Tiwa Savage shares her go-to beauty routine — from skincare essentials to makeup tips — and how she maintains flawless and youthful skin.
At some point in our lives, we all dreamt of being a star. Oh, the glitz, glamour, and the glam! Tiwa Savage has lived this dream for the past decade, and her looks are undeniably a part of her identity. With her sculpted eyebrows, matte lips, eyelashes, and blush, she has crafted a signature look that has stood the test of time.
However, to understand her beauty evolution, we have to remember where it all began. In 2010, Tiwa Savage made her debut on our TV screens with her single “Kele Kele Love”. It was fun, fresh, and charming to see an unapologetic pop diva in the Afrobeats space. 15 years later, she has expanded beyond Africa, performing at the King Charles III Coronation Concert and headlining a Global Citizen stage. She’s earned her title as the Queen of Afrobeats, doing it all without breaking a sweat. But today, with us, she’s talking about more than the music. Just like her latest album… This One Is Personal.
So what’s the secret behind her look, and how does her skin stay so glowy? For this My Beauty Hack edit, we sat down with Tiwa Savage, behind the scenes as she prepares for an exclusive launch of her album at the Don Julio Afrobeats weekend. She opens up about the beauty secrets she swears by, her everyday routine, and the little obsessions that keep her radiant and prevent an aged appearance.
Tiwa Savage’s skincare and makeup secrets
Skin first, always!
Skincare is essential to Tiwa. She has had many experiences, and lately, she’s been obsessed with Korean skincare. One thing that always works for her is an LED mask, which she often uses. “LED masks, exfoliating, and sunscreen,” she excitedly lists as her favourites.
There are several myths about sunscreens, one being that darker skin tones don’t need them because of their natural melanin. However, studies have debunked this, affirming that sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer and sun damage. Tiwa even jokes about the misconception, stressing that we should apply sunscreens both inside and outside the house. “You could be by the window and the rays from the sun could affect your skin,” she says.
Read also: It’s still Skin Cancer Awareness Month — here’s why sunscreen is essential for Black skin
Her love for skincare and dedication to effective routines have also ignited a passion in her. “I want to do something for my African girlies,” she expresses… her reveal? She’s working on a skincare brand. She knows firsthand what it’s like to try products that aren’t made for us, so she doesn’t want her girls to feel left out. And she’s just as mindful of the men — she doesn’t want them to feel excluded either!
Tiwa is all about giving back — whether it’s through her skincare brand for African girls and guys or a scholarship programme. Her biggest announcement? She’s in talks with Berklee College of Music to create a programme for Africans aspiring to pursue music careers. And she even teases that, eventually, there will be a school right here in Nigeria.
Her no-foundation makeup routine
One thing she’s never been a fan of is foundation. “I don’t use foundation, I haven’t used it in seven to eight years,” Tiwa reveals. She doesn’t even use tinted moisturisers! She has found foundation to be too heavy for her skin, and honestly, finds it ageing. However, she’s a sucker for the natural look. So with a concealer, blush – well, lipstick -and powder, she’s practically done.
This season for Tiwa is all about honesty and revelation, and in the first few minutes of her makeup routine, she makes a big revelation — her iconic beauty looks. It is all hers. Later on, she expands on this, saying, “I do my makeup 99% of the time.” When she says ‘99% of the time,’ this includes music videos and photoshoots. She admits she is very particular about her beauty routine, which brings us to her next secret.
Tiwa starts her makeup with outlines, using concealer on her T-zones, under eyes and forehead, and discusses her favourite music. She jokes that she’s not an influencer; therefore, she is not accustomed to doing beauty routines on camera. Despite admitting this, her lack of experience in content creation is nonexistent, as she shifts the topic from beauty to music, to career advice, and then back to beauty. As she dabs on concealer, she dishes on how she enjoys playing music during her makeup sessions, and she loves it loud.
Her favourite selections at the moment are old-school Afrobeats and R&B. She cites the Backstreet Boys and 9ice as some of the artists on her playlists right now. But an all-time favourite of hers is Nigerian producer, Tekno, who is a notable collaborator of hers. Together, they work on her latest project, ‘This One Is Personal’. It is her most critically acclaimed body of work, and she plays it on repeat these days.
Now that’s a perfect marketing move. After more than a decade in the industry, Tiwa knows exactly how to navigate the game — and she proved it again as she shared another secret.
A beauty trick for her is blush — and she revealed that the red shade she used to define her cheeks was actually lipstick! That’s right, she uses lipstick as her pre-blush, and to get the desired rosy colour, she swears by the M.A.C x Tiwa Savage lipstick.
Read also: My Beauty Hack – Maeve Nonye’s five-minute beauty routine every minimalist will love
Tiwa sets and blends her look with powder, then adds her signature final touches — fluttery false lashes and just ‘a little lip’ to complete the glow.
Take a shot!
She concludes her routine with a celebratory shot of Don Julio, the world’s most popular luxury tequila, committed to celebrating the intentional moments in life. It’s a brand she trusts and adores — and this bottle even has her name on it. She also gets to keep the bottle, it is the renowned 1942! A nod to the legacy of its founder, Don Julio González, who began crafting the world’s first luxury tequila in 1942.
On how she takes her shot, she admits that she’s not one for chasers or ice cubes; she likes her Tequila just the way it is.
Tiwa Savage built her reputation on stellar performances, but with such a demanding routine, she relies on the right skincare and makeup. With over a decade in the industry, she knows the best routine is the one that works. For her, nothing beats flawless skin — and if you’re going to beat it, you’d better reach for M.A.C.
Watch Tiwa Savage get ready and spill all her secrets for radiant skin and effortless beat here.
Read more: It’s time for skin-enhancing makeup with Anita Brows – #MyBeautyHack
