Most of us don’t reappear from the sweltering subway heat or leave the dance floor at a summer wedding looking like Bond girl Ursula Andress in the 1960s movie “Doctor Who. No,” she emerged from the ocean, immersed in seawater and sensuality. For equally lustrous hair and skin, you need more than a Jamaican beach. You need beauty products, ones that make fashion models and celebrities like Hailey Bieber and Zendaya look like drenched otters.
The wet hair and makeup styles from Alexander McQueen and Ambush’s fall shows took glitter to a new level. “It’s a strong look with a lot of attitude,” said London-based hairstylist Anthony Turner. “Bright, hydrated, voluminous skin is associated with the idea of youthfulness – people never get tired of that,” added London makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, who worked the Giambattista Valli fall show to shimmering complexion to support it.
To look stylish, start with clean, sweat-free skin and hair. Towel-dry your hair after a shower, then apply an exfoliating toner to your face. Use moisturizer, but not too much: Over-moisturizing can lead to makeup slips, says New York makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes, who works with glitter queens like Ms. Bieber.
To create a solid foundation, apply primer and liquid highlighter or luminous SPF over the entire skin. use concealer or foundation only when needed. “This look isn’t about covering the skin, it’s about making it glow,” says Ms. Ffrench. Then, dab a clear gel or cream on the brow bones, cheekbones, bridge of the nose and cupid’s bow. “A misconception is that you need a lot of shine, but a little goes a long way,” Ms. Hughes says. After sprinkling translucent powder under the eyes and around the nose and corners of the mouth for contrast, she adds, apply lip gloss and brush on the brows with a lip balm-coated scroll.
For a wet, subtle sweat effect like Kim Kardashian’s at the 2019 Met Gala, mist the top of your head liberally with a styling primer, then finger-shave your hair back for added texture. “Embrace the mistakes,” said Mr. Turner, who created slicked-back looks at Lanvin’s spring show, where the models looked like they had left a party at a steaming Studio 54. Then, lock in the shape by wrapping a triangular hair styling net around the head, blow- dry with a diffuser and spray with a highlighting hairspray. Rake a leave-in conditioner into the hair to finish. “You want the ends to move-it shouldn’t be stiff,” says Mr. Turner. For super-chic, tie shiny hair into a ponytail or bun, as Dua Lipa and Bella Hadid did at the Balenciaga July Haute Couture show.
Sweat is inevitable in the three summer months. Here’s the argument: why not lean towards a high-impact beauty look that makes it look intentional?
Get Smooth Fast / How to Look Chic Wet
