These Are The Beauty Icons We Can’t Get Enough Of
Whether on the red carpet or off-duty, Zendaya, Margot Robbie and Sofia Richie Grainge have all transcended the trends and solidified their status as the ultimate beauty standard of cool
Zendaya’s bronzed makeup and Old Hollywood-inspired bob at this year’s Golden Globes exemplified her signature style of modern elegance. As did her spotlit-skin at the Met Gala. Equally as chic at the Met Gala, Sofia Richie Grainge emulated her viral wedding beauty look with her sleek updo and fresh, blush-hued and barely-there makeup look. Even their sartorial choices – both timelessly elegant in white at the Met (a pant suit for Zendaya and a structured gown for Richie Grainge) – are a hallmark of the most sophisticated style icons. And while Margot Robbie took a step away from Barbie into pregnancy and new motherhood this year, the many gilded, glossy and pink-hued looks her go-to makeup artist, Pati Dubroff, crafted for her Barbie press tour stand the test of time as makeup inspiration this summer and beyond.
In short, while these three Hollywood muses are different in many ways, when it comes to their beauty look they all seem to read from the same playbook – flaunting understated skin, hair and makeup with an effortless polish. Unsurprisingly, it’s a look that can suit everyone. Want in? Here’s how…
Lit-from-within skin
The key to a modern take on classic glamour rests first and foremost on expensive-looking, glowing skin. Zendaya (who often tags aesthetician Joomee Song in her red-carpet looks), Robbie and Richie Grainge are all well versed in the benefits of a comprehensive skincare regimen. But moisturizer can only go so far. In order to take it to the next level, add in some targeted collagen-boosting, free-radical-fighting, dead-skin-cell-sloughing actives, plus complexion-boosting tools that mimic the magic digits of A-list facialists. “The keywords are ‘heightened natural,’” says Dubroff – who was also the makeup artist behind Richie Grainge’s wedding-day look, which is still one of the most referenced wedding beauty looks two years on.
The makeunder
In a look where skin takes the starring role, it’s all about enhancing what you’ve got and choosing balmy, skin-like foundation textures. “These subtle looks work on anyone – it’s about magnifying your natural beauty and creating the A+ version of yourself,” says makeup artist Andrew Gallimore. “Reference the classic looks but move with the times. Embrace newer technologies and formulas – for example, most complexion products now contain excellent skincare benefits, too.” You can maximize the effects of hyaluronic-acid serums and collagen-boosting moisturizers even more by choosing highlighters and bronzers over anything too heavy. Equally, Gallimore recommends using primers in place of blanket coverage and keeping application light, whether you’re going for a classic red lip or enhancing your eyes with a sweep of brow gel and mascara for your lashes.
Center-stage hair
While we always have time for a tousled bob, Zendaya’s sleek, low-slung bun (worn underneath a big white hat) and Richie Grainge’s slicked-back sculptural updo (complete with her signature center parting), both at the Met Gala, are the epitome of sophistication and manage to effortlessly blur the lines between retro and modern-day sophistication. According to the experts, the key to creating timeless looks that feel fresh is balancing polished hair with a more nuanced, less-is-more approach to your makeup look. Meanwhile, Robbie also rocked many perfectly coiffed hairstyles during her Barbie press tour; but it’s her natural caramel-hued tresses, worn with a casual center-parting and barely-there bend throughout her pregnancy and new motherhood, that have cemented her status as both a legendary beauty chameleon and an enduring icon.
If all else fails, go for glamour
If there’s one thing we loved most about the summer of Barbie, it was seeing Robbie’s stylist, Andrew Mukamal, bring to life the fun and glamour that goes hand in hand with playing the ultimate icon. Case in point: her Schiaparelli haute-couture gown for the LA premiere of the film, complete with ponytail and ’60s-inspired hair wave, as well as the vintage Moschino and Versace pieces she wore in Seoul. For more daring fashion looks like these, Dubroff recommends putting the focus on the eyes or the lips, or harmonizing tones to help switch things up. “We focused on shades and tones within the Barbie spectrum, from ruby red to blush pink – never overly painted or powdered,” she says. A bold red lip paired well with the ’60s wave and Schiaparelli dress, while a fresh face and glossy, perfectly tonged waves completed Robbie’s Barbiecore looks in Seoul.