Photography: Emma Palmer
Whether you’ve dabbled with a little bit of tinted moisturiser during lockdown or forgone makeup entirely, you might have forgotten just how satisfying a sweeping of mascara and dusting of blusher can be. After over two months of loungewear and binge-watching Netflix, the makeup artist Sofia Tilbury is encouraging all of us to dust off our foundation and glam up for the evening.
As the niece of industry doyenne Charlotte Tilbury, it’s fairly safe to say that beauty runs through Sofia’s veins. “Charlotte always says, ‘Give everyone the right makeup and they can conquer the world’, and I really feel the power of that message,” says Sofia. “When you look good, you feel good and the world reacts to you in a magical way.”
While the 26 year old appreciates the confidence-boosting power of makeup, she knows the value of a solid skincare routine too. As Sofia talks us through her guide to the perfect look for a glam night-in, expect to pick up as many skincare tips as you do makeup tricks…
Step 1: My Ultimate Skin Prep
As a family we are obsessed with skincare and are always trading tips. Before I even consider my makeup, the first thing I do is to double cleanse with the Goddess Cleansing Ritual. I find the scent of the Citrus Oil Radiance Cleanse so uplifting, while the Bamboo and Charcoal Cleanse helps to unblock pores and eliminate excess oiliness.
Next, I use my Instant Magic Facial Dry Sheet Mask. Every time I use this on myself or one of my clients, I’m blown away by the way it feeds the complexion where it needs it most. I follow with the Magic Serum Crystal Elixir, which I’ve been using for the past few months. My skin has genuinely never been so hydrated, smooth and poreless.
Step 2: How To Ace Your Base
Charlotte taught me how to prep skin with her Magic Cream Moisturiser before makeup so it glows from within. It really is the most important step for creating a gorgeous, glowing base and one I never skip myself, especially at the moment. To really boost my complexion, I pinch along my jawline and cheekbones, tap my fingers around my eye area and massage the cream in to help stimulate lymphatic drainage and micro-circulation.
At the moment I’m not wearing lots of makeup, so I tend to use Magic Away concealer as a base after to blur out any imperfections and lift my confidence. You’ll be surprised by how fresh your skin looks, even via Zoom.
Step 3: My Trick For Accentuating Your Eyes
A feline flick is my signature look and it’s rare that you’d see me without one. Your eyes are the most mesmerising part of your face, and when you use a gorgeous, creamy liner to elongate their shape and make them look more feline, it transforms your whole look. I trace my liner along my lash line and create a triangle shape for the flick. I highly recommend experimenting with the length and boldness of your cat eye and you should definitely try out some vibrant colours.
Step 4: How To Line Your Lips
I’m a lip liner girl, so I always like to use the Lip Cheat in Hot Gossip. It’s the perfect peachy-nude shade that resizes and reshapes the appearance of your lips instantly. Then, I’m absolutely obsessed with the Hot Lips 2.0 Lipstick in Glowing Jen. We created it in homage to the golden goddess glow of Jennifer Aniston, so it gives you such a natural, sun-kissed, beachy look.
If you want a subtler lip look, try pressing the lipstick on with your finger to create more of a stained finish.
Step 5: Always Sculpt Your Brows
I don’t feel done unless my brows are brushed up and look fluffy and bushy. I apply the Brow Lift and always like to focus on filling in the arch to give myself the look of a mini brow lift. I’ve found this works especially well over video call. I finish with my brows to ensure they look naturally sculpted and don’t overshadow my eyes and lips.
Step 6: How To Make Your Complexion Glow
For a bronzed goddess glow, I glide Charlotte’s NEW Airbrush Bronzer over the cheekbones, temples and jawline for a radiant matte look. It’s part of the same flawless family as the Airbrush powder and foundation and contains Hyaluronic Acid, so it actually hydrates the skin while you wear. I use the lighter, skin-enhancing shade to add warmth to my face and neck, and then a deeper, skin-sculpting shade to contour my body. It’s a great way to dial up your look from day to night!
Step 7: My Speedy Hair Hack
I’m trying to wash it less because I was in the habit of washing it every morning which is so naughty! If my hair is looking OK, I’ll just spray in some Oribe Gold Lust Dry Shampoo and brush it into a bun while I do my makeup to define the natural wave. If I need to wash it (I love the Olaplex range), then I’ll apply a hair oil while my hair is damp and tie it into a braid while it dries.
