Skin Care Tips From Makeup Artists
The Skin Care Essentials Pro Makeup Artists Pack in Their Kits
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We often turn to the makeup professionals for tips on what mascara to buy or what highlighter to use, but they're also experts at skin care. We've heard time and time again that a flawless complexion is the foundation for an amazing makeup look. Hydrated skin absorbs foundation better for a more natural finish. The fewer blemishes, the less concealer is needed. Skin care is key! So we've asked the world's top artists what they use to prep the models for cosmetics. Surprisingly, most of these beauty buys can be found in your local drugstore aisles.
1 Estée Lauder Idealist Pore Minimizing Skin Refinisher
Tom Pecheux told us backstage at Derek Lam that he uses a combination of three formulas — an oil, a cream, and a "smoothing veil" — to make his models look flawless before he applies their makeup. While the first two products vary depending on the models' skin and his mood, he swears by this Estée Lauder serum ($82) and declares it an essential final step.
2 Avène Cicalfate Restorative Skin Cream
Backstage at Derek Lam, makeup artist Tom Pecheux shared a whole slew of his skin care essentials. He is passionate about making sure his models have good skin, but he admits that it is a "selfish" desire. "If I want the girls to have any skin left by Paris [Fashion Week], it's important to give the skin heavy food and massage it." This season, he added this Avène cream ($28) into his rotation.
3 Kiko Milano Scrub and Peel Wipes
For the Badgley Mischka show, Tom Pecheux used a matte coral lipstick from MAC. To get rid of all the flyaway skin, he scrubbed each pout with Kiko Milano Scrub and Peel Wipes ($6). The rougher side buffs away chapped skin to give bright or moody lip colors a seamless application.
4 Skin Inc. Hydrate 'Em Custom Blended Serum
The Skin Inc. team was backstage at Alice + Olivia, giving each model a five-minute facial. The Hydrate 'Em Custom Blended Serum ($90) contains hyaluronic acid, CoQ10, and ceramides. The combination absorbs into skin and creates a smooth complexion, which the makeup team accented with an added dose of highlighter.
5 Dr. Jart Clearing Solution Mask
Backstage at Opening Ceremony every model with oily skin was treated to a Dr. Jart Clearing Solution Mask ($9). The treatment calmed redness and any mid-Fashion Week breakouts. The star could be the glowy makeup look, which called for barely any foundation.
6 Omorovicza Blue Diamond Concentrate
The Omorovicza Blue Diamond Concentrate ($410) was an essential for Gucci Westman backstage at Rag & Bone. She also used the brand's thickest moisturizer on top of foundation to create a dewy finish that mimicked a Caribbean tan.
7 Skyn Iceland Eye Gels
The models were walking around backstage at Rebecca Minkoff covered with the Skyn Iceland Eye Gels ($30). Plus they had the forehead and chin patches on, too! The masks helped the makeup team create a healthy glow that stood out under the runway lights.
8 Clé de Peau Beauté Refreshing Balancing Lotion
Lead makeup artist Lucia Pieroni prepped each model with a swipe of the Clé de Peau Beauté Refreshing Balancing Lotion ($100). Her insider tip: massage. A few minutes of working the skin after your morning cleanse brings the blood to the surface to give the face a plump, rested look.
9 Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil
Backstage at Zimmermann, lead makeup artist Jodie Boland let us in on a little secret. Highlighter isn't the best makeup tool for that dewy glow. You should actually be using oil! She applied a dab of Kat Burki Power Trio Radiance Oil ($125) to the cheekbones before applying foundation to give the skin a natural gleam.
10 RevitaBrow Advanced
You know a product is a big deal when a makeup artist admits to buying it full price! Maybelline New York global brow expert Maribeth Madron swears by RevitaBrow Advanced ($110). She recommends it to all her clients with sparse, fair arches and uses it herself!
11 Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray
You can often spot cans of Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray ($18) sitting at every makeup station backstage. At Desigual, MAC artist Gordon Espinet spritzed the models just before applying foundation to the skin.
12 Weleda Skin Food
The makeup team backstage carried around tubes of Weleda Skin Food ($19) to do touch-ups in the lineup. They used the thick balm to create a natural highlight on cheekbones, lids, and lips.
13 Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream
It's logical that a top celebrity makeup artist would create the perfect prepping moisturizer for other pros to use. And Polly Osmond, the head MAC artist at the Christian Siriano show, confirmed she's a fan of Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream ($100). "If you use something underneath and that on top, it gives the skin a really nice glow," she said of the balmy lotion that seems to make pores disappear.
14 Lily of the Desert Aloe Vera Juice
Maybelline global makeup artist Yadim loves to pile on the foundation but hates a cakey finish. This aloe vera juice ($4) from Whole Foods is his secret. First, he slathers on his base color using his fingers. Then, he sets everything with powder. Finally, he spritzes on the aloe vera juice to soften up the finish.
15 Rosebud Lip Salve in a Tube
Diane Kendal always has a tube of Rosebud Lip Salve ($6) on hand to prep dry, cracked lips for matte lipstick. She also uses the pharmacy favorite as a finishing gloss for eyelids and cheeks.
