12 Beauty Game-Changers Backstage Pros Can’t Live Without
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<span style="color: #000000;" Want to know what the experts really rely on behind the scenes to create the coveted looks on the catwalk? We spill some of their best-kept beauty secrets.</span
Photo: Courtesy of Embryolisse1/10Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
Why it s a game-changer: It doesn t matter if you re a genetically blessed model, after back-to-back days filled with multiple makeup changes, your skin is going to need a little extra TLC to look smooth, radiant, and ready for the runway. That s where Embryolisse comes in. The multifunctional cream has been around since 1950 and was a favorite of legendary beauties like Ingrid Bergman and Jane Birkin (who passed the secret down to her daughters Lou Doillon and Charlotte Gainsbourg). Now makeup artists love using Embryolisse backstage as a moisturizer, primer, makeup remover, and complexion-enhancer. "Sometimes I ll put makeup on, then I ll apply Embryolisse after with my fingers. It gives a beautiful finish when you re going for dewy skin," says backstage regular Diane Kendal. The classic formula isn t complicated—it contains natural ingredients like shea butter, aloe vera, and beeswax—but it works wonders. Snag one of the limited-edition gold tubes (designed in honor of the 65th anniversary) before they re gone.
$28; Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of Bumble and Bumble2/10Bumble and Bumble Surf Spray
Why it s a game-changer: Before Surf Spray was born, it was commonplace for editorial hairstylists working in tropical locations to scrunch water straight from the ocean into models strands. When Bumble and Bumble hairstylists brought this idea to the product development team—just as they were looking for a new styling void to fill—it was an aha moment for the company. Surf Spray hit salons in 2001 and the industry embraced it immediately. Hair pros loved the formula because they knew exactly what it would do, beauty editors couldn t resist the novelty of beach-babe hair in a bottle, and shoppers quickly followed. Then Bumble stylists started using the texturizer at fashion week and never looked back. Although the spray was inspired by the tousled look achieved at outdoor photo shoots, hair gurus use it for just about anything. Anthony Turner relied on it to "destroy" smooth strands at Creatures of the Wind and Proenza Schouler. "I like the versatility that it gives me. In the past, I ve put it in girls hair when it s down and done something very beachy and surf-y. I also find it s easy to whip the hair into a messy knot, or if I still need to move it around, I can," he explains. "It doesn t clog the hair or feel too stiff. Other surf sprays I ve used make the hair feel cardboard-y." This year, Bumble is betting on Surf Infusion, a new oil-infused spin-off of Surf Spray, to be its next hit. If you ask us, the odds are looking good.
$27; Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of Bioderma3/10Bioderma Créaline H2O Solution Micellaire
Why it s a game-changer: When you have 32 faces to paint in a chaotic environment and not much time to do it, a makeup remover like Bioderma is a lifesaver. It erases everything from waterproof mascara to budge-proof red lipstick without irritating sensitive complexions; doesn t leave a residue; and comes in a bottle big enough to last from Day One in New York to the last show in Paris. "When your makeup is being taken off multiple times a day, it s nice to have something gentle," says catwalker Jacquelyn Jablonski. Hanne Gaby Odiele agrees, noting that she uses it to come clean between shows "because it feels refreshing and is easy on skin." The clear cleanser has long been a staple at the tents, but up until 2013, you could score it only in France (causing many a model, beauty editor, and backstage pro to haul it home in bulk at each season s end). The elusiveness only fueled the product s cult status, and likely inspired the micellar water trend that recently made its way to the States. Now that s what we call making a splash in the beauty scene.
$14; Buy it now
Photo: Courtesy of Madina4/10Madina Chic Shine Highlighter
Why it s a game-changer: Nine times out of 10, that ethereal, lit-from-within glow you see catwalkers sporting on the runway comes courtesy of the "shiny stick," as insiders have nicknamed this creamy illuminator. "Part of my routine when I travel is looking at new products, and I discovered the Madina shiny stick a few years ago. It gives a very nice highlight without looking too greasy, shimmery, or fake. It makes the skin look beautiful," says makeup genius Tom Pecheux, who stocks up at the store in Milan. Another reason top artists keep this secret weapon in their kits: There s no need to lug around a bunch of different colors. The beloved stick comes in only one champagne hue that accentuates all skin tones.
$19; Buy it now
Photos: Courtesy of L’Oréal Paris; Courtesy of TIGI5/10L’Oréal Paris Elnett and TIGI Bed Head Superstar Queen for a Day
Why they re game-changers: When it comes to hairsprays, there are two cans you can always count on spotting at fashion week. TIGI s Queen for a Day, which launched in 2003, is the preferred choice for building volume, even though many hairdressers can t admit it. "It s not unusual for us to be sending as many as 50 cans to a stylist working in Paris, Milan, London, or New York. Of course, these cans are usually [covered] with black masking tape so that they re unobtrusive among the stylist s sponsored products. It s our little secret with them," says Anthony Mascolo, TIGI founder and international artistic director. The appeal is the even application: The mist covers every strand and is easier to work with than a traditional thickening mousse.
For not-too-stiff hold, pros swear by Elnett. The hairspray first made its debut in 1957 in Paris, followed by the softer Satin version in the early 1960s. The gold packaging came later (1963), as did the iconic female face on the can (1964), and the label has looked the same ever since. Sadly, Elnett was pulled from the American market in the 1980s because of concerns about the aerosol packaging. The ban forced pros and beauty junkies to smuggle it in from overseas, until it finally relaunched in 2008. Paul Hanlon, the man behind the look at Marni, is a fan of both sprays. "If the guys do a hairstyle and I don t like it, Elnett is easy to brush out. It s very pliable. With these two products, you can do any hairstyle, really," he says.
L Oréal Elnett Satin Hairspray, $15; Buy it now
TIGI Bed Head Superstar Queen for a Day, $20; Buy it now