If there’s one thing we can always count on Tate McRae to do, it’s deliver a nostalgic, pop princess performance with sky-high legs, choreographed hair flips and a snatched glam look that doesn’t budge from lights up to curtain call, and last night’s VMAs were no exception. Taking to the stage to perform a mashup of her hit songs “Sports Car” and “Revolving Door,” McRae’s 2025 VMAs appearance was nothing short of iconic, and her ’90s-inspired drugstore makeup look courtesy of Neutrogena was equally legendary.
Tate McRae’s 2025 VMAs Makeup Routine Features Exclusively Neutrogena Staples
Paired with a simple, sheer white gown, McRae’s lit-from-within glam had heads turning from the red carpet to the stage, and celebrity makeup artist Lilly Keys used a carefully curated roundup of products to achieve the ultimate ’90s-inspired look. “My vision was sunkissed ’90s supermodel vibes with soft brows, radiant skin and that lived-in glow,” Keys said of McRae’s VMAs look. “Overall, her look is meant to be minimal, radiant and effortless.” To prepare the singer’s skin for a night of slaying, Keys began her routine by wiping down McRae’s complexion with the Neutrogena Makeup Remover Wipes ($14) to ensure a fresh campus before sealing in hydration that lasts with the brand’s Hydro Boost Water Gel ($27). “For an added dose of radiance and SPF, we used the Healthy Skin Invisibly Radiant UV Primer SPF 30 ($14),” Keys adds. “It is luminous, sheer and layers beautifully if you want even more glow.”
For a skin-forward, no-makeup-makeup base, Keys went in with Neutrogena’s Healthy Skin Liquid Makeup ($13) for an antioxidant-rich, medium coverage glow. “It evens tone but still lets the skin breathe,” Keys says, adding that they also opted for the brand’s Healthy Skin Radiant Cream Concealer ($18) for “a touch of luminosity where needed,” making subtle spot-correcting a breeze. To add some warmth to the complexion, Keys went in next with the Hydro Boost Multi-Use Stick ($17). “It gives that ’90s wash of fresh, healthy color with zero effort,” she says. For McRae’s lips, Keys went in with Neutrogena’s Lip Oil in Light Pink ($16) to add “the perfect touch for a ’90s supermodel glow,” before finishing things off with the Hydro B Radiant Setting Spray ($18) to keep McRae’s makeup fresh all night long.
