Camera-Ready Skin Secrets
A TV makeup artist reveals how to perfect skin for a hi-def-ready complexion.
Written By Lexy Lebsack
Among the most iconic quotes in Hollywood history is actress Gloria Swanson’s breathy “Mr. DeMille, I’m ready for my close-up” from the 1950 film Sunset Blvd. The familiar line pays homage to the tight beauty shot, which used to require the painstaking application of thick stage makeup to hide imperfections. Thankfully, cakey foundation has gone the way of low-speed film and analog TV. Lightweight, full-coverage formulas and skin treatments have evolved along with high-definition technology, and experts have mastered erasing flaws—on screen and off.
In this series devoted to the artists, estheticians, and dermatologists who make perfect skin their business, VIOLET GREY consulted Jorjee Douglass. Douglass, the personal makeup artist to Zooey Deschanel on Fox’s New Girl, has also worked with Jennifer Aniston, Gwyneth Paltrow, and Jennifer Connelly on various film projects. “Film and the red carpet are both far more forgiving than HDTV,” says Douglass of the small screen’s ability to highlight imperfections.
While most of the work to banish uneven skin tone, blemishes, redness, and more happens in a dermatologist’s office, not the makeup trailer, Douglass is known for working magic in her chair. Her tips, tricks, and favorite products for a flawless face, under harsh office lights or bright sunlight, below.
BY JORJEE DOUGLASS
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Skin Secret: Apply moisturizer 10 minutes before makeup for easier blending.
Product Pick: “I always start with a moisturizer suited for the actresses’s complexion and press it into the skin with a damp Beautyblender,” Douglass says. “Then, I allow the skin to absorb the moisturizer for a full 10 minutes.”
SINGLE BEAUTYBLENDER.PRO WITH SOLID? BLENDERCLEANSER®
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Skin Secret: Select lightweight, high-performance products for a seamless, natural finish.
Product Pick: Douglass stocks her kit with Laura Mercier’s Foundation Primer. “It’s amazing because it controls oil and creates smooth skin,” she says. “It’s a great to way to keep the shine down and make pores appear smaller.”
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Skin Secret: Strategically blend foundation for a seamless finish.
Product Pick: “This foundation is so easy to work with,” Douglass says. She first applies it lightly, with a flat, synthetic foundation brush to the center of the face. She then fans the product outward, so the coverage gets lighter as it approaches the jaw and hairline. To finish, she pats and dabs skin with a damp Beautyblender sponge to “melt” the makeup into the skin and smooth out any telltale lines.
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Skin Secret: Use full-coverage foundation as concealer, since traditional cover-up is too heavy for HD and bright lights.
Product Pick: “This covers almost anything, and you can mix it with eye cream for a lighter finish,” says Douglass. Apply the foundation to imperfections with a concealer brush and gently blend with a second clean brush for a flawless finish.
See the complete Camera Ready Essentials Kit and more at VIOLET GREY.
