You'll Be Screaming Like Meryl Streep Over These Big Little Lies Beauty Secrets

Everybody loves a good party scene (especially when it includes endings like the one in last season's finale). This one is no different: "One of my favorite makeup scenes is the disco party at Renata's house [which airs later this season]," she said. "On a regular day, the makeup department had 10 artists, eight of which were personals to our leading six ladies. For the disco party week, I had 18 additional makeup artists each day helping me with our principal cast and over 100 extras every day that all had to be seen by the makeup department."

The scene also required a lot of preplanning between her, costume designer Alix Friedberg, and department head of hair Jose Zamora. "The three of us worked on Sharp Objects together, so we all jive really well together. I did a lot of research on the disco era, late-night Pinterest and Google searches, and walking the aisles of Michaels craft store."

One of Radow's all-time favorites is the MAC Pro Longwear Paint Pot ($19 each, originally $22). "I've tried every eye primer, and I always go back to this one."

"There are several illusions throughout the series my team and I created with makeup," Radow said. "Cuts, bruises, and scratches are the obvious ones, but you'll also see dark circles, sweat, red eyes, burns, tattoos, and freckles all crested from different makeup mediums."

To create the look of sweat or sheen, Radow said she likes to use the Elizabeth Arden Online Only Eight Hour Cream Skin Protectant ($24) or the Aloe Gator Gel Sunscreen ($11) "with water misted on top." (Psst, the former is also the secret behind the sweat you see in The Handmaid's Tale.)

The makeup team conjured up a host of designs on the tattoo front, too — this time for new addition to the cast Douglas Smith (who plays Corey Brockfield). "Designing tattoos is one of my favorite tasks as a department head," she said. "The director Andrea Arnold told me very early on she envisioned Corey with tattoos. This particular character was a fun one for me."

Why? Because each tattoo has a meaning that's more than meets the eye. "I teamed up with Alexei Dmitriew at HookUp Tattoos to custom design five tattoos for his character. Three of his five tattoos have hidden meaning. I incorporated Morse code into the designs."

The ink on his right forearm, for example, is a sound-wave-inspired-design with a hidden message that says "There is always music" in Morse code. On his left forearm, the tattoo is a hybrid between a heartbeat and a sound wave that reads "Keep dancing" when decoded. The design on his upper left shoulder, though, is her favorite: "This tattoo is two paper airplanes flying in opposite directions," Radow said. "The dotted and dashed trail left behind each plane says, 'It is what it is.' I love this one."

The ones without a hidden meaning — but that hold significance to the character nonetheless — are the solar system tattoo that's inked down his upper back and the anchor tattoo located on his right ribcage. "In addition to his tattoos, I also added a slight tan and layers of freckles on his T-zone and the high points on his face."

While Radow didn't work with Streep directly during filming (she has her own personal hair and makeup artist, because, hello, she's Meryl Streep), she did say the two artists have both confessed their love for one product: the Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($7). "We both agree this is a favorite to stash in our kits."

Maybelline Great Lash Mascara ($7)

There's a lot of tension, tears, and screaming going on in season two — and the makeup team needed a lipstick that would make it through the bumpy ride. "I love the NYX Professional Makeup Soft Matte Lip Creams ($7 each)," she said. "They make fantastic colors that give a nice stain and last [through filming]."

"I had a lot of fun with actress Kathryn Newton, who played Madeline's teenage daughter Abigail," Radow said. "We experimented with more makeup, mascara being super chunky, chipped polish colors, and layering colors over one another."

She also swears by the Temptu Perfect Canvas Airbrush Foundation ($36), and for good reason: "It gives a natural, skin-like finish and you don't have to powder it afterward."