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The long-awaited Season 4 Emily in Paris Just released, and I continue to be enthralled by the show’s makeup, along with Emily’s adorable fashion sense. In preparation for the premiere, I spoke with the show’s lead makeup artist, Aurelie Payanwe learned about the inspiration behind her looks and the actual products she used on set.
“‘Emily in Paris’ is the type of show where we have to show new trends and new ways of thinking about makeup,” Payen elaborated over Zoom. “It’s a constant process of thinking about what colors will go best this season, what eyeliner shapes will go best, what kind of lips will go best. We evolve the characters to keep up with the trends.”
This season, American and French beauty is a fusion that brings rich colors, glowing skin, and glamorous winged eyeliner to the forefront.”Lily Collins“The character started out in season one with a very American vibe,” Payen says. “She’s become very attuned to French culture over time. I wanted to incorporate both American and French culture into her makeup. I wanted to take the best of both cultures. For example, we have clean, fresh, glowing skin. In America, we have contouring and a little bit of heavy makeup, whereas in France, it’s more light makeup or no makeup. So I took that from France.” [trends]Red lipstick is popular in France, but in America people like more colorful lipsticks, so I created bold matte lipsticks in red, pink, black, and everything!
Read on to find out the exact products she used to get her cast looking glamorous, and you can buy most of them on Amazon, so you can start recreating this season’s favorite looks in just a couple of days.
Payen is a firm believer that prepping the skin is key to makeup, especially since glowing skin is a big trend in France. Before layering on product, she washes her actors’ faces with Foreo’s cult-favorite face wash. The gently vibrating brush works out makeup, dirt, and sweat that’s stuck in pores, and also gives you a relaxing facial massage in the process. “It’s life-changing,” she says. “When I wash my face with it, my skin feels really fresh and smooth. It’s just the best. My skin is really ready for makeup after using this.”
If your face needs an extra lift, Payen says this handy device creates a “rejuvenating effect.” The Bare delivers tiny shocks to your facial muscles, lifting and firming your facial contours, like a facial workout. P.S. This may or may not be the secret to Collins’ youthful appearance. (Can you believe she’s 35? We can’t!)
Red light masks are the latest beauty tech device, and Payen swears by its reputation. Her first choice on set is this new design by Foreo. “Different lights can address different skin concerns,” she explains. “Before makeup is applied, actors use the red light to create a more radiant complexion.” What sets this mask apart is the wide range of colored light options, which Payen says is a boon for addressing different skin concerns while on set.
“We shot in Rome, where it’s very sunny and hot, so having this little guy was a great help because even if you get a sunburn you can still get yellow light to illuminate it. [to diminish it.] If one of the actors had pigmentation, the green light helped. If someone was suffering from dark spots, I would use blue as well.”
The skincare products Payen used varied with each actor (everyone has a different skin type!), but one thing she remained consistent with was this luxurious face cream. “I always have this in my kit; it’s a beautiful vegan brand made from upcycled grapes,” she explains. This lightweight anti-aging cream deeply hydrates skin and helps even out the look of fine lines and wrinkles over time, thanks to resveratrol, a natural anti-aging ingredient found in grape skin.
Emily has the sharpest winged eyeliner on the show, thanks to a makeup artist who developed this eyeliner. Lisa Eldridge“As a woman and a fellow makeup artist, I want to use their products to support my peers in the industry,” says Payen. Of all Eldridge’s products, this is Payen’s favorite because of its inky shade, precise application, and ease of use.
This gorgeous eyeshadow will leave your cast members’ eyes looking brighter and shinier than the Eiffel Tower. “All of their eye palettes are so beautiful,” says Payen. They come in eight complementary shades that combine in a velvety way to bring out the radiance of your eyes.
Believe it or not, skin prep extends to lips, too. Before she applies lipstick to anyone, Payen likes to smear a coat of this trusty drugstore favorite. “It’s a small thing, but I think it’s the most effective way to create a smooth canvas,” she jokes. If you’re struggling with dry, cracked lips, give this ultra-conditioning product a try. You’ll see baby-soft lips return in under a week.
All of Season 4’s bright, bold lip looks are thanks to this Makeup by Mario lipstick. “I absolutely love it,” Payen raves. “Again, the brand is made by makeup artists, so I’m so happy to be involved with the product.” Unlike many matte lipsticks, this one won’t dry out your lips and will stay comfortable and vibrant throughout the long day.
