It’s a drizzly winter afternoon—New York at its least hospitable—and Lola Leon has found refuge in a bowl of red-sauce pasta. The musician and model is tucked into a quiet table at SoHo’s Sant Ambroeus, refueling after a late night in Ridgewood working with her producer and friend Eartheater. An incognito Leon looks the part of an off-duty dancer: bare face, black sweatshirt, hair scraped back into a bun. “It’s really giving, my hair is so dirty that it’s the only thing I can do with it right now,” she says between languid bites of penne. Even a set of cherry red nails reads as against-type. “If you see me on a regular basis, I’m usually missing, like, three,” she adds with a droll, down-tempo delivery.
The 26-year-old is in the swing of self-reinvention. Her familiar first name, Lourdes (given by parents Madonna and Carlos Leon), has fallen by the wayside. After shrugging off music as a possible pursuit—she instead studied dance at SUNY Purchase—Leon made her way onto the scene last year, with a summer single that heralded the November release of Go, her debut EP. If a taste for mononyms runs in the family, the musician has landed on Lolahol. I ask if the epithet has taken on a different depth of meaning in the months since she coined it. “I just think that the name itself is depth,” Leon says, leaning into the literalism alongside the ambiguity. “Eartheater calls it ‘Lola’s lair.’ It’s kind of just, like, inviting people into my world, maybe into my brain a little bit. My spirals.”
Leon’s latest role, though, is more surface-level than subterranean. This spring, she appears in her first-ever makeup campaign, representing the newest foundation from Make Up For Ever. Called HD Skin, it’s a velvet-finish powder formula designed for adjustable coverage—the sort of thing one can dial down or stipple on as needed, with the trust that it will behave accordingly. “That is what’s important to me: I don’t want to look like a wreck under lights, sweating, in the middle of the heat,” Leon says, hinting at upcoming performance dates. The waterproof foundation, packaged in an iPhone-slim compact, suits an unpredictable night out. But finding the right product for a given skin type and situation is a trial-and-error process—emphasis on the error, she jokes. “When I was younger and first started using makeup, I would just put the most insane amount of foundation in my hands, rub my hands together, and then smear it all over my face,” the musician recalls. “It was such a thick coating, but I just felt that that looked good in my mind.” The habit wasn’t enough to make her swear off the stuff. “I think starting with a clean base and having everything be even is important.”
Beauty still has its hazards. The same brows that dominate the Make Up For Ever campaign portraits—high, neat hedges framing Leon’s chestnut eyes—are “a disaster right now,” she laments. “I was dermaplaning, a.k.a. shaving your face, and I shaved off the beginning of my whole eyebrow. So I’m just looking crazy for a couple weeks, but it’s okay.” Luckily the mishap followed her recent runway turn for Luis De Javier’s New York Fashion Week debut, held inside a storied former synagogue. “I felt really lucky to be there,” she tells me, singling out the inspired casting and well-matched looks, styled by Patti Wilson. Leon modeled a strapless red leather minidress, with devil horns protruding from the bust; visible among a smattering of tattoos was her own lanky devil above the right elbow. “I don’t know,” she smiles. “People say that I can be a little prickly, so the horns make sense.”
Self-defense seems like an attendant mechanism for a famous upbringing. Hiccups have a way of becoming tabloid catnip, as when Leon, a former Marc Jacobs campaign star, arrived tardy to the designer’s February fashion show. (She made it inside, she assures me.) “Obviously I respect Marc and all the work that he does, but I think when people are making a story out of something, they’ll just kind of run with whatever they think is going to be interesting and gossipy.” Jacobs’s show touchingly paid homage to the late Vivienne Westwood: knitwear twisted into “tit top” rosettes, voluptuous dresses, coats with upturned collars and models’ arms folded tightly across their chests. To Leon, the stiff outerwear was a reminder that “you kind of have to be hypervigilant and hyperaware at the same time as minding your own business.”
But within that exoskeleton, there’s a sense of cheek. I bring up a lyric in “Lock&Key” (“No sleep, next plane, no sleep, make up”), which seems to reflect the harried pace of a certain kind of life. “That’s a Lady Gaga reference,” Leon points out, referring to an interview clip turned soundbite that swept the internet. “I was like, Oh my god, I have to use some parts of this. It was just too funny and too camp not to.” There’s a shade of reality in the words: “I love it when I actually have the fucking time to do my whole face,” she says, explaining that it’s usually a hasty situation. “[Makeup] really has the ability to, like, make you feel like a different type of bitch.”
Can you share a little about your experience being a Clinique brand ambassador and what it means to you?
I love it! I love representing Latinas as a brand ambassador because I grew up with Clinique, and I know the presence that Clinique has in Mexico, which is huge. Being able to be the face of Clinique and having so many women look at me and think, “Yeah, she looks like me” or “Because she’s a brand ambassador, I could be a brand ambassador one day,” I find that beautiful. Clinique has been in my family for generations, so it feels very full circle to be an ambassador for a brand I actually know and love and that has been in my family for years.
How does being the brand’s ambassador reflect your idea of beauty?
One of my favorite things about the brand is that they genuinely care about making people feel good and making everyone accept their own unique beauty. I love how all the makeup products are skincare first. … When we look in the mirror, if we like what we see, it affects us in a positive way for the rest of the day—how we carry ourselves, the energy we go into every room with. I always thought growing up that some people have flawless skin in middle school and high school, and some had constant breakouts and pimples, and it just feels unfair sometimes.
I feel now, being with Clinique, that beauty is an energy that comes from within, but we also want our outside to match our inside. I think that’s the mission of Clinique: to create products and be a brand that’s safe for all skin types and helps everyone achieve their best self. I love being a part of that message and knowing it’s a brand that’s accessible and safe for everyone to feel beautiful.
Going forward, brands will need to provide proof of safety for their products and ingredients (as part of the registration process). But the FDA could—and should—go further on what they qualify as safe.
“This is such a huge step in the right direction that most of us are just immensely glad that something is changing. Can more be done? Absolutely! But this is a great start,” says Koestline. “In the future, it would be good to see maybe clearer testing requirements for each manufactured lot of cosmetics, raw materials as well as formula itself; better definitions of what an ‘infection’ means, clearer regulations on what can and cannot be said on the label in terms of claims.”
Davis also notes she’d like to see more clarity around how they define safety. “The act asks for ‘safety substantiation,’ but the definition of “safety” is quite vague,” she says, adding: “I would love to see greater accountability in the supply chain; ingredient suppliers should show that they’ve evaluated a material, it’s hazard and risk before they sell it to beauty brands to use in products that we use daily over our lifetimes.
As most beauty folks know, the EU bans far more ingredients than the US. The EU follows the “precautionary principle” with ingredients, which means they more eagerly ban ingredients that could potentially be harmful to human or environmental health.
While no ingredient bans were made under MoCRA, they are making steps to investigate some of the more questionable ones. For example, there is now stricter testing on talc (a great step!), and a directive for the FDA to investigate PFAS in cosmetic products and provide a report on their safety—but that won’t be coming for another three years.
In the meantime, you can continue to purchase from brands and retailers who align with your values: “MoCRA is a much-needed step in the right direction, but we still need to vote with our dollars to support brands that are pushing for more safety and sustainability data,” Davis says.
Primers, face mists, pore strips, lip scrubs, tinted moisturizers—all “controversial” beauty products labeled (by some) as the most despisable or undeserving of your hard-earned paychecks. Some beauty editors, skin experts, and makeup artists flaunt their obsession for the formulas I’ve listed above, and some practically condemn them as ineffective industry propaganda. In retrospect, this just proves that everyone is different, everyone likes different things, and you should really just try and buy any beauty product you dang well please.
In a previous life—a life I’ll dub BTM, before tinted moisturizer—I stubbornly maintained I just wasn’t a fan of tinted moisturizers. They pilled, they didn’t match my skin, and they never provided me with the pretty wash of lightweight subtle coverage they promised. Eventually, after some peer pressure from a friend and fellow beauty editor, I tried a new formula I was convinced I’d hate but, miraculously, became head-over-heels obsessed with. Turns out, as with literally any product in our saturated beauty universe, it requires some elbow grease to find your perfect formula. Even if the first (or fifth) option might be a fail, it doesn’t mean there isn’t a glowing new find to be discovered just around the river bend.
The next makeup artist I had the pleasure of speaking to was Katrina Klein, a British, Los Angeles–based celeb makeup artist who has worked with talent including Bailee Madison, Lucy Hale, Brianne Howey, and Sophia Bush. Her work can also bee found in publications such as Cosmopolitan and Billboard. “I think [coquette] has become so popular because it’s another nostalgia-based trend, which people are loving at the moment,” Klein begins. “We have had Y2K, grunge, and now coquette too, which is very early 2000s.” Like Ghodstinat, she defines coquette-inspired makeup as feminine, flirtatious, and playful while also highlighting touches of pink, shimmer, bows, and flushed cheeks as its characteristics.
Her favorite recent takes on the coquette makeup trend? Lizzo’s look on the Grammy’s red carpet and on the runway, as well as Simone Rocha’s recent fall 2023 show that featured the addition of silk bows under the eyes of models. Another source of inspiration this makeup artist looks to is none another than Netflix’s hit historical fiction-romance Bridgertoncreated by showrunner Shonda Rhimes. Scroll on to see which makeup products Klein reaches for when creating a fun and playful coquette-inspired look.
We say it all the time in makeup tutorials: A striking face beat always starts with a hydrated, fresh canvas. Without a healthy base, cosmetics can look cakey and patchy, no matter how many creamy, dewy formulas you pile on.
And if you have textured skin (read: fine lines, large pores, acne scars, etc.), it’s even more important to focus on moisture, which is why Idriss swaps the highlighter for Weleda’s Skin Food, a balmy, rich face cream. “I take a wet beauty blender, and I put a little drop of the Weleda on that beauty blender, and I apply it to the high points of my face,” she shares.
She winds up with three dots on her cheekbones, a dot on each side of her forehead, and a dot on the tip of her nose, but feel free to add more wherever you see fit (Personally, I also like to highlight right underneath my brow bone.)
Bounce the sponge gently to blend, but don’t let the moisturizer fully melt into your skin. “Allow it to stay on the surface of your face without getting absorbed too much,” says Idriss, so “you’ll look overall nice and dewy.” If the product soaks in, you’ll lose that subtle shine.
And there you have it: A hack to make your cheekbones pop without accentuating any textural concerns. Of course, you’ll want to have a moisturizing base before you even begin your makeup routine; think of the face cream as an extra tap of hydration for that fresh, dewy glow.
But who says you have to stay minimal? Go ahead and have a ball with pops of color and sparkle; whimsical and youthful are two sides of the same coin, no?
“I love a little shimmer in the inner corner paired with a bright-toned pencil on the water line. Sometimes I will use a pale blue color, like our Neen Side Eye Liner in shade Minty. This gives such a fresh vibe,” Lobell shares.
Not to mention, that inner shimmer can really open up the eyes and make them appear wide awake. (I personally use Neen’s Pretty Shiny cream highlighter, which offers a subtle glow.) That pale blue liner can also provide a nice contrast on the water line—similar to why folks swear by white eyeliner—which makes the eyes appear brighter.
Don’t be afraid to test the waters, but as a general rule, lighter hues will highlight and bring forth an area while richer hues create shadow. “Use lighter, shimmery shades where you want it to look more open, and bring darker shades in where you want to deepen or change the shape,” Lobell adds. From there, the makeup world is truly your oyster.
Welcome to Deep Reviews—your one-stop destination to discover the absolute best products and brands the beauty industry has to offer. The Who What Wear staffers you already know and trust will research, test, and review the market’s most sought-after and buzzed-about products to see which formulas (of the hundreds up for consideration) are truly worth your hard-earned money and attention. You can expect honest, completely uncensored feedback and no-BS recommendations our hard-to-please testers endorse without reservations.
Sometimes, wearing a full-coverage foundation feels like putting on a latex mask. And on the flip side, going totally bare-faced can feel daunting. For days when both sides of the spectrum feel impossible, it’s best to reach for a base product with flexible coverage that feels breathable and maybe even skincare-adjacent. That’s where BB creams come in.
BB creams are the perfect solution for skin-blurring, even-toned coverage that looks—and feels!—like your skin. Unfortunately, finding the right BB cream can quickly devolve into a Goldilocks and the Three Bears situation. You want a formula that has enough coverage (but not too much), feels hydrating (but not oily), and stays on all day (but doesn’t mattify). Basically, we want BB creams to do the most. We tried 13 BB creams and picked the top eight. Keep reading for our favorite BB creams and why we loved them, plus info on our rigorous testing process and insight from a celebrity makeup artist on everything you ever wanted to know about BB cream.
“To me, the formula is about as perfect as a tinted moisturizer can get. There’s no funky scent or heavy oily consistency, and it just blends into my skin so seamlessly without drying it out or making it break out. I can wear it every single day (and honestly do) and my skin is actually better for it. I’ve actually already been using this product for two or three years now, and it’s my holy grail. I love how seamlessly it glides on, and it blends flawlessly. The formula is just right for my skin so it never feels dry or flaky or, on the flip side, oily or heavy, like so many other BB creams I’ve tried have done. It also works as a wonderful base to makeup, and my cream blush, concealer, and bronzer all blend in well on top.” — Anna LaPlaca, Editor
“I have used many, many BB creams in my day, and I can honestly say that none have ever held up better than this tinted moisturizer from Chantecaille. I don’t know how they do it, but it genuinely looks like an eighth layer of skin—you can’t even tell you’re wearing any base makeup at all with this product, which is genuinely impressive. It does come with a steep price tag, but if there’s anything you’re considering splurging on, this is truly, truly worth every penny. The finish is dewy but not shiny, and it never pills over my skincare and sunscreen. Truly the holy grail.” — Katie Berohn, Beauty Editor
“Since I was test-driving this BB cream throughout New York Fashion Week, I knew I needed lightweight, long-lasting coverage for running around the city and being photographed. Lightweight and long-lasting usually don’t go hand-in-hand, so I was skeptical at best. But shockingly, Covergirl blew me out of the water. It settled on my skin flawlessly and gave me a radiant, skin-like finish. I’ll admit I was having much better skin days at the start of fashion week than at the end, so my first reactions were that it was incredible. Toward the end of the week, I was itching to get it off since my skin was starting to break out (too many slices of stress pizza will do that to you!), but sans textured skin or acne, it looked incredible. Given how low-cost the CG BB cream is, I’d recommend everyone try it out at least once—at worst, you’re out the price of a latte in New York. At best, you’ve found an affordable formula that you can wear without worrying about cost per wear.” — Ana Escalante, Assistant Shopping Editor
“This is the product I use daily, and I absolutely love it. Prior to trying it, I never used a tinted moisturizer or BB cream and just kind of went with whatever my skin looked like. From a product like this, I’ve only ever really wanted a dewy, barely there layer of coverage that looks like skin, and that’s exactly what this product provides. I’ve already bought it at least five times and will continue to for years to come unless they reformulate. It’s something I put on every single day and genuinely adore. I think if anyone’s looking for super lightweight, barely there coverage that still provides you with a glowy, fresh look, this is a great product for them to try. It’s much dewier and more natural looking than most BB creams I’ve tried. It also acts as a better base for makeup than I’m used to.” —Eliza Huber, Editor
“It did exactly what I wanted it to do. It glided onto my skin with ease, gave me a nice glow, and evened out most of my discoloration. I usually still go in with concealer for my under-eye area while using any BB cream, but I’d be okay with just applying this if I just wanted just a little something. Other BB creams either feel like they do absolutely nothing or they’re too close to a foundation. I think this product found that sweet spot right in the middle. And as someone with dry skin, I’ve had the issue of other creams cling to my dry patches and make my skin look even more dry, no matter how I moisturize. This makes it look like I have dewy and healthy skin, which I love.” — Yusra Siddiqui, Associate Editor
“As someone who typically shies away from skin tints or BB creams in fear of looking too oily or not having enough coverage, I was surprisingly excited to try this one from Fenty. I see a ton of content creators using this product, and it has pretty rave reviews from people of all skin tones and skin types. I was hoping for the glowy finish that I see all over my For You page. My biggest hope was for my skin to look like skin. It definitely met my expectations in terms of glow and finish, but I found that the product had such a red undertone that I looked a bit orange immediately after application. After a while, it oxidized and the match felt right, but if I were going to take a selfie immediately after finishing my makeup (like I normally would), I might look a little orange. I will definitely use this product for those light-makeup days. It gives just enough coverage where I feel like my skin can breathe while my blemishes are concealed. It’s super lightweight and perfect for those days when I’m running errands, hopping on a virtual meeting, or heading to lunch. I love that it’s available in so many different shades.” — Aniyah Morinia, Associate Editor, Branded Content
“The shade match process got me the correct shade on the first try. Since BB creams usually have limited shade options, I was so impressed that this one offered up to 25 options. It blended super easily and had the best coverage, while still being lightweight, of the other products that I tried. My mom has been looking for a new tinted moisturizer, and I’ve already pointed her in Fenty’s direction. It reminds me of a step back from my favorite natural finish foundation. That’s a huge compliment, by the way.” — Sierra Mayhew, Associate Editor
“Even though it met me at a rough time, it delivered. I was quite tired during fashion week after a late night and tried it in the midst of all the craziness. It is important to note that the shade range was impressive, and I loved seeing that it brought color to my skin and revitalized me after a rough night. While many BB creams disappear into my skin, this one sticks around with great coverage for a tinted product.” — Mayhew
“My skin truly looked impeccable after application, but during the process of blending it out, the cream was literally white. It changes color as the product is blended out, so it’s safe to say I had quite the jumpscare when the shade didn’t match. After giving it about five minutes, it magically matched my skin and had the most flawless finish. The product is silky smooth and blended in super naturally. It accentuates my natural features without covering too much or too little. I love that this has SPF 30 in it. I’m a huge fan of this product and would happily repurchase it. I will 1000% be keeping this product in my routine. It’s lightweight, easy to apply, protective, and surprisingly doesn’t transfer. I don’t feel like I need additional products to have a flawless base when I’m wearing this. It’s truly everything I’ve been looking for in a skin tint or BB cream. It’s light, slightly dewy, breathable, and creates a nice satin finish.” — Morinia
“There are three things I always look for in a BB Cream: sheer coverage, glowy finish, and blends well with the rest of my makeup routine. So far, we’ve hit the trifecta with the Cle CCC Cream. It brings such a healthy glow to my dull winter skin and feels weightless. After wearing all day long, the coverage has stayed intact with no powdering involved. Other glowy tinted moisturizers I’ve tried tend to transfer easily and wear off throughout the day. If you like decent coverage but hate the feeling of foundation, you need to try this product.” — Natalie Gray Herder, Associate Editor, Branded Content
“Unfortunately, I think my shade was a bit too light, making the product look a bit off on me. Apart from that, though, I actually think very highly of this product. It’s super natural and clean, making it good for sensitive skin like mine, and I love that it’s SPF 50, which is rare in a BB cream. I like how skin-like this product is and that it gives a subtle, realistic glow. My only other qualm is that I think it doesn’t give as glowy a result as I prefer. I probably won’t use it every day, but I think if I got a darker shade, it’d be great for the summer, when I need a daily higher SPF. It’s a great item to keep in your pool or beach bag when you want a bit of tint. I think it’s great for someone with sensitive skin who wants something natural and skin-like. It’s different from other similar products in that when it comes out of the bottle, it’s not colored, and it doesn’t change color until it makes contact with your skin. It has a little bit of a white cast, which is something I wouldn’t want daily, but I wouldn’t mind it at all if I was going to lay in the sun.” — Huber
“It’s definitely heavier than a lot of other tinted sunscreens on the market, and if you’re looking for more payoff and coverage without resorting to a thicker foundation-type product, it’s great. For people who prefer more lightweight formulas for their BB creams or with oily skin, I’d recommend something else. It’ll become my new non-foundation foundation.” — Escalante
“I have been using this product for a couple of years now, and it’s one of my go-to base products, particularly in the summer when I don’t feel like wearing foundation and want an extra boost of SPF over my face sunscreen. (Always remember base products with sunscreen never have all the SPF you need to stay protected.) This tinted moisturizer applies so easily and looks incredibly smooth on skin while giving you a juicy, skin-like finish. My only qualm with this formula is sometimes I find the finish a little too dewy—it can border on glossy.” — Berohn
“Believe it or not, this is the first BB cream I ever used. I never used to wear base makeup at all through high school and college (save for some concealer under my eyes and to cover any blemishes). In the summer of 2016, I wanted to try something with a bit of extra coverage. I was interning in New York City, and I was also broke. I went to Duane Reade and picked up the cheapest BB cream I could find, and it ended up being this one. I personally love the formula and always have—it is a really solid drugstore find that blurs and evens skin and leaves you with a radiant finish. My only qualm is that I found the shade to be a bit too dark and warm-toned for my skin, but it blends out enough to not be noticeable. I recommend applying this one with a brush for the most flawless finish. I wore this to dinner with my friends a few weeks ago for the first time since 2016 and got so many compliments on my skin—might be time for me to break this baby out of retirement.” — Berohn
“It got the job done, and it’s decent for its affordable price, but I wouldn’t reach for it on the daily. While it felt fairly lightweight on my skin, it did have a noticeable sunscreen scent that put me off, and it tended to pill when I blended it in. I just used my fingers like I do with other makeup products, but maybe it would have blended better with a brush or makeup sponge. I wouldn’t want to use it as a key part of my everyday routine because the sunscreen scent bothered me, and it felt too oily on my skin for my liking. I’d be nervous everyday use would make me break out. It holds up for being a drugstore find.” — LaPlaca
To get the lowdown on all things BB cream, I reached out to celebrity makeup artist Renée Loiz who’s clients are Quinta Brunson, Kirby Howell-Baptiste, Cynthia Erivo, Jaylon Barron, and Vanessa Rubio. Essentially, BB cream really is a do-it-all product—it’s moisturizer, primer, and foundation all in one. “[It’s] sort of like an all in one product that helps to hydrate, smooth fine lines, and brighten the skin,” Loiz says.
There are plenty of ways to apply BB creams. “You can apply like a moisturizer with your fingers, use a makeup brush, or a beauty sponge,” says Loiz. “I personally prefer to use a beauty sponge, as I feel I use the least product this way and get a seamless finish.”
Think of CC creams as a step above a BB cream—they share all the same benefits, but CC creams have the extra benefit of color-correcting added in. “Also, a CC cream is a much thicker formula and has more coverage than BB cream,” says Loiz.
A tinted moisturizer is the simplest of the three but still shares many similarities to BB cream. “A tinted moisturizer is a moisturizer and foundation mixed together,” says Loiz. “[It] has a very sheer coverage and usually no added skincare benefits.” When it comes to product names, the terms can be pretty interchangeable, which is why you’ll see some products labeled “CC cream” and “tinted moisturizer” on this list.
First, Loiz recommends looking for a BB cream with a wide-coverage range. After that, she recommends looking for BB creams that boast hydrating and skin-blurring benefits. With Loiz’s expertise in mind, I combed through 51 BB creams that had made other publications’ “best-of” lists, and landed on 13 formulas for our editors to test. From those, we chose and ranked the top eight based on coverage, blendability, finish, shade range, wear time, and more.
Since the two-step method on this product makes the process quick and efficient, there isn’t a need for many coats like there is with other mascaras. Despite having naturally long lashes, I’m always building up multiple layers to get the dramatic effect I want. With this one, only one coat is needed for full-looking lashes. I know the phrase “less is more” is a bit cliché, but it’s the motto for this product. Applying additional layers can cause the mascara to get clumpy, so the best results will be with minimal product. (This means less time in my makeup routine, which is a winning situation.)
L’Oréal set out to make your makeup routine more seamless, and this product surpasses that goal. If you’re looking for a mascara that requires minimal application but still creates a dramatic look, this is the one for you.
To me, CC cream is one of those makeup products that just slip through the cracks. Most of the time, I throw on a good primer as a base and tend to just go straight for the foundation (or trusty skin tint). But maybe it’s time to rethink that strategy. CC cream can act as an important extra complexion enhancer if you struggle with redness, uneven skin tone, or just dullness in general. It’s the secret to any radiant makeup look that many of us have been sleeping on, and of all places, the drugstore seems to be the place to look if we want to get in on the action without spending a pretty penny.
Although it is a great step to add, finding the right one for your specific skin type can be a bit daunting without a little help. To save you some time (and dollars), I’ve rounded up the best drugstore CC creams for each skin type. I will note, however, that shade ranges for CC creams still appear to be quite limited—sigh. That being said, there are still also some great options for Black and Brown skin tones included below. Enjoy!
“We created a soft monochromatic look inspired by the silk roses in the gown,” celebrity makeup artist, Raoúl Alejandre, shared in a press release. “Draping has been a staple in my beauty work for some time, but I went a step further to create a fresh take on my technique by working with iridescent and satin pastel tones to create a highlighted fresh look. This technique creates an inverted sculpted effect. I pared the romantic pastel eyes with a mod spikey top and bottom lash. The lip was also carefully thought out and rather than going for a cool tone we decided to clash and finish off the look with a neutral liner and a peachy centered lip for warmth.”
Alejandre also shared the exact products he used to create Zendaya’s dreamy makeup look. Keep reading for every makeup product Alejandre put on the star’s face last night.
I have a thing for blush. Maybe it’s the storied history of it or maybe it’s the glamorous associations I have with it, but it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite makeup products to use. That, in itself, is crazy, considering I used to avoid it altogether. You see, I’ve struggled with redness and rosacea for most of my life, and the thought of exacerbating the flushed look wasn’t something I found very appealing. It wasn’t until I entered my late-20s that I realized the power and potential of blush. When placed correctly, it doesn’t accentuate my redness; instead, it brightens up my complexion, whisks away dullness, and makes me look, well, alive.
I also recently joined TikTok, which means I’ve been spending a gross amount of time scrolling through videos—many of which happen to be the review and the get-ready-with-me type. What I’ve noticed is that the majority of TikTok-viral makeup products are blush. Whether cream, liquid, or oil (more on that last one in a minute), TikTokers can’t get enough of them. So, as any good beauty editor would do, I decided to test them all, pitting the products against one another to find the best of the best. Ahead, see every blush I tested, what they look like IRL, and which one was the winner (hint: even I was surprised at the result).
The history of the formula: True Match has been around for over 20 years. It first hit drugstore shelves back in 1994 and has been a hit for L’Oréal ever since. L’Oréal’s AVP of scientific communications, Balanda Atis, breaks it down, saying, “This foundation has stood the test of time because of the continuous research we’ve done to understand our consumer needs. In developing the formula, our team of scientists worked to make sure the texture and performance of the formula is relevant for our consumers today. We also have studied skin tones for many years to understand the tones that are appropriate for skin around the world.”
What makes this formula unique: True Match is now formulated with up to six different pigments including white, yellow, red, red, black, ultramarine blue, and cobalt green to help you find your most precise skin match. Using these pigments, it’s able to adapt to any skin color and texture. Atis also says, “True Match is unique because we utilized science to create a formula that our consumers can rely on to deliver superior performance and a match that fits their skin. Our moisturizing formula now has hyaluronic acid, which enhances the skin’s own ability to retain moisture for long-lasting hydration.”
Why makeup artists love it: Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Aharon also shares a love for True Match. “First and foremost, they really executed the color range beautifully,” she says. “The product itself is fantastic for its variable coverage, natural finish, and long-lasting formula. I think the versatility and shade range plays a major factor in its popularity among artists.”
Expert application tips: Aharon says, “When speaking to application, I most often express that your comfortability with a tool is most important. You can press foundation in with your fingertips, stipple a wet blender into the skin, or pat it on with a foundation brush. Whatever feels easiest for you—they all work!”
Shopping for a powder foundation can be tough in general, but if you have dry or mature skin, it can be even more of a challenge. Although most people consider powder foundation strictly for those with oily skin, that’s not always the case. Celebrity makeup artist Allison Kaye says there are a few things to look for in a powder foundation if you do happen to have mature skin and would like to try one. “You should look for microfine powder foundations to prohibit the powder from settling into fine lines and wrinkles,” she says. “The microfine powders will have more of a velvet feel to them and will sit more evenly on your face.”
I’ll always a strong believer in the idea of looking to the past to better recognize its impact on our present (and, ultimately, our futures). A prime example of this is taking the time to highlight the beauty of the past that graced our silver screens. By providing inspiration for today’s looks, they also encourage appreciation for the women who wore the iconic looks of the past. Unfortunately, many of the Black women who were at the helm of Hollywood during it’s golden years were not recognized for their contributions due to the rampant racism and discrimination of the film industry.
As a melanin-blessed beauty editor, one of my biggest goals is to shed light on the individuals who deserve recognition for their role in redefining and challenging beauty trends. Keep reading to meet the four brilliant Black women that come to mind when I think of the beauty of Black Hollywood and the modern-day products you can use to recreate their looks.
Do you think that beauty trends or aesthetics offset progress in the industry?
It’s a very nuanced and layered conversation because it’s hard to think about what I enjoyed and ingested culture-wise growing up. Whether it’s MTV, the J.Crew catalog in the age of Jenna Lyons, or the Delia’s catalog, you saw these jovial, carefree girls with their wispies (fake eyelashes), straight hair, and all these things. Not to mention how huge the French-girl beauty aesthetic became, where the focus was on having clean skin and not trying too hard, and we never really had permission to do that. It’s an aesthetic that I wanted, but wasn’t what I saw around me. I saw my aunties, and mom wearing the classic red lip and the classic red nail polish and pressing their hair every Sunday. And seeing how important aesthetics was a part of her routine, I did not see that replicated outside of my home. I feel like we, especially Black culture, when it comes to clean girl aesthetics, we’re the microcurrent and the underbelly of what moves that and what’s inspired that. Unfortunately, those small microtrends bubble up to the top, and suddenly, everyone just sees the surface level. No one has any idea what’s going on at the root of it or where it comes when it gets to that stage it’s very hard to trace it back because some people don’t want to hear it.
I remember working at a huge conglomerate, and we were selling haircare products. At the time, we were creating tutorials on how to get box braids, and the marketing collateral was “how to get Kim Kardashian–inspired braids.” I remember the uproar that happened in the comments, and it’s ironic that I was working for this brand, on that team, obviously, being a part of the problem. But on the flip side, having experiences as a woman of color, who grew up as a salon baby in a hair braiding shop understanding the problem. I was watching my team fight tooth and nail, like, “No, Kim Kardashian made this popular,” even though it was rooted in Black haircare routines. So part of me feels like the conversation sometimes is so counterproductive because some people just don’t want to see it, especially when said influencer doesn’t attribute it to the source. Then the other part of me is like, “Hey, maybe it’s our job to scream from the rooftops and showcase the true DNA and fabric of it.” I think everyone shares this frustration, it’s a constant state of tug-of-war, every few days when there is a “new” trend.
When you think of fashion week, your mind may automatically jump to clothing. While it’s true that clothing is doubtlessly the focal point, as more and more beauty brands have become involved in fashion week, beauty has become an increasingly important aspect for designers to consider. Beauty can help designers express their vision and either complement or contrast the clothes to heighten their message. And just as the clothes shown set the forthcoming trends, the beauty looks we see at fashion week do the same.
From backstages at New York Fashion Week this season, I watched beauty trends emerge before my eyes. While some beauty looks, like French manicures and slicked-back buns, seemed like they were further cementing themselves into the zeitgeist, newer trends, like goth-inspired glamour and metallic accents, felt like they were just breaking into the scene. Keep reading for the best beauty trends I saw this season at New York Fashion Week—plus some of the key products that were actually used to create them.
Clearly, Wednesday-core is here to stay—and you can kiss goodbye to the “clean girl” aesthetic that dominated 2022. We’re going full goth this year, baby. Rodarte leaned into the trend with graphic liner and black lipstick. “We’re doing gothic fairies… more gothic than fairy,” Nars makeup lead James Kaliardos told Who What Wear. “For this show, we really wanted to do strong and bold makeup, linear eyeliner eyes with a dark black lip or a blue lip.”
While Rodarte may have been the most overt example of gothic glamour, Adeam and Sandy Liang also leaned into the trend with deep, blood-toned lips. In the case of Adeam, shaggy hair and face jewelery also proved to be centerpieces of the looks.
After years of many people categorizing French manicures as tacky, they’re now ubiquitous among the fashion set. This season, French tips are getting a face-lift: They’re bolder, more playful, and dare we say better than they’ve ever been before?
From her mosaic French nails at PatBo to gold tips at LoveShackFancy, Kiss brand ambassador Gina Edwards declares that the French is here to stay. “French is still on fire,” she said. “Everyone didn’t want to go near it, and now, it’s so explosive.”
At Proenza Schouler, Jin Soon Choi opted for a different take on French with a matte black gradient tip. “This collection is about portraits of women,” Choi told Who What Wear. “We decided to do a black ombré.” This nail perfectly showcased the modern femininity portrayed in the clothing.
Silver, gold, rose gold—metallics are in. From entire faces painted with heavy metals to strategic flecks of sparkle, expect to start treating makeup like jewelry for your face.
Shows such as Thom Browne and Prabal Gurung took a more overt approach to this trend with splashes of metal that stood out. “The classic look for everybody is this golden, celestial, beautiful [look],” said lead makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench. “The characters are actually asteroids.”
Other shows were more subdued, like the silvery moonlit highlights seen at Sandy Liang. “The look is inspired by sweet-but-psycho energy,” said international makeup artist Marcelo Gutierrez with Ilia Beauty. “They have this frosty, illuminated eye. It’s a sweet rock-and-roll look.”
When it came to lips this season, the theme was ROYGBV—any and every color in the rainbow was fair game. From two-toned lips at Kim Shui to blue lips and black lips at Rodarte, we saw just about every combination possible.
Even classic red got a makeover this season. At Alice+Olivia, the theme was Americana, but Elyse Reneau, the executive director of global beauty at Too Faced, took it to the next level. “I was thinking Marilyn Monroe, that true red lip, the bombshell lip,” she said. The result? What she coins “cherry syrup lips,” a hyper-glossy red that she says looks like “Dorothy’s slippers.”
TikTok’s favorite hairstyle isn’t going anywhere. Slicked-back buns are still the name of the game, with the sleek styles being by far the most pervasive hairstyle on the runways this season. This season’s ballet buns are sleek and neat, with shining examples seen at PatBo, Christian Siriano, and Jason Wu.
At Christian Siriano, classic buns got a floral twist. “We were inspired by the handcrafted floral accents found throughout the collection to echo this in the hair by creating a rose-like twist, with a ‘stem’ of hair weaving down the crown of the head, meeting the rose-like bun in the back,” says Lacy Redway, Unilever stylist and celebrity hair artist for Tresemmé.
At Jason Wu, Jimmy Paul, hairstylist and Olaplex ambassador, payed homage to the ’90s with sleek, side-parted buns. These buns held the perfect tension between masculine and feminine, seamlessly complementing the collection.
Braids are nothing new, but this season, we saw them reimagined. From floor-grazing plaits at Head of State to more sculptural iterations at Ulla Johnson and Tia Adeola, braids are entering their whimsical era.
At Head of State, Oribe principal artist of global design Kien Hoang created braids that mirrored the collection’s intention to convey designer Taofeek Abijako’s father’s immigration journey from Lagos, Nigeria. Hoang opted for sculptural braids with references to Lagos to create a throughline.
Head of State wasn’t the only show that drew hair inspiration from a specific place or moment in time—Tia Adeola did the same. “This season, we’re taking inspiration from the iconic ’90s Atlanta style, adding extra length and flair to our models’ tresses with long extensions and bold gel-sculpted curls,” says Mike Martinez of Cutler Salon with Bread Beauty. “The models selected perfectly embody this look, and we’re thrilled to pay homage to the Black film BAPS style while incorporating our own unique twists.”
That’s why users report shaving, waxing, or plucking off the tail of their brows and filling it in straighter with a pencil, but brow expert Joey Healy recommends testing out the trend using makeup first.
“You can use concealer to conceal the end of the brow, and then draw on a straighter brow with a pencil just to see what the look is like,” he says. This will help you visualize how straight brows will actually appear on your unique face shape.
If you just want to make your current brows look more lifted, there’s a hack for that too: “Try to use a highlighter, like the Joey Healy High Rise Brow Concealer, under the brow arch, because that will make the brow tail look higher, help you with the straight look, and could give you some lift without removing hair,” Healy says.
All in all, don’t rush into brow trends, including this seemingly harmless trick. If you do, you’ll run the risk of permanently damaging your natural brow shape and may have a harder time growing back the hair you’ve lost.
I have a confession to make here. Once I discovered that concealer can also act as a fantastic primer, I stopped picking up most of my old priming potions and started using concealer instead. I also started using concealer because my lids can get extremely oily. It really just creates the best matte layer for eye shadow to sit on without being too heavy. Occasionally, though, I still opt for an eye shadow primer if I’m creating a brighter or more dramatic look. This primer from Elizabeth Mott happened to be a random Amazon find for me. With so many glowing reviews, I figured it was worth giving a shot.
First of all, it’s pretty affordable compared to a lot of other eye shadow primers out there on the market. Second, it’s definitely one of the best formulas I’ve tried that doesn’t crease and helps immensely with lid oiliness. If you struggle with either of those things when it comes to eye shadow application, this one is definitely worth a shot. It also goes on and creates a weightless, non-greasy film and helps with any discoloration around the lid area.
I know it’s a bit hard to tell in the below photos, but I wanted to show what my eye shadow looked like with primer and without it. It might be a little hard to see in the photo, but the shadow tends to apply a bit patchier and looks less pigmented when you don’t use a primer. With the primer, however, the colors adhere to the lid a lot easier and look so much more vibrant.
Drop everything: Hailey Bieber shared a new “get ready with me” (GRWM) video. This time, the model and brand founder shared her Valentine’s Day glam. While we’re obviously wondering how she and her husband Justin celebrated the holiday, we do have some insight into how her night went, thanks to her detailed YouTube tutorial for date-night makeup.
Before starting in on her makeup, in typical Bieber fashion, she started with Rhode products to prep her face. It sounds like there are some exciting launches for the brand on the horizon because Bieber kept a few products top secret (!). She did share that she used the Rhode Peptide Glazing Fluid and the Rhode Barrier Restore Cream, both of which are shockingly in stock right now, so run to get them while you still can.
Below, check out Bieber’s full Valentine’s Day glam routine. Luckily, it’s versatile enough to use any day of the year.
