Embryolisse.

At night, I remove my makeup with Shu Uemura Fresh Cleansing Oil (it takes off waterproof mascara like nobody’s business!) and cleanse with Emma Hardie Cleansing Balm. Then, I followup with a chemical exfoliant like DDF Glycolic Toning Complex and a hydrating serum (I love Vichy’s Aqualia Thermal Serum) before topping it all off again with a healthy dose of Embryolisse.

Once a week, I’ll use my Clarisonic with some Cetaphil cleanser and maybe throw on a mask or two.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve tried in the name of beauty?

Surprisingly, nothing I can think of off the top of my head! Makes me feel like I need to venture out more.

Do you have a trademark look (hair/styling/makeup)?

Not really. I’m not particularly attached to my hair, and I’ve had it short, long, and every length in between, one day loving it and the next day hating it. I’m pretty boring when it comes to hair — I usually wear it straight, down and unstyled….due to laziness, not preference!

As for my makeup, it really all depends on how much time I have. If I’m not running against the clock, I like wearing winged liner and making sure my lower lash line is defined with some shadow or soft liner. I just think it makes my eyes stand out more. There are, however, three things that are non-negotiable: 1) under-eye concealer, 2) blush, and 3) something on my lips, although it doesn’t necessarily have to be the three specific products pictured below.

Are there any beauty decisions you’ve made that you look back on and ask yourself, “why?!”

For my 8th grade Awards Night, my best friend and I wore turquoise eyeshadow with matching turquoise loose glitter patted on top…from lash line to eyebrow. Let me just tell you, there is no amount of blending in the whole world that could’ve made that not look cray cray. But, you know what? We had fun and loved how we looked that night. Though I don’t regret it necessarily, I wish I could’ve told my 13-year-old self that loose glitter is not eye safe!

Oh, the horror.

Where are your favorite places to shop?

For makeup: Sephora. If I’m buying products from a luxury brand not available at Sephora, I’d rather just buy online. I hate makeup counters. Too much pressure. For clothes: H&M and Nordstrom Rack. For anything and everything: Target.