Make-up artist Vincent Oquendo is fairly certain he and hairstylist Marc Mena manifested working with actress Karla Sofía Gascón, the star of this yr’s Golden Globe favourite, Emilia Pérez. “Again when Marc and I have been working collectively on the Cannes Movie Pageant with Lily Gladstone, I already had Karla on my radar as a result of I had learn the synopsis for Emilia Pérez and thought it sounded out of this world,” he says. “It’s directed by Jacques Audiard and likewise options Zoe Saldana and Selena Gomez. I had a sense it will be an enormous one—I’m just a little witchy generally—so I despatched my agent an electronic mail about Karla. I wrote, ‘She’s a trans actress. I actually wish to help her. I don’t care if there’s any cash concerned.’” This Friday, Oquendo and Mena adopted the actress to Palm Springs for the opening evening of the Palm Springs Worldwide Movie Pageant, the place the Emilia Pérez solid obtained the Vanguard Award. Right here, the make-up artist walks us by way of Gascón’s look.
“After I go to movie festivals, I look by way of the entire movies which might be in competitors. I search for the solid. I learn the entire articles. It’s a privilege to have the ability to create a search for somebody who I discover extremely inspiring. Karla’s efficiency in Emilia Pérez is simply so sincere. She’s simply insanely magnetic on display screen.
Freddy Alonso styled Karla on this very attractive, off-the-shoulder, drapey quantity from Vivienne Westwood, so I needed to go for la dolce vita vibes with some edge together with her make-up. However first, I prepped her pores and skin. I really like Dr. Dennis Gross’s LED masks so I began off with that. I used the Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar on her, too. It actually will get circulation going and makes the pores and skin look actually alive. It’s additionally actually stress-free. Whereas that’s happening, I had her put on Goop Magnificence’s Raise + Depuff eye masks. Then it was time for Beau Domaine’s moisturizing cream. It smells so beautiful, however I additionally love how make-up grips to it—and it’s not too emollient so it received’t make merchandise separate. Lumify’s Illuminations eye cream can be nice as a result of it has a gentle glow that makes the below eyes actually luminous, which is the dream for a crimson carpet. Oh, and since Karla’s taking so many flights and is all the time on the go, I put one drop of Lumify’s eye drops in every eye, too.
On the subject of make-up, it’s all in regards to the brushes for me; they’re the important thing to a very lovely base. Anisa’s are my go-to. They’re artificial and certain so fantastically. I used the Ambient basis in 8 from Hourglass and buffed it in with Anisa’s Pinnacle basis brush. I like to make use of the identical brush to stipple on concealer—I used Touche Éclat in 4.5 and Hourglass Vanish Airbrush in 7.5 on Karla. Then I took Anisa’s Eye Fan brush, which is absolutely meant for eyeshadow, to cover any blemishes or darkness or to focus on particular areas. I like how a lot management it provides you and it has a dome form that mainly does the entire mixing.
I used Uncommon Magnificence’s Keep Weak blush in Almost Mauve, which has wonderful shade payoff, and Heat Needs bronzer stick in Pleased Sol to contour. Anisa has this fabulous new angled cream brush that makes this really easy. I like to use every little thing in layers to create this actually lovely depth, so I’ll swipe it on, mix, and repeat.
Should you’ve seen Emilia Pérez, Karla’s eyes have this lovely twinkle to them. I all the time attempt to emphasize them whereas conserving them easy. I rimmed her eyes, each prime and backside, with Victoria Beckham Magnificence’s Satin Kajal liner in Ash, a kind of grey, earlier than I smudged it and smoked it out throughout her lids. Then I took Bronze, a shimmery shade, and did a decent line. I used it on the interior nook of her eyes, as nicely. Earlier than mascara—I like Victoria Beckham Magnificence’s Future Lash as a result of it’s fairly waterproof and by no means bleeds—I always remember to twist the lashes. Particularly with my extra mature purchasers, I discover that is so vital to present you an on the spot bright-eyed look. The Tweezerman roller is my tremendous favourite as a result of it provides you a curl with out having to work too onerous. That’s the primary factor: You don’t wish to must press so onerous in your lashes that you simply danger damaging them.
Karla likes her pure lip shade, so I similar to to play it up a bit. I went for Revlon’s tinted lip balm in Nude Illuminator, a sheer pink-y shade, and no lip liner—however I did spotlight the bow of her lips with Uncommon Magnificence’s highlighter in Flaunt, which I like to use with my pinky finger.
I all the time use One/Measurement’s On ‘Til Daybreak setting spray to complete off a glance. Make-up actually doesn’t budge if you use this. It’s additionally semi mattifying, which I personally actually like since you don’t wish to fear about your purchasers trying shiny. It’s a make-up artist’s dream.”
—As informed to Daise Bedolla
Images courtesy of Vincent Oquendo