Dotcom Beauty

Whether it’s eyelash extensions, feathered brows, contouring or faux freckles, thanks to the good ol’ Internet it’s never been easier to explore the latest beauty trends. And the makeup tutorials? A definite game-changer for those of us who’ve always yearned for that perfect eyeliner wing. Canadian YouTube creator Adelaine Morin certainly knows how to leverage tech when it comes to beauty and enchants millions of subscribers with her quirky personality and makeup prowess. Below, she shares the inside scoop on what we can expect for 2018. —Rachel Johnston

Hi Adelaine! How has technology changed our expectations and ideas surrounding beauty?

Technology gives us the chance to experiment and try new things with our makeup in ways we never thought we could. Whether it’s a virtual reality app for makeup, or a smartphone like Google’s Pixel 2 that lets you take and share high-quality photos and videos of your favourite make-up looks and tips, technology is continuing to innovate the beauty space, making it more accessible and diverse. What I love most about tech and beauty is that we have an opportunity to redefine what we think is beautiful and share it with the world. Technology lets us discover more looks and products, and lets our friends and followers see how we choose to represent ourselves.

What are some beauty trends we can expect for 2018?

I recently did a Beauty Meetup with Google Canada and MAC Cosmetics, and we shared some new beauty tips for spring and summer 2018. What I loved about these tips is that they explore how makeup makes us feel, not just what it looks like. One of my favourite cues we explored was “Glimmer”. We all know, glitter is Instagram’s best friend, and this season, we’ll see so many different ways that glitter can be used for makeup: fingerprinted on your lids, smattered on your cheekbones or painted around your lash line.

How do we go about capturing the perfect selfie?

The perfect selfie requires the perfect tools! I use Google’s Pixel 2 for my selfies—because the camera is the best! And I have two amazing secrets. Everyone knows how hard it is to hold your phone and still get your finger to click down to grab that perfect pic. With the Pixel 2, all you need to do is say “OK Google, take a selfie!” You get a countdown, and you get a perfect pic every time. Another favourite for me is to use Portrait Mode. With my phone, it automatically blurs the background, which creates a really cool "pop effect". It makes your makeup look amazing—I love it.

Is there a celebrity-driven look you expect to be most requested this year?

Two women I’ve had my eye on are Camila Cabello and Dua Lipa. They’ve both been really trendy this year with their hair and makeup looks, and I think people (along with me!) have been taking notice.

What are your top five makeup products right now?

Such a hard question to answer! I would have to say my MAC Prep and Prime Fix Plus Spray, Benefit goof proof brow pencil and high-brow pencil, Kiss #11 eyelashes, Rose Salve clear lip balm, and L’oréal lash paradise mascara.