Olivia Culpo shares the 5 lip products she swears by, and explains why she prefers a natural look over heavy makeup

• Olivia Culpo has worked as model, influencer, and actress after winning the Miss Universe pageant in 2012.
• We recently spoke with her as part of Insider's "Beauty Files" series.
• She named her five, favorite lip products — including Mac's Whirl lip liner — and also explained why she applies setting spray in-between her foundation, blush, and bronzer.
• Culpo also said it was "surreal" to teach YouTuber Patrick Starrr about her makeup routine, and said she takes inspiration from vintage beauty trends.

Olivia Culpo is a multi-hyphenate star.

Since winning the Miss Universe pageant in 2012, she's been working as a fashion influencer with more than 4.7 million Instagram followers. Culpo has also started an acting career, and was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2020 swimsuit issue. Most recently, she partnered with Crest and makeup mogul Patrick Starrr for a YouTube video.

As part of Insider's "Beauty Files" series, which takes readers beyond the beauty world they see online, we spoke with Culpo about her five favorite lip products, collaborating with YouTubers, and achieving a natural beauty look.

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

Olivia Culpo shares how she's recently incorporated new products into her beauty routine

The past few months have been a whirlwind — has your beauty routine changed at all?

I found myself wearing a little less makeup when we were really locked down, and I've been trying to find new ways to help my skin-care routine. I've also been exploring new products that I normally wouldn't, just because I don't usually have time to do research.

One is this product by ZitSticka, it's called Skin Discipline. And also Crest Whitening Emulsions, which I'm a huge fan of. It's so fast and easy to use, and also so effective and great for sensitive teeth. I've given it to all of my siblings.

Do you have a favorite lip product to compliment your teeth-whitening routine?

I really like the Whirl Mac lip liner. I'm also a huge fan of Pat McGrath. I don't remember the color, but she has great pigment and consistency in her liners. Also Victoria Beckham has a great lip liner. A lot of people don't know about her makeup line yet, but they're amazing.

For lipsticks, I love the Nars Erdem collection — it might've been limited edition, but I love it. And the Dior Lip Glow. That's my favorite and has been forever.

Speaking of Crest, you recently partnered with Patrick Starrr for a video sponsored by the brand. What was that experience like?

I'm a huge fan of Patrick. No one that I know can speak to makeup in the way that he can. He is such an expert. I talked him through my favorite makeup routine, so it was kind of surreal to be teaching him because he's obviously the best at doing makeup ever.

I was in awe of everything he had to teach me, and he supposedly had things he learned from me. Maybe he was just being nice, but you guys can judge for yourself.

And you both filmed from separate locations, right?

Yeah it was really weird doing a virtual YouTube collaboration, but it was awesome and so easy. We figured out the perfect apparatus.

The model talks about her first experiences with makeup, and shares tips she's learned throughout her career

Can you share some of your earliest beauty memories?

I started by just rummaging through the medicine cabinets in our house and my mom's vanity. I remember I would just use Vaseline or baby oil, and put it on my eyes for a little sheen. I'd try and work with what I had and see what it did.

When I think about my favorite movies of all time, there's always some major, glow-up makeover moment — like "The Princess Diaries," "Never Been Kissed," even "Shrek" and "Beauty and the Beast." So I think the aspect of makeup that I love is being able to create a new look.

Looking back at those years, do you regret any of your beauty looks?

When I was really little, I had a little bit of money saved up, so I went to CVS and bought a product that I put all over my face. It was supposed to give this bronzy glow — but immediately, I broke out into little hives all over my forehead. I was like, 'Well apparently I have sensitive skin. This product wasn't a good idea.'

But aside from that, there are definitely beauty moments in the past that I wouldn't revisit, but I don't have any regrets.

And now that you've spent years working as a model and influencer, have you picked up any go-to beauty tricks you'd recommend?

I personally love Beautyblenders — that's a makeup staple for me — or using my fingers to achieve a more natural beauty look. To really seal all the makeup in and create a dewy, natural base, I love applying a face mist in-between blush, bronzer, and foundation.

I'm also a huge fan of using a spoolie to take mascara from the wand and apply that to my eyes for a more natural look. And drinking water is a huge beauty tip that I definitely try to live by.

Where do you find your beauty inspiration?

From vintage accounts on Instagram. I love looking up old makeup trends, and that's honestly where I find a great amount of my inspiration.

I'm not super inspired by makeup that completely alters what you have going for you naturally. So I feel like if you go back in time and look at a lot of women who are considered iconic, they really just played up their signature differences — so I try to go in that direction.

• Read more:
• Lauren Conrad shares how she turned a long-time love of makeup into a growing beauty business
• Rosie Huntington-Whiteley says having her makeup done for years as a model inspired her to start a show about beauty
• Patrick Starrr shares how late nights making YouTube videos led to him owning a cosmetics company
• Brad Mondo shares how working at his dad's salon led him to become one of the most popular hairstylists on YouTube