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- The Products Sydney’s Top Bridal Artist Uses to Achieve “Expensive-Looking Skin”
The Products Sydney’s Top Bridal Artist Uses to Achieve “Expensive-Looking Skin”
by
Ruby Feneley
Image credit: @alexperrinmua
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In a now-deleted video, a bare-faced Hailey Bieber descended upon TikTok this week, granting her fans a peek at her “Sunday makeup” routine and wish them a “beautiful day”. Presumably, Bieber was blissfully unaware that with one exceptionally light-handed application of concealer, she was about to set the internet on fire.
It was two dots of the Kosas, Revealer Creamy + Brightening Concealer ($42), placed delicately on the imperceptible imperfections on either side of her perfect nose, which sent her viral for the first, if not last, time this week. It all started with a simple “Lmaooo,” from a commenter, which was quickly joined by a chorus.
It turns out, there is nothing more annoying than watching someone with a Lady Godiva-level glow apply “concealer.”
@helenatokvam Makeup routine? went a bit craycray with the concealer today #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #haileybieber ♬ Paper Birds (3 min) – Jordan Halpern Schwartz
The Expensive Secret Behind Hailey Bieber’s Glowing Skin
Hailey Bieber doesn’t just have expensive-looking skin, her skin is expensive. Bieber is a regular at Dr Barbara Sturms‘s celebrity favourite skincare clinics, and an avid fan of Augustinus Bader’s $390 The Rich Cream.
For us mere mortals wanting to replicate Bieber’s honey-skinned, dew drop complexion, though, we asked a makeup artist known for creating some of the most “expensive looking” complexions in Sydney how to fake Hailey’s glow, and save ourselves some envy.
Your Step-By-Step Guide to Glowing Skin
Alex Perrin is one of Sydney’s top bridal, celebrity and editorial MUAs (she’s even tended to Kyle Richards of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills fame). Perrin works with plenty of genetically blessed models and celebrities, but she also spends a lot of her time creating bombshell looks for brides. That’s right, normal people like you and me with texture, fine lines, and pimples.
She says there’s been a definite “vibe shift” when it comes to beauty in the last five years. “It’s a much softer glam than it was a few years ago,” Perrin tells POPSUGAR Australia, describing the look as “Kim Kardashian meets Charlotte Tilbury.”
Related: Lily James Showcases Glowing Skin and Vintage Waves In New Charlotte Tilbury Campaign
Alex Perrin says from celebrities to brides, clients want red carpet-ready skin that looks refined and polished, but effortless. “People are wanting to enhance their natural beauty and work with their features, instead of trying to change them,” explains Perrin.
Step 1. Glowing Skin Starts With… Glowing Skincare
Getting this dialled down 2022 glam starts with skin.
There’s a difference between natural makeup, and a polished glow that pops on camera (unless you’re Hailey Bieber).
To get the look and make it last, Perrin relies on Charlotte Tilbury skincare. The benefit of working with makeup artist-designed skincare, she explains, is that they’re formulated to work synergistically with products, meaning it won’t ball, separate or liquify your base.
“CT is a go-to in my kit, as I know it will work well with any product,” says Perrin.
In Her Kit: Skincare
Charlotte Tilbury, Magic Cream ($125)
Charlotte Tilbury, Magic Cream Light ($125)
Charlotte Tilbury Collagen Super Infusion Face Oil ($100)
Charlotte Tilbury, Cryo Eye Serum, ($95)
2. Balancing Your Glow
The next step is making your glowing base last, particularly if you’re looking at a long day like a wedding. Alex Perrin is a fan of primers when they’re used judiciously. She tells POPSUGAR Australia there is no “one” best primer.
“It’s totally skin dependent,” explains Perrin. Like many beauty experts, she is in a long-term relationship with Charlotte Tilbury, Hollywood Flawless Filter ($65).
What makes the product so special? It’s all in the tint, according to Perrin.
“It evens out your skin tone before you even apply foundation, so you use less product,” she explains.
Skin so oily it’s recoiling at the word “glow”?
Switch up your priming technique by using a glowy base on the outer portion of your face, and an oil-controlling primer through the centre.
Perrin’s top pick is Hourglass Mineral Veil Primer ($84). She loves it for bridal clients because it’s waterproofing, humidity resistant and most importantly, transfer and tear-proof. For very textured skin, reach for Tatcha, Silk Canvas, ($81) — the perfect putty-like, smoothing base for blurring three-dimensional pores and scarring.
In Her Kit:
Charlotte Tilbury, Hollywood Flawless Filter, ($65)
Hourglass, Mineral Veil Primer, ($84)
Tatcha, The Silk Canvas Protective Primer ($81)
3. Polish Your Glow
As a makeup artist, Perrin keeps a range of foundations in different finishes and opacities to ensure she has something for everyone. For a personal kit, Perrin recommends the Lisa Eldridge spot-concealing technique.
This means pairing a lighter coverage base, in your finish of choice, with a full coverage concealer. By “pinpoint” concealing a la Hailey Bieber, you can fake a natural skin finish.
In Her Kit:
Dior, Backstage Face and Body Foundation ($75)
Charlotte Tilbury, Beautiful Skin Foundation ($65)
Nars, Natural Radiant Longwear Foundation ($73)
Dior Forever, Skin Correct Concealer ($71)
Tarte, Shape Tape Contour Concealer ($47)
Step 4. Creme de La Creme Contouring
Perrin says it’s a myth that contouring and highlighting are done.
“Contouring and highlighting will always be part of a makeup, but it’s about finding the products that keep that freshness in the skin,” she says.
Bieber has been seen wielding cream products like Westman Atelier, Baby Cheeks Blush Stick ($72) and Milk Makeup, Bionic Blush ($36), and Perrin is in full agreement.
“You want products that melt into the skin and build on a glowing, lived-in look,” whether that’s blush, bronzer, highlight, or contour. Alex’s favourite cream products are from Nudestix and translucent highlighters like Chanel, Baume Essential Multi-Use Glow Stick ($71)
In Her Kit:
Nudestix, Nudies Bloom All Over Dewy Blush in “Sweet Peach Peony,” ($51)
Nudestix, Nudies Matte All Over Face Color Blush & Bronze in “Bareback” “Bondi Bae” and “Deep Maple” ($51)
Huda Beauty, Tantour Contour & Bronzer Cream, ($47)
Chanel, Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick ($71)
Mecca Max, Liquid Light in “Topaz”($26)
3. Halo Eyes
Eyes are far softer than they were five years ago, and Perrin has seen a shift to soft peaches, roses and a more natural lashline. Still, if you have your glowing base in place, the eyes are a great way to ramp up the glamour.
“The eyes will change the entire look,” says Perrin, because “you can add more definition and dimension there, and add a wing or a false lash to create a more glamorous feel.” When Perrin is working with bridal clients and transitioning from a “natural” ceremony look to a reception glam, she will dial up the intensity with more eyeliner and a strip lash.
In Her Kit:
Charlotte Tilbury, Eyes to Mesmerise in “Rose Gold” ($44)
Tom Ford, Cream and Powder Eye Colour in “Golden Peach” ($94)
Charlotte Tilbury, “Pillow Talk” Eyeshadow Quad ($80)
Makeup by Mario, The Mattes Eyeshadow Palette, ($78)
Poni Cosmetics, The White Knight Mascara, ($32)
Model Rock, Ultra Luxe Individual Lashes, ($18)
Rosy Lips:
Five years ago, flattering events makeup was all about the Kim Kardashian beigey-nude lip. Perrin says the influence of Charlotte Tilbury’s “Pillow Talk” has changed this. These days, she reaches for rosier, more natural tones for lips, cheeks and eyes, and finds they work a lot better on camera.
“I’ve shifted my attention from nudes to a little colour, which doesn’t look flat on camera,” she says.
Of course, Charlotte Tilbury’s “Pillow Talk” lipstick and liner are considered the best “your lips, but better” products, and are now available in medium and deep tones. Want to contour your lips, or add some definition? Add a deeper rose like MAC Lip Pencil in “Whirl” to make the look pop.
In Her Kit:
Charlotte Tilbury “Pillow Talk” Matte Revolution Lipstick in Original, and Medium and Intense ($49)
Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat in “Pillow Talk” in Original and 2. Medium and 3. Intense ($35)
MAC Lip Pencil in “Whirl” ($33)
Alex Perrin is a Sydney-based makeup artist with over 10 years of experience in the industry. She’s worked across editorial, e-commerce and runway and specialises in destination weddings. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok, and to get in touch visit her website.
