Dewy, glowing, and crystal clear – the skin we all wish we had. And models seem to have been born with it.
Our skin is super complex and considered an organ in its own right. Models may have genetics on their side, but they still have to work hard with step-by-step routines to keep their skin looking radiant.
“You really can’t last that long as a model unless you look after your skin,” says mature model Maye Musk. She’s been a model for 50 years, so she would know!
If you’re interested in becoming a model in the UK or Australia – whether you’re hoping to get scouted or already heading to open casting calls – it’s worth reconsidering your skin-care routine. Does it match the routines of real models? Read on to find out.
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A model’s skin is subject to all sorts of abuse from the cosmetics products used for shoots that are out of their control. Every makeup artist has a different brand of makeup remover, primer, and moisturiser, not to mention makeup. It’s not uncommon for a model to be introduced to new products with no idea what ingredients are in it or whether it will have an adverse effect on their skin. And on set, there’s no time for a 24-hour patch test!
Depending on the shoot or fashion show, the products can range from normal makeup to theatrical cinematic paint, gold leaf, stick-on gems, and glosses. A model needs consistent skin-treatment steps to keep their skin looking clean and healthy despite all the crazy products they may be required to wear. It comes as little surprise that the best skin-care regimen for most models includes removing every single scrap of makeup at the end of the day.
A model also needs to have clear, glowing skin for castings. Wearing some makeup, such as concealer to cover up small blemishes, is acceptable, but models generally are expected to arrive with a natural look.
Model Abby Champion considers her on-the-go look as “yourself, a little bit elevated,” which she achieves through applying minimal, simple makeup after wearing a facemask.
Models often travel and work long hours, which can take its toll on the skin. Aircon on airplanes dries it out and lack of sleep can leave you looking grey and tired or puffy and red. Staying hydrated by drinking lots of water is an essential aspect of most models’ diet, but a step-by-step skin-care routine also helps to keep skin looking healthy no matter how unpredictable your schedule is.
All models need to provide the best possible canvas for their colleagues. A fashion week pimple or two is to be expected, but regularly showing up with lots of spots, hard-to-remove makeup, or chronically dry skin may affect a model’s ability to get booked.
Having consistent daily skin-care steps is perhaps most important for beauty models, who need to have flawless skin because the photographs will be close up and in high definition, and their skin is being used to sell the products.
Having a disciplined yet simple skin-care routine is extremely important for runway models too. Back-to-back castings and shows, constant travel, and many different makeup products all take a toll.
1. Depuff. With late finishes and early starts, models are at risk of puffy-looking skin. Models take different approaches, whether it’s eye patches (like Alva Claire), lymphatic drainage with rollers or gua sha tools (like Mathieu Simoneau), or a 30-second ice bath (like Bella Hadid). Depuffing is essential to decreasing redness and inflammation before applying any products.
2. Tie back your hair. It seems obvious, but models always make sure their hair is off their face when they do their routine. It’s mainly to make sure they don’t get product in their hair, but it’s also, like for Champion, an opportunity to add products that nourish your hair while you prep your face.
3. Hydrate. This is a super important step that no model misses out on. There are a few techniques, such as misting sprays, sheet masks (like Champion), and serums (like Hadid). Nourishing and hydrating your skin before you start applying is essential to making it glow all day long, no matter how many products go on it.
4. Cleanse. Of all the steps, cleansing is probably the most ubiquitous. Models don’t hold back on the amount they use, either, making sure it’s really rubbed in and goes all the way down to the neck. Brooke Shields says it’s really important to find one that works for your unique skin type, and dryness, oiliness, and age all play a factor.
5. Moisturise. Moisturising is crucial to lock in hydration and protect the skin barrier. Many models go for oils and richer moisturisers, and they aren’t stingy about applying it.
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6. Sunscreen. With the risk of sunburn in the short term and pigmentation such as sunspots in the long term, it’s not worth it for a model to skip sunscreen. Apply it before any makeup goes on, even if your makeup has SPF.
7. Lip balm. Don’t forget the lips! Most products are applied to the wider parts of the face – forehead, cheeks, nose, and neck – but it’s important to remember that your lips need moisture too. Glowing skin is nothing if it’s undermined by cracked, dry lips.