Catt Sadler on ‘Being a Slave’ to Hair Extensions and ‘Bathing in SPF’

Catt Sadler’s look has changed dramatically since she first landed on E! in 2006 as a co-host on The Daily 10. Back then, she was sporting her natural brunette hair color, pared-down makeup, and outfits that screamed “TV broadcaster.” Case in point:

But we would have never guessed that deep down inside was a beauty and style maven waiting to emerge. Fast-forward to today and Sadler can be spotted on the small screen and red carpet rocking a bronde lob, expertly placed bronzer, and a wardrobe fit for a fashion blogger.

While Sadler’s style transformation gradually evolved over the past decade, the 41-year-old became well-versed in all things beauty while growing up in Indiana. Keep reading to find out about her days behind the makeup counter at Nordstrom, why she thinks Great Lengths hair extensions are a godsend, and the beauty advice she regrets not taking from her mother when she was younger.

On the big difference between her TV makeup and everyday makeup…

Most days [I show up bare-faced to work], and it’s nice [having someone do my makeup] because I’m a mom too. All I have to really do is shower. And I walk out the door and it’s like T-shirt, jeans, flats. Sometimes my work schedule changes and we have meetings with executives … I don’t want to be too ratchet in front of my co-workers. I will put on a really cute fedora, mascara, lip gloss.

My TV look: I do like to experiment, and I just did a super-neon-orange lipstick. I love purple. The MAC Rebel is always in my purse. I’m not scared to push the envelope, especially on TV, because that’s my platform.

My philosophy about doing my makeup is not to change, and we should all look like ourselves and just enhance. I love a tinted moisturizer. I have kind of pink, uneven skin tone without anything on it. So that’s my one thing if I don’t have anything on with a mascara — that’s usually my key to even out my face with a nude lip.

On working as a makeup counter girl at Nordstrom…

When I went to college, I put myself through partially as a makeup artist at a makeup counter at Nordstrom. That was one of my first jobs. So I got the bug a little bit, and I’d do my friends’ makeup and do like my family’s weddings.

I learned that I’m a terrible salesperson because I just loved makeup and playing in it. I worked at Trish McElvoy. I was exposed to brushes for the first time and the differences in what they do. I just loved the community. This didn’t feel like work. You’re hanging out with friends and it feels just like school. It was so fun, but I just wasn’t a great salesperson. And they were like, “Yeah, Catt, could you just sell a little more?”

On the makeup trend she’s “over”…

There’s the whole “beating the face” and everything is so painted and chiseled. I hope we do get away from that. I’m not a fan of the super-painted look, but I really did love contouring. Maybe I need to tone it down. It really changes your face shape and can be effective if it’s done really well.

Because I’m not 25 anymore, you have to be careful because that can be very severe and aging. I’m like “No, no no. Please don’t put black in my eyebrows. That’s too harsh!” I think softer is better. I want Cara Delevingne’s brows.

Catt Sadler looking bronzed and beautiful. (Photo: Getty Images)

On her drugstore beauty picks and obsession with Tom Ford bronzer…

My new favorite low is the E.l.f. Lip Exfoliator. I’m obsessed with that! I think you can get mascara on the cheap too. High-end, I’m a fan of the Tom Ford Bronzing Powder. I know it’s so expensive, but it’s the really big old one, and I get a big brush and just put on my body. Just warming the face but not too much contouring!

I like putting my foundation on with brushes or a BeautyBlender. Every time someone pulls out one of the old-school white sponges, I’m like “Please stop!”

Nobody has an hour to sit in front of a mirror and really do their makeup everyday. So quick is better. I just discovered the E.l.f. Aqua Beauty Molten Liquid Eyeshadow — that gets like a swipe and it’s on.

On at-home facials, her love for serums, and her extensive skin care routine…

I wear a ton of makeup for TV, so I’m big on exfoliating. My favorite cleanser [brand] is Murad. I alternate between their exfoliating cleansers, their vitamin C cleanser, their anti-aging cleanser.

I always use serums. After I wash my face, steam my face, I use serum by Murad. Because I have a lot of freckles, sun damage, and/or age spots. I use a serum that’s designed specifically to lighten them. Sometimes I’ll mix in a glycolic serum.

I never miss my eye cream. I use lash serum almost as often as I brush my teeth and I swear by those. And I do masks — I alternate masks. Sometimes I’ll do a clay mask or a moisturizing gel mask because they brighten, revitalize, and all of that.

I also have one of those home steamers that Panasonic makes. I do that once a week. I just plug it in. It takes like three minutes, give myself a heat steam, and that helps me.

On her devotion to sunscreen…

I SPF, SPF, SPF all the time now. I know that’s so boring to talk about, but when people used to tell me that when I was younger, I’d say “whatever!” I have so many sun spots on my chest and I was like why didn’t I listen to my mom. Now when I go out, I’m like a crazy person with a hat and scarf on the beach because that’s where you first start to see [aging] first. Like I literally take a bath in SPF anything.

Catt Sadler serving hair and fashion goals. (Photo: Getty Images)

On how hair extensions have changed her life…

Hair for me … that is my trouble area. I am bald basically —not really, but because of getting my hair done every single day for 20 years, it has ruined my hair. So I would say 10 years ago, I started getting Great Lengths extensions which I have now. But once you start…

I hate it, but thank God, it saved my hair. I also hate being a slave to it. It takes a long time and you have to redo them all the time. Depending on the day and what I’m doing, I have the Great Lengths that I can just walk out of the door and then I’ll put clip-ins on top of that.

My dream is to have a year off so that I can grow my hair. But it’s like that cycle where you can’t get out of it when you’re always on.

On the one product that’s weighing down her handbag…

I’m kind of sloppy in my bag. I end up with a ton of lipsticks because even though they’re all similar in color, I have three glosses, four lipsticks. That’s the one thing I always make sure I have in there.

On “makeup-shaming” from soccer moms and celebs…

I have kids … I go to the soccer field a lot. Sometimes I go to pick my kids up [wearing makeup] and they’re like, “Seriously!” I remember this time I went straight from work once to Tracy Anderson, who is a friend of mine, and I ran into Nicole Richie in the gym. And she gave me so much shit because I had lashes on and I just came from work. I was totally justifying why I looked so painted.

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