How to Glow Like J.Lo
By Amber Kallor
Say what you will about Jennifer Lopez and the rumors that she bathes in La Mer, but the woman looks good. For confirmation that the triple threat’s body defies gravity, watch her “Booty” video with Iggy Azalea. And if you wanted an example of complexion perfection, look no further than this year’s Golden Globes. The woman was, in a word, radiant. “She almost looked like a trophy herself,” said her makeup artist Mary Philips. (Apparently, Jeremy Renner thought so, too.) Here, the behind-the-scenes secrets to getting her look.
See more: The Top 5 Looks from the Critics Choice Awards
Don’t glide over skin prep: “I really focus on it, almost as much as the makeup,” said Philips. “It’s your canvas and your base, so you have to respect it and take the proper time to achieve the look that you see on the [red] carpet.” She massages Lopez’s complexion to get the blood flowing and help alleviate puffiness. For a how-to, Philips recommends hitting up YouTube for a DIY video.
Heat things up: Instead of slapping moisturizer or foundation straight from the tube onto your face, warm it up in the palm of your hand. “Think of this almost like a step you would do when cooking or baking,” she explained. “The ingredients need to get to a certain temperature, and then they melt right into the skin.”
Mix it up: “I love to mix a few [foundation] colors for a base, a few colors for the more shaded areas, and then a few colors [blended] with a few drops of Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer for the highlight,” she explained. The core shade Philips used on Lopez the night of the Globes: L’Oréal Paris Visible Lift Blur Foundation in Honey Beige.
Apply like a pro: A seamless complexion like J.Lo’s requires not just the right shade of foundation, but the proper tool for the job. “Sometimes foundation brushes can be too stiff or streaky, like a literal paintbrush,” said Philips. “Blush brushes give a more seamless, almost airbrushed appearance because the concentrated hairs allow you to swirl and control the application, as well as the finish.” For “glowier” areas—like the tops of your cheekbones—she suggests applying base with your hands. “Hard-to-reach” spots (such as the corners of your nose) require the pointed end of a Beauty Blender sponge, while concealer should be tapped on with your fingertip.
Mattify strategically: To prevent Lopez from looking shiny in all the wrong places when she’s posing in front of a wall of paparazzi, Philips uses the obvious go-to: powder. The key to a “creamy” complexion, however, lies in where you place it. “I apply powder to the T-zone—forehead, nose, chin—and blot on the sides of the face,” she said. “I typically don’t go back over the ‘C’s’ [around] the eyes: above the brow, temples, and cheekbones. Those areas always photograph so positively once makeup has melted naturally into skin and the flash picks up the highlight so they look lifted.”
Fake it: “Jennifer happens to also be blessed with beautiful lashes naturally, however, being that Sophia Loren was one of the references, false lashes are amust,” she said. “It’s a quintessential building block for that vintage glam look.” Philips reaches for Lashdip Lashes or Winks by Georgie and says if you’re on the “shakier side,” a strip lash is the most user-friendly option. For those with a steady hand, do as she did for the Golden Globes: Apply flare [lashes] starting from the outside corner, and use less and less as you make your way in. Finish by filling in any sparse spots with individuals.
Go nude: “Never underestimate the power of a nude lip—and Jennifer can wear a nude a million different ways!” said Philips. The shade at the Globes was pale with a slight “silver” and “pinkish” undertone. Giorgio Armani Lip Pencil in 1—“the nude of nudes,” she noted—was used as a base for L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro Lip Colour in Neverending Nutmeg.
Snap a selfie: “There are no lies when it comes to red carpet. It’s the most unforgivable place that you can be, and that’s why you need to have really intense light when getting someone ready,” said Philips. “You need light that will almost mimic the flashbulbs of the paparazzi so that you can see and catch every possible thing that could get picked apart later.” She suggests taking photos at various angles with an HD camera and moving lighting to make sure not an eyelash is out of place.
See more: Lupita Nyong’o’s Best Beauty Tips and Makeup Must Haves
Philips’s Go-To Goods for Awards Season:
Kevyn Aucoin Beauty Eyelash Curler: “I love Kevyn Aucoin’s because it fits every eye shape and gives the ultimate volume before applying mascara.”
L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Moisture Blur: “This is ideal for sensitive skin and leaves a smooth texture with very noticeable results.”
Hakuhodo brushes: “If you don’t have the right tools to finish the job, then there’s no point. It would be like having a car without wheels. Brushes are so important, and these are the best. The options in this line are endless as far as shapes are concerned, and you can achieve anything. They blend like a dream, blot impeccably, and for contouring and highlighting they’re unreal. I think the key to these brushes is that there are no hard edges—they’re beveled like your face.”
L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Spray & Set Makeup Extender Setting Spray:“It keeps your makeup looking fresh hours after application: no melting, fading, or touch-ups necessary. I am absolutely obsessed with face sprays and was pretty excited when L’Oréal came out with this!”
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photos: BFA NYC; Instagram/@jlo
