Get Your Met Gala Beauty Look Ready With Chanel
Beauty awakens.
Clothing may be the centrepiece of the annual Met Gala (also known as “fashion’s night out”), but makeup can make or break the overall look. Doja Cat wore prosthetics, facial jewels, and delicate cat eyeliner as Karl Lagerfeld’s kitty, Choupette, at last year’s themed event “Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty.” Rihanna’s horizontal brows added edginess when she wowed the world in Guo Pei’s “omelette dress” in 2015 for “China: Through the Looking Glass.” So what can we expect from this year’s theme, “Sleeping Beauties: Reawakening Fashion”?
Julie Cusson, the official makeup artist for Chanel in Canada, says the words evoke a rebirth—a renaissance. “I feel that we have been through many years that were in a way ‘dormant.’ This theme evokes the idea that it’s time to awaken again, push our imagination, and bring back the marvellous.”
Of course, this idea could—and will—be translated in many, divergent ways. “With the beauty aspect, my interpretation would be that everything is possible because you give the chance for something to exist again or to rethink what is already here and bring it forward. Everything is flawless, new. But it can also be odd or quirky, but not scary. Aesthetically, I see shine, glossy textures, and vivid colours, but in an unexpected way,” Cusson says.
Stylists and makeup artists might also take a more literal interpretation, looking at the story of “Sleeping Beauty” about a princess who sleeps for 100 years, surrounded by flowers. “To translate this from a makeup point of view, I would add flower petals on the face or around the eyes. The resulting composition could be worn as a makeup look,” Cusson says.
This isn’t necessarily something most of us could wear on an average day, but Cusson says it could also be achieved using rose, luminous white and mauve shades around the eyes, cheeks, and lips. She says you can also bring a hint of the Met Gala into your everyday life by simply exploring new textures or shades—applying a clear gloss such as Chanel Baume Essential to the eyes instead of eyeshadow or exploring some of the bold colours from Chanel’s 31 Le Rouge Satin Lipstick collection.
A practical makeup tip we can all learn from red-carpet events is how to make your look last. “The base is always the most important part of any makeup look, and specifically for red carpets,” says Cusson, who has worked with stars at Cannes and Toronto International Film Festivals as well as on countless fashion shoots. “The face is like a canvas and needs to be flawless, immaculate, before thinking about adding any colour, shades, or texture. Waterproof and long-wear formulas are a must, as is using primer and the right foundation.”
She starts with Chanel Sublimage L’Extrait de Nuit, which is a night serum but she says adds a lot of radiance to skin and is light. “I love using eye patches. This is another must to nourish the skin and smooth fine lines. It also brings luminosity to the gaze,” she says, recommending Chanel Le Lift Flash Eye Revitalizer, a hydrogel patch. When it comes to primer, according to Cusson, it depends on your skin type and the finish you want: La Base Matifiante to control shine and La Base Illuminatrice if you want a more radiant look.
Cusson says the proliferation of Meta Gala beauty looks circulating on social media will naturally influence what people in the real world do. “I don’t think the Met Gala is only in its own world. This event is not only for fashion and beauty insiders anymore,” she says.
And what’s it like to be part of a creative team coming up with red-carpet looks? There’s a lot of conversation between the makeup artists and the stylist. There’s a lot of research so you understand the vision of the designer. And from time to time, there’s uncertainty, and you just have to roll with it. “Sometimes the designer will propose two options, and the final fitting appears in front of you. This is when as a makeup artist you need to rapidly adjust for a coherent and appropriate beauty image that brings a strong but balanced element for the final look. You need to make a sincere impression and at times be daring. Do what no one will expect,” Cusson says.
