I usually want to go all-out on the makeup when it comes to Amber Heard. Her face is a makeup artists dream come true; she looks great in a smokey eye, an intense brow, and a serious lip. Last night, however, she said to me: ‘I really want to look super natural for the [Jimmy Kimmel] show tonight, and most importantly, I want my skin to glow.’
Glowing skin is my forte (sometimes I think I should carry powder in my kit), so I was stoked for this request. Here’s a breakdown of how you can recreate this glow on yourself. Keep in mind, I wouldn’t necessarily recommend this level of glow intensity as an every day look for everyone, but it’s definitely a show-stopper.
- Start with a clean face.
- Enjoy a hearty mist of RL Linden Thousand Petals Mist all over face, neck, and decollate
- 3-4 few drops of Jenette Skincare Facial Oil (let this sit for a few minutes)
- 8 drops of Marie Veronique Organics Healing Facial Oil
- A light pressing of Tammy Fender’s Intensive Repair Balm along the highlights of the face
- Because oils have different viscosities (levels of heaviness/thickness), it’s important to know what’s in your face oil. For a request like this, I’ll often layer a lighter oil under a heavier, and finish by sealing it in with a moisturizer.
For most of us, a heavy application of oils and moisturizers every day isn’t what our skin needs, so remember: this intensity of product usage is only for special occasions!
I let the moisture sit for at least 5 minutes (sometimes 15!) before I start in with makeup.
Because Amber’s skin is impeccably clear, and even-toned (lucky dog!) I used a brush to apply the smallest amount of liquid foundation from Vapour Organic Beauty along her t-zone (this foundation is VERY dewey!), and a yet-to-be-released under eye concealer from w3LL People (stay tuned – it’s great).
Focusing again on the highlights, I used my fingers to press a bit of Vapour Organic Beauty’s new glowy stick along her cheekbones, the bridge of her nose, and even though for some of you, it may have looked a bit over-the-top luminescent, along her temples and into her forehead (I like a glow there, but I know some of you who don’t).
Historically, television makeup has been matte, and is generally super powder-heavy, which makes sense because depending on the lighting and the type of camera used, shiny-ness can be distracting and come across as looking oily. It’s up to us makeup artists to determine just how much glow is appropriate, and hope that what looks good in dressing room lighting looks just as good on stage!
The beauty of a woman is not in a facial mode but the true beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It is the caring that she lovingly gives the passion that she shows. The beauty of a woman grows with the passing years.
(side note: one of the other guests on the show came into Amber’s dressing room to say hello. It was comical for me to see how much white powder had been put on his face. He looked like a ghost in person! When they hugged and kissed hello I feared some of it would come off on her cheek. It didn’t, and when I saw him on the show his skin looked great. I have a lot of respect for you television and movie makeup artists. It’s a totally different ball game!)