Photo: Lisa Shin/ Anderson Hopkins, prop styling by Chloe Daley
Actresses may look perfect and poreless in photos, but behind most of those clear complexions is a super squad of skin and makeup gurus. Here, Hollywood’s top pros share their coveted regimens—with no detail spared—to make your skin glow like a red carpet darling‘s for all your wedding events.
Photo: Courtesy of Eminence Organic
1. Pregame with a mask. The night before, apply a mask that gently exfoliates, moisturizes, and brightens, says aesthetician Joanna Vargas, whose clients include Karlie Kloss and Julianne Moore. This creates a smooth canvas—the number-one reason why celebs often look like they’re barely wearing foundation. Vargas likes Eminence Organic Strawberry Rhubarb Masque. (Strawberry rhubarb masque, $37, Eminence Organic Skin Care available on Amazon)
Photo: Courtesy of Cetaphil
2. Cleanse gently. Wash with a calming cleanser the morning of, says New York dermatologist Jessica Weiser. For dry skin, try Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser. If you have oily skin, you don’t have to be so delicate: A foaming wash like Cetaphil will prevent clogged pores. Have very dry skin? Skip to step three. (Goat milk moisturizing cleanser, $34, Kate Somerville available at Sephora; Dermacontrol Foam Wash, $9 Cetaphil available on Amazon)
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora
3. DIY a toner. Vargas steeps a cup of green tea, adds a few drops of lavender and rose oils, and mists it on the face. If you have sensitive skin, swap out green tea for soothing chamomile; if you’re dry, add a few drops of an antioxidant serum. Vargas uses her own Rejuvenating Serum; Cover FX Custom Infusion Drops A + Jasmine is also hydrating. (Rejuvenating Serum, $100, Joanna Vargas; Custom Infusion Drops, $48, Cover FX available at Sephora)
Photo: Courtesy of Tatcha
4. Skip the primer. “Silicone primers can darken foundation after a few hours,” says makeup artist Daniel Martin. “Water-based gel moisturizers set it without interrupting the color.” He uses Tatcha Overnight Memory Serum Concentrate on his clients (Olivia Palermo, Kate Bosworth, and Jessica Alba). Have oily skin? Try Hada Labo Tokyo’s Skin Plumping Gel Cream, a light hyaluronic-acid gel. (Overnight memory serum concentrate, $110, Tatcha; Skin plumping gel cream, $21, Hada Labo Tokyo available at Ulta)
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora
5. Depuff. Martin keeps brightening 24-karat-gold eye masks in his kit for actresses with early call times. One famous client recently turned him on to La Pure Eye Treatment Masks; we also like Peter Thomas Roth 24K Lift and Firm Mask. (24K gold eye treatment masks, $30, La Pure available on Amazon; 24K lift and firm mask, $80, Peter Thomas Roth available at Sephora)
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
6. Apply under-eye concealer. With a color that’s one shade lighter than your skin, create inverted triangles that end at the bottom of the nostrils, then pat and blend. Martin likes Calypso Magic Concealer, which comes with pink and yellow undertones. “In a photo, instead of giving you raccoon eyes, the light will diffuse at the center of your face so everything looks bright and balanced,” he says. (“Magic” concealer, $15, Calypso available on Amazon)
Photo: Courtesy of Sephora
7. Now comes the foundation. For oily skin, Martin uses Dior Forever Foundation because it’s matte and long lasting and doesn’t cake; for normal and dry skin, he creates a sheer finish with Koh Gen Doh Aqua Foundation. Sweep it on in circular motions with a dome-shaped foundation brush, working your way out from the middle of your face. Martin likes It Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush 7. “The rounded shape gives you an airbrushed finish; flat brushes can cause streaking,” he says. (“Dior Forever” foundation, $50, Dior available at Sephora; Aqua foundation, $62, Koh Gen Doh available at Sephora; Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Brush #7, $48, IT Cosmetics)
Photo: Courtesy of Makeup Mania
8. Cover blemishes. Reduce swelling with an over-the-counter cortisone gel, then apply a thick concealer like Ben Nye’s Concealer Pot. Dab it on with a thin brush, dust loose powder on top, press it in with a powder puff, and tap a wet sponge on top to eliminate chalkiness. (Tattoo cover concealer pot, $9.50, Ben Nye available at Stage Makeup Online)
Photo: Courtesy of Honest Beauty
9. Highlight. When longevity is key, Martin steers clear of shimmer. “You can’t control how it wears, and I don’t want the girls to look shiny in three hours,” he says. Instead, he uses a clear all-purpose cream like Honest Beauty Magic Balm to emphasize cheekbones. (“Magic Balm” $18, Honest Beauty)
Photo: Courtesy of Amazon
10. All set! Martin mattifies only the T zone with Sana Pore Putty Face Powder. “In pictures, it erases your pores,” he says. “I bought it because I liked the packaging, but when I saw how well it worked, I stocked up.” Keep blotting papers on hand for the rest of your face. “You want to see radiance coming through,” he says. “Powder is great, but if you take the time to do your skin care properly, the makeup’s going to last without it.” (“Pore Putty” face powder, $13, Sana Keana Pate Shokunin available on Amazon)
Three Ingredients to Avoid…
Salicylic acid — It’s an exfoliator, so any makeup applied on top will clump up with your skin cells. Ick.
Benzoyl peroxide — This super-drying acne buster makes makeup flake off. (Parched skin is the enemy of flawless makeup application.)
Retinol — It’s irritating and inflaming—not a good look on camera: “I have one celebrity client who always manages to dig up a crusty old tube of Retin-A from her drawer the day before an event, and she just burns her face,” Vargas says. Consider yourself warned.
The Food Factor
What you eat can make or break your complexion. A few days before the wedding, stick to an anti-inflammatory diet of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and oily fish high in omega fatty acids. It will give your skin a natural glow, eliminate bloat, and help prevent day-of blemishes. And do your best to lay off the refined sugar, alcohol, and coffee!
See More: Pure Bridal Beauty: The Best All Natural, Wedding-Ready Makeup Products
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