Rihanna's Makeup Artist Reveals 6 Tips For Glowing Skin This Winter

2021-12-28 08:24:42 By :

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These are the secrets you need this season.

Glowing skin is like millions and millions of dollars—if you don’t want it, you already have it. As such, there’s no shortage of product solutions to help you put your best face forward, even during cold, wintry weather, when dullness seems to strike most acutely.

There are vitamin C serums that brighten and correct discoloration, highlighters that add a touch of flattering sparkle to all skin tones, and exfoliators that slough away dulling dead skin cells. The smartest strategy: Use a combination of all of these, says Priscilla Ono, global makeup artist for Fenty Beauty. If you properly prep with a few strategic skincare products, you won’t need a lot of makeup, which will only cover your skin and mute its natural radiance, Ono says.

And it just so happens that Fenty Beauty and Fenty Skin have recently launched two new products that make the perfect addition to your glow arsenal: Fenty Skin Pre-Show Glow Instant Retexturizing 10% AHA Treatment and Fenty Beauty Liquid Killawat Fluid Freestyle Highlighter, a fluid version of the brand’s famous powder highlighter. The fluid part is key, says Ono, who prefers using cream formulations to achieve a luminescent look, especially on mature skin. “Remember that anytime you put anything dry on your skin, it’s just going to amplify its texture, making it stand out,” she says. “If you have fine lines or wrinkles, avoid powders at all costs.”

Keep reading for more of Ono’s glow tips, a mix of smart skincare with hardworking ingredients and strategic makeup application (hint: less is way more). Sure, there’s a long, dry, dulling winter ahead. But Operation Radiance will prevail.

“Even just the simple act of washing your face can almost instantly brighten your skin,” says Ono. The trick is to use the right product—you want something hydrating that will infuse moisture into skin. “One thing Rihanna hates is when she washes her face and her skin feels dry and tight afterward,” says Ono. It’s not doing you any favors in the glow department either—dehydrated skin won’t reflect light as well as a plump, moisturized outer layer will. The takeaway: When it comes to cleansing, a soft touch is best.

Regular exfoliation removes dead layer of skin, revealing the fresh new cells underneath, which is important if you want radiant, luminous skin. As we age, our natural process of shedding these cells slows, which is why you want to help it along with products. “If you have a lot of dead skin cells built up, it creates a dullness that even cleansing can’t remove,” says Ono.

There are two methods of exfoliation—chemical (which uses ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids to loosen the bonds that hold these dead skin cells together) and mechanical (the use of physical exfoliants like a scrub or brush). Ono prefers a strategy that employs both. Pre-Show Glow combines a solution rich in three alpha hydroxy acids (glycolic, citric, and lactic) with a nubby cloth that gently buffs skin. She recommends using it twice weekly—but not immediately before applying makeup—for the best possible results.

And when it comes to exfoliation, don’t forget your lips. Ono recommends using a lip scrub to remove flakes. “Whether you’re using lip gloss or a matte lipstick, flakiness is never a good thing,” she says.

Makeup looks better on moisturized skin, but you need to be cautious with hydration, says Ono. Go at dry patches with creams, oils, or serums and leave spots that tend to be oily alone. “Rihanna, for instance, has more dry patches on her forehead and cheeks, but I’ve noticed that she gets oily around her nose,” Ono says. “I only put moisturizers onto the areas that are dry.”

“Your skin is already prepped and looking gorgeous, so don’t cover it up with a ton of foundation,” Ono says. “You want something that’s going to even out your skin tone but not overwhelm your face.” For that, Ono typically turns to a no-makeup makeup essential: the skin tint. These sheer formulas give your complexion a lightweight wash of color, so your natural dewiness still shines through.

If there are spots that require a bit more coverage—dark circles, perhaps, or a red blemish—Ono goes back in with concealer and a beauty sponge to spot-treat those areas. She recommends choosing a soft matte formula—nothing too illuminating, which can be overkill. “If you have too much shine in those areas, like under the eyes, you’re going to look more greasy than dewy,” Ono insists. “It’s a fine line.”

This creamy cleanser-makeup remover hybrid removes gunk without overstripping skin. It's complexion perfection.

A formula that pairs 10% alpha hydroxy acids with a nubby mitt to double your exfoliating powder.

This nourishing night cream can be used strategically to hydrate dry patches on the face (just avoid areas prone to greasiness). 

Instead of using full-coverage foundation, opt for a lightweight skin tint that allows your natural dewiness to shine through.

Ono uses the various sides of this wonder sponge to apply bronzer, blush, and highlighter.

A liquid version of Fenty's much-loved powder highlighter, the new version glides onto skin for a more subtle take on glow.

In clear as well as five universally flattering shades, this gloss adds a pop of shine, a hint of color, and a big dose of moisture with shea butter.

To get your glow on below the neck, try this shimmering body serum, which melts into the skin of the shoulders, legs, arms—anywhere you want to catch the light. 

When it comes to makeup, the glowy look requires three things, says Ono: cream bronzer, blush, and highlighter. Ono uses a beauty sponge and her fingertips to apply all three. “Put a little bronzer onto your sponge and use the sponge to stipple it on your cheekbones, forehead, and around the jawline,” she says. Basically, anywhere the sun would naturally tan your face.

Then flip the sponge, dip it into your blush, and buff that onto the apples of your cheeks. As for highlighter, Ono smooths it on with her fingers, focusing on the area just above the cheekbones, down the center of the face (forehead, the bridge of your nose, and a dab on the chin), and on the brow bone.

You might also try a trick she used on RiRi when the singer was honored as a national hero of Barbados by the island nation’s prime minister. “I knew she was going to wear a face mask, so I wanted to go full-on with her eyes,” says Ono. You might think that would mean a bold eyeshadow color, but Ono applied liquid highlighter to her brow bone, over her eyelids, and in the inner corner of her eyes, setting it with powder. “It was so impactful even though it wasn’t a bright, crazy color,” says Ono, who adds that, with this look, you can skip traditional eyeshadow altogether. “It’s literally just glow. Glow can go a long way.”

A post shared by Priscilla Ono (@priscillaono)

With a glowing look, anything goes—you can wear a bright color on your lips or take Ono’s advice and finish with a clear or neutral gloss. And if you’re wearing a low-cut or off-the-shoulder top or dress to a holiday party, Ono suggests extending the glow below the neck. For that, she turns to a shimmering body oil, which she applies to the shoulders, arms and décolletage. (And, again, a liquid won’t accentuate crepey skin.)

If you have oily skin, it’s likely you’ll need to use a small amount of powder to minimize shine throughout the day. “Use a sheer, colorless powder and apply it sparingly around the nose, chin, forehead, and under the eyes,” Ono says. “Those are areas that can typically come across as looking greasy rather than dewy.”

In summation, ready your skin before applying highlighter, blush, concealer, and maybe some strategic setting powder. Then...get glowing.