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Welcome to Drugstore Heroes, a monthly series in which we spotlight the often-overlooked and under-hyped drugstore beauty products that industry experts count on. From editors to content creators and even celebs, we’re asking tastemakers to share their top recommendations for affordable, yet effective products. Get ready to see the best of drugstore beauty, period.
(Image credit: Original art by Makena Frederick)
ICYMI, the 98th annual Academy Awards happened last week. And while everyone waited with bated breath to see the red-carpet fashion and beauty looks (they were divine) and hear the winners announced in each category (they were history-making), we knew better than to hop offline once the ceremony was over. Because of the after-party, of course.
This year, celebs flocked to the Vanity Fair Oscars After-Party. While there were many jaw-dropping and eye-catching celeb looks to discuss, one stood out in my memory above all others—Kendall Jenner’s. She wore a stunning baby-blue Chanel dress, but I was most taken aback by her makeup, which was fresh, smooth, and sun-kissed… and entirely created with drugstore products.
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Yep, it’s true. Celebrity makeup artist Mary Philips used 17 affordable skin-prep and makeup products to create Jenner’s look. She also used her internet-viral under-painting technique. (For the uninitiated, “underpainting” flips traditional makeup application on its head, as contour, concealer, and highlighter are applied before foundation for a natural-looking, airbrushed finish.) It’s proof that you don’t always have to pay a high price for high performance.
(Image credit: Getty Images; original art by Makena Frederick)
I caught up with Philips to discuss the inspiration behind the look, review the exact products used to create it, and even pick her brain for makeup tips and tricks. “The inspiration behind the look was a subtle nod to the ’60s,” she said. “We really wanted to emphasize the eyes while pairing with a defined, mod-inspired pinky nude lip.”
The obvious next question was which drugstore products were used. The answer? L’Oréal Paris products. Jenner is a brand ambassador, so I wasn’t shocked to learn this. That said, I was intrigued about the exact ones and how Philips applied them. Luckily, she was willing to share all that info and more.
Philips told me that, for this look, skin prep was “everything,” as was applying foundation and concealer in light layers. “This gives me total control over where I build coverage and where I let the skin stay fresh and sheer,” she says. In fact, this is her #1 tip for achieving red-carpet-worthy makeup at home. “One of the most common mistakes I see is people using too much product. You can actually use far less concealer if you first apply a small amount of color corrector to any discoloration. It’s all about being strategic. When you layer minimally and with intention, the skin looks fresher, more natural, and never cakey.”
The 17 Products Kendall Jenner Wore to the Oscars After-Party
L’Oreal Paris
Collagen Moisture Filler Moisture Bounce Serum
This serum is packed with collagen, glycerin, and squalane to leave the skin soft, smooth, and bouncy (as per the name). Philips used it as the first step in Jenner’s skin prep. “Kendall’s skin is already naturally beautiful, but for me, skin prep is everything,” she says. “I started by massaging the L’Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Bounce Filler Serum into her skin to instantly plump and hydrate.”
L’Oréal Paris
Revitalift 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid + Caffeine Under Eye Serum
“Then I applied the Revitalift 2.5% Hyaluronic Acid + Caffeine Under Eye Serum around the under-eye area and along the orbital bone to brighten and smooth,” Philips says.
L’Oreal Paris
Revitalift Line-Plumping Water Cream
To seal in moisture and create a smooth, hydrated canvas for makeup, Phillips applied this hyaluronic acid-infused moisturizer. It was the third and final skin-prep step.
L’Oréal Paris
Age Perfect 4-in-1 Tinted Balm
“I started underpainting using the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect 4-in-1 Tinted Balm on the perimeters of the face and down the jawline,” Philip says. She used shades Medium 20 and Deep 10.
L’Oréal Paris
Infallible Skin Ink 2-1 Foundation Concealer – 80 Light Warm
“I then concealed the under-eyes and highlighted the center of the face using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Skin Ink 2-1 Foundation Concealer,” she says. Her #1 trick? Go in with foundation and concealer in light layers. “This gives me total control over where I build coverage and where I let the skin stay fresh and sheer.”
L’Oréal Paris
True Match Foundation – N4
“On top of the contour and highlight, I buffed the L’Oréal Paris True Match Foundation into the skin,” she says. This is a medium-coverage, natural-finish foundation. It’s formulated with six pigments for the most precise skin-tone match, and it’s incredibly easy to blend.
L’Oreal Paris
True Match Lumi Le Liquid Blush – 605 Dewy Bright Pink
Next, Philips applied this liquid blush in shade 605 Dewy Bright Pink to Jenner’s cheeks for a pop of soft, blooming color.
L’Oreal Paris
Infallible Blur-Fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder – Brightening Light Pink
“I then lightly set the skin with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blur-fection Longwear Loose Setting Powder.” Philips used two shades: Brightening Light Pink and Translucent Light.
L’Oréal Paris
Infallible Fresh Wear Bronzer – 350 Medium
Jenner looked radiant and sun-kissed on the red carpet, and it’s all thanks to this powder bronzer, which delivers natural-looking color and dimension. “[I] bronzed the cheekbones and perimeters of the face using the L’Oréal Paris Fresh Wear Bronzer.”
L’Oreal Paris
Infallible Fresh Wear Blush Powder – Confident Pink
“On top of the liquid blush, I dusted the L’Oréal Paris Fresh Wear Blush on the apples of her cheeks and across the bridge of the nose.”
L’Oreal Paris
Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick – 610 Glassy Pearl Eclat
“For highlight, I dabbed the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Stick on the high points of her face and down the bridge of her nose for that gorgeous glow-from-within look.”
L’Oreal Paris
Haute Precision Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner – 010 Black Silk
Philips *actually* used L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Tip Eyeliner to create Jenner’s 60-inspired eye makeup look. However, it’s out of stock. This is a good substitute, as it’s equally as silky, highly pigmented, and long-lasting.
“For the eyes, we wanted a lot of drama. I followed her natural eye shape with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Precision Felt Tip Eyeliner and extended it into a wing to create a bold cat-eye effect.”
L’Oreal Paris
Extensionist Mascara
Jenner’s full, fluttery lashes came courtesy of this new L’Oréal mascara, which I reviewed a few months ago. The formula is thin, buildable, and flexible, so it doesn’t clump or flake, and the short, dense brush distributes just the right amount of mascara on my lashes. It sweeps them up and out for exceptional lift and length.
L’Oreal Paris
Faux Brow Hair-Like Brow Filling Pen – 389 Brunette
Philips accentuated Jenner’s enviable arches with this incredibly natural-looking brow pen that creates super-fine, hair-like strokes.
L’Oreal Paris
Infallible Brow Lamination Eyebrow Gel
Then, she set Jenner’s arches with this lamination-effect eyebrow gel “for extra fullness.”
L’Oréal
Blurfiller Blurring Lip Contour – Worth It
This was the first step in creating Jenner’s “mod-inspired” lip. It’s a contouring lip liner that defines and enhances with a creamy formula and thick, rounded tip. Philips used the shade Worth It, which is a pink-nude.
L’Oreal Paris
Colour Riche Satin Lipstick – Worth It
Last but not least, Philips applied L’Oréal’s iconic Colour Riche Satin Lipstick in the shade Worth It to achieve Jenner’s “plush, pouty finish.”
(Image credit: Original art by Makena Frederick)
All in all, Jenner’s 17 red carpet–approved drugstore beauty products clock in at $237.
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