E! illustration/Courtesy of WireImage & Getty ImagesThe Emmys red carpet was full of gorgeous makeup looks, but these specifically caught our beauty-obsessed eye. Isa Briones and Shabana Azeez from HBO's The Pitt were glowing last night with flushed pink cheeks and a matching lip.
While we've heard whispers that the anti-blush look will be trending this fall, these two proved that might not be the case for everyone—and the blush craze will still be going strong. So, we simply had to learn more. Spoiler alert: it was a blend of different shades!
E! chatted with celebrity makeup artists Allan Avendano and Aimee Twist (who created Isa and Shabana's looks, respectively) to learn more about creating this fairy-like look, the key to long-lasting makeup, and more red-carpet beauty secrets.
- For Isa's and Shabana's looks, their respective makeup artists created a glowy complexion with a dimensional, flushed look on the cheeks, and finished with matching pink lips.
- While the celebrity makeup artists used a plethora of products for these red carpet looks, the key to a smooth look is to build it up slowly with a "less is more" mentality.
- Headed to a big event and want to look good under lights and on camera? Both artists said the secret was all in the skin prep.
Pink Cheeks & Lips on the Red Carpet:
Both Isa and Shabana wore pink cheeks and lips on the red carpet, with a glowy complexion and simple touches that made the look feel almost like a fairy tale. For Isa, Avendano used two shades of the Merit blush to create a more dimensional, flushed look.
"We had to give her the most ethereal flush on the cheeks!" he said. "First, I laid down Bespoke with a dense, domed brush from the apples of the cheeks up to the temples and around her brow bone. Then, topped it off with a bit of Archival on the apples of the cheeks for a multidimensional blush."
Twist also focused on the cheeks with Shabana, but with a more peachy pink look. "We used Flush Balm in Lusitano to add a flushed look to the skin, mimicking where the sun would naturally hit across the cheeks, chin, and collarbones, before adding Day Glow in Solstice to the high points of the face," she explained.
For the lips, both Avendano and Twist blurred the lips with their finger for that effortless look. Avendano added a lip mask, lined the lips, and finished with a lip blush for Isa. "I knew the lips had to look as effortless as the rest of the makeup, and Merit lip products really give the most beautiful cool girl, just-bitten lip look!" he said. "I blurred it out with my finger. It added a very subtle definition." Twist lined Shabana's lips to add volume, pressed balm color to the center of the lips, and finished with a lip oil to add shine and hydration.
Beauty Secrets for a Long-Lasting Red Carpet Makeup Look
For the red carpet, it's not enough for your makeup to look nice... it has to last through the lights, camera, and action. There are certain secrets that celebrity makeup artists absolutely swear by for a long-lasting, beautiful look. "A setting spray is an absolute must for these carpets," Avendano told E!. "The heat, the perspiration [and more] can really affect the longevity of your makeup look, but a setting spray will keep that look locked in all day and night."
"I think less is more when it comes to any red carpet look," Twist told E!. "The more product you have on the skin, the easier it is to notice when it starts to wear off. I like to work in light layers, building coverage only where needed and strategically powdering the areas that are more likely to move or get shiny."
Tips for Smooth Skin Under Bright Lights
Celeb MUA-Approved Beauty
Merit Flush Balm Cream Blush
Formulated with vitamin E and microfine pigment powders, this cream blush balm melts right into your cheeks and leaves behind a perfectly glowy flush. Avendano used a blend of the shades Bespoke (a medium pink brown) and Archival (a cool mauve), and Twist used the shade Lusitano (a soft peach).
Merit Solo Shadow
This single cream eyeshadow is infused with jojoba extract and microfine pearls in a matte and shimmer finish for a smooth wash-of-color look. Avendano used the shade Sartorial (a shimmery bronze), and Twist used the shades Studio (a matte cool taupe) and Palladium (a shimmery warm silver).
Merit The Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Foundation and Concealer Stick
This complexion stick works as both foundation and concealer with its lightweight and buildable formula that promises to not crease or settle into fine lines. Avendano used the shades Bisque and Palomino, while Twist used the shade Khaki.
Red Carpet-Ready Makeup:
Merit Day Glow Dewy Highlighting Balm
Infused with squalane and olive fruit oil, this highlighting balm promises to lock in moisture and nourish skin to enhance your natural glow. Avendano used it on the inner corner and the high points of the cheeks in the shade Bounce (a rose gold), while Twist used the shade Solstice (a neutral bronze) in the high points of the face.
Merit Brow 1990 Ultra Fine Eyebrow Gel Pencil
This micro brow pencil has an ultra-fine tip that lets you effortlessly create soft strokes for that coveted, natural-looking fullness and definition. For the brows, Avendano this taupe shade with cool undertones.
Merit Clean Lash Lengthening Tubing Mascara
This tubing mascara adds definition, lift, and length to your lashes without clumping or flaking off.
Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 45
Made with mineral zinc oxide active protection, this tinted sunscreen promises to be lightweight and buildable, while leaving behind a comfortable sheer tint and zero white cast.
Merit Bronze Balm Sheer Sculpting Bronzer
Looking for a natural-looking warmth? This cream bronzer with neutral undertones promises just that, while effortlessly melting into your skin.
Looking for more celebrity MUA beauty recommendations? Shop the frosty eye trend!