When you listen to Marsai Martin talk, spot her on the red carpet, or watch one of her videos on TikTok [1] (because of course, she's on it), you can just feel her fun, care-free attitude and positivity. You rarely find Martin without a huge grin on her face — quite possible because, at just 15 years old, she's already wildly successful (she's the youngest executive producer in Hollywood) and a present-day style icon [2].
When we think back to what we were like a 15 years old, well, let's just say there's no comparison. Martin is a true trendsetter by nature, but she does have her trusty makeup artist Shannon Pezzetta [3] to thank for emphasising that coolness.
Pezzetta just gets Martin. That's how all of her out-of-the-box, forward-thinking makeup looks [4] always seem to match the young star perfectly. "I always say to myself, 'What kind of girl does she want to be today?'," Pezzetta told POPSUGAR. "'Does she want to be chic? Modern? Energetic? Does she just want to be fun?'"
Keep reading to find out Pezzetta's favourite thing about working with Martin, plus the products she always has on hand in her makeup kit, ahead.
On Marsai Martin Giving Her Freedom to Create
Martin allows Pezzetta complete creative freedom to try the makeup looks you're accustomed to seeing on TV or in movies, but rarely in real life. "She trusts me, and she loves makeup," she said. "Most of the time she just lets me do what I want, but sometimes she'll say, 'Oh, I want to use this colour,' or I did these two different coloured eyes [5] on her and that night she was like, 'I want to do something unique.' And it worked out perfectly."
The Products She Always Uses on Marsai Martin
It's obvious Martin doesn't need a lot of makeup, but there are a few items that Pezzetta always has in her kit. "My dark brown Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz Pencil [6] ($23), I have to have it," she said. "Tatcha The Silk Canvas Protective Primer [7] ($52), Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream Moisturiser [8] ($100) — I love that stuff."
And, the unsung hero of the group: a lip scrub. "People just don't realise how it can make your lips look plumper, by giving it a good scrub before you put your lipstick on," Pezzetta said.
The Best Blush for Dark Skin Tones
You can't have a fresh face makeup look without a little blush, according to Pezzetta. "I love my NARS Liquid Blush in Dolce Vita [9] ($30); I use it on Marsai all the time," she said. "That is the best blush, especially for darker tones. It gives such a beautiful fresh, flushed look to the skin. It took me a while to find that colour."
On Her 2020 Makeup Trend Predictions
Pezzetta has two beauty trends to share (but really, we know she's just saving the good stuff for her future Martin looks). "People using more colour (with fresh skin, of course) and men wearing more makeup," she said. "People are expressing themselves. It's not that you have to be feminine with makeup. You can be so cool with it."