YouTube star Anna Saccone became an overnight sensation due to her fashion and beauty channel The Style Diet.
With over 25,000 subscribers and 2.5 million video views, the Dublin-based star is now the number one most subscribed Irish female on YouTube.
We caught up with Anna for a lowdown on her beauty secrets.
What are your top five desert-island beauty products?
Nivea Tinted Moisturiser, Rimmel The Max Volume Flash Mascara, Benefit Bad Gal Eye-liner, Maybelline Pure Cover Mineral Concealer and Rimmel Summer Angel Lipstick!
What is your biggest beauty splurge?
Being honest, I don't think I have one! I tend to try and spend less money on beauty products and more on clothes.
And your best bargain beauty product?
Probably Nivea Tinted Moisturiser. I use it instead of foundation in the summer-time and I love it! I'm not a fan of cakey make-up or feeling like I'm wearing a mask. So this works perfectly for me, and at a very affordable price!
What's your skincare routine?
I love Nivea products. They have always worked for me. My mother and grandmother use Nivea and my mother is 53 with no wrinkles! I cleanse my face using Nivea Gentle Facial Wash Gel. I have oily/combination skin so if I have a pimple or blemish I'll use a tiny amount of PanOxyl acnegel. Then I moisturise with Nivea Oil-Free Moisturising Fluid. About once a week, I'll exfoliate my face using Garnier Pure Active Blackhead Clearing Scrub. I also try to drink lots of water and eat as healthy as possible. I firmly believe that good skincare is more about what you put into your body than what you put onto it!
What type of hair products do you use?
I love olive oil as a treatment and do it about once or twice a week. It makes your hair so soft and shiny! I just rub olive oil all over the ends and sleep on it. Then I wash it out in the shower the following morning and enjoy lovely silky hair! My hair is naturally wavy and very thick. I use L'Oreal Out of Bed Fibre Putty just to hold the waves a bit better. I love that stuff, my boyfriend uses it too!
Would you describe yourself as being low maintenance or high maintenance with regards your grooming routine?
I would consider myself pretty low-maintenance but my family would probably disagree! However I'm not a fan of getting up 2 hours earlier to do make-up and hair...I'm far too lazy for that. So I try to do things as quickly and as easily as possible when it comes to grooming. I favour a more natural look so I never like to look overly polished. A little bit of bed-hair once in a while never did any harm!
What is your go-to look for daywear?
Black eye-liner, shimmery taupe eye-shadow on the lids and a lighter shimmer as a highlight on the brow-bone. Two coats of mascara and a neutral pink lipstick like Rimmel's Airy Fairy or Summer Angel.
And what is your favourite make-up look for night?
I love bronze and gold eye-shadow, it flatters my skin tone the best. I generally go for gold all over the lids, a bronze shadow like MAC's Mulch in the crease and outer V. Then a shimmery vanilla highlight and black liquid liner. Lots of mascara and again, a neutral pink lip.
Do you ever have bad hair days?
Oh yeah, like everyone! I have dry hair so I am constantly struggling with trying to make it sleeker and shinier. I usually just pile it all on top of my head in a bun with lots of bobby pins and I'm good to go.
Do you think you are conservative or experimental when it comes to your hair and make-up?
Definitely conservative! I leave the bold, bright colours to the more daring make-up lovers. I like looking as natural as possible and I try to reflect that in my make-up and hair routine as best I can. So in terms of eye-shadow/lipstick I'm a neutrals girl. I believe that make-up is supposed to enhance your own natural beauty and not mask it. I have long hair which I style the same almost everyday. I like to think I know what suits me so I stick with that. I either wear it loose and wavy or up and pulled back from my face.
What is your favourite skincare and make-up brand?
For skincare, Nivea. Their products have never let me down. My favourite make-up brand is Benefit because not only are their products great but they also have adorable packaging!
And finally, what's the best beauty advice you've ever received?
Keep it natural. I really believe that women look the most beautiful with natural make-up. Looking overly "processed" or made up is not attractive...I speak from experience! I've definitely made my own mistakes with make-up and have come to the conclusion that less is definitely more.
