How to look party-ready: 6 red carpet makeup tricks from celebrity makeup artists

Margot Robbie walking down the red carpet at the Barbie movie premieres, Kim Kardashian at the 2023 Met Gala and Rebecca Lim during her wedding. What do these celebs have in common? Looking oh-so-glamorous in every event they’ve graced. And a large part of it is thanks to the magic hands that have touched their faces.

If you’ve ever wished that you could look as gorgeous, it's possible. Here are six easy party makeup tips we got from the makeup artists who’ve worked with some of your favourite celebs, from Zoe Tay and Stefanie Sun to Reese Witherspoon and Elizabeth Olsen.

1. SCULPT AND DEFINE THE BROWS

According to Shaun Lee, celebrity makeup artist to Rebecca Lim, Jesseca Liu and Diana Ser, the simple trick to define the brows will help accentuate the eyes and shape the face instantly.

For perfectly defined brows, brush through the strands with a clear brow gel or wax in upward motions to define its shape. Then fill in the sparse areas with a brow pencil to achieve a more precise shape and fuller finish. After all, when brows look full and lush, you look younger as well.

Try: Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze Brow Styling Wax, S$42

Love that feathered brow finish? This clear styling wax will lift, tame and sculpt brow strands in place without looking hard and unnatural. Plus, its long-lasting hold ensures that brows look great throughout the day and night.

Available at www.sephora.sg

2. POWER UP YOUR EYELINER GAME

Want an easy way to amp up your glam game? Add a thicker eyeliner with a feline flick, shared Peter Khor, who Zoe Tay relies on to pretty up for events and special occasions. This will instantly add a glamorous factor to your look. Just don’t forget to coat lashes with oodles of mascara – both top and bottom lashes, and pair with your favourite lip colour to finish.

Try: Dior Diorshow 24H Stylo Waterproof Eyeliner in 091 Matte Black, S$42

With its creamy texture, it glides on the lids with ease, never dragging. Perfect for creating a bold line with one stroke. Plus, its' waterproof formula is great for Singapore’s heat and humidity.

Available at www.shop.dior.com.sg

3. STAMP IT ON

Love a red lip but often find it tricky to apply? Pat McGrath (she’s the first makeup artist to ever receive a damehood) has an easy-peasy hack that will make applying a red lip less daunting. 

Instead of applying the colour straight from the tube, use your fingertip to get some of the colour and stamp it onto your lips. No more worrying about getting an uneven line. The result is a more natural finish that is beautiful and soft.

Best bit? You can even use the same technique with a liquid red lip colour too – dab some colour in the centre of your lips, then use your fingertip to stamp the colour out.

Try: Chanel 31 Le Rouge in Rouge Premier, S$223

Not only delivers a beautiful hue on the lips, but it also contains an exclusive gardenia oil that nourishes and cares for the lip all day.

Available at www.chanel.com/sg/

4. BLUR THE LINES

Going through all of Margot Robbie’s makeup artist, or MUA, Pati Dubroff’s videos, one thing stands out – her makeup brush is her BBF (beauty best friend). She uses brushes to achieve a polished look, by buffing out hard and sharp lines that can result in makeup looking severe.

Even with a cat-eye flick, Dubroff advised softening the edges by using a small brush to blend and diffuse the line out to give it a more forgiving shape.

Try: Hermes Blending Brush – L’Estompeur, S$176

Made with natural goat hair fibres, this soft brush gently and effectively helps soften eyeliner and eyeshadows with ease. It also doubles up as a brush for targeted application on specific areas of the face too. 

Available at www.hermes.com/sg/

5. LAYER WITH CREAMS FIRST

Instead of reaching out for that eyeshadow primer, do what Mario Dedivanovic – he’s behind some of Kim Kardasian’s most famous looks – does, and use a neutral-toned, matte cream-based eyeshadow as a base before layering it over with your chosen powder eyeshadow. According to Dedivanovic, this not only holds the powder pigments in place for a long-lasting finish, but also allows you to achieve a more intense or vibrant eye look easily.

Try: MAC Cosmetics Pro Longwear Paint Pot – Cream Eye Shadow in Contemplative State: Beige Ochre, S$49

A creamy eyeshadow that blends smoothly over the lids. Its buildable coverage allows you to wear it alone or layered, yet won’t streak or crease.

Available at MAC Cosmetics stores and counters. 

6. ADD SHINE

For instant glam, celebrity MUA Clarence Lee suggested adding shine to the skin with a body oil, cream or lotion. “This will make your skin look so gorgeous and glam at the same time.”

Just use your bare hands to apply the lotion onto the higher points of the face and body, like the cheekbones, collarbones or even outer curves of the shoulders if you’re wearing something that shows a bit more skin.

Lee added that as with makeup, always start with a little and then add on till you are satisfied with the result. When in doubt, less is always more.

Try: Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops, S$56

An illuminating serum that not only gives skin a soft golden hue but also cares for it with active ingredients such as niacinamide (vitamin B3), mulberry leaf extract and omega oils. Use alone or mix with your serums and moisturisers for an overall glow.

Available at www.sephora.sg