In a recent YouTube video, Kim Kardashian’s makeup artist Hrush Achemyan—she’s also a glam-squad mainstay for the rest of the Kardashian-Jenner family—exposes some of Hollywood’s biggest makeup secrets, from her favorite root cover-up spray to her favorite skin-prep cream—hint: it’s La Mer Crème de la Mer ($345)—but our favorite tip of them all was what she uses on Kim’s skin before filming.
“A lot of people think that on-screen or on-stage, a lot of people use regular foundations like a Too Faced or a Revlon or Benefit or Chanel, and the list can go on and on,” Achemyan says in the video. “No. Professional makeup is used. We need to paint the face for the HD camera to catch it correctly, and we use HD creams.” Her foundation of choice: RCMA ($30) or Krylon ($40).
However, these HD foundations require some serious TLC before applying, a misconception Achemyan says many people have when trying them out. “They’ll just think I grab it and it’s direct from stick- or pan-to-face, but it’s not. Nobody will sit there and explain to you how this product is supposed to be manipulated.” As she holds up a palette of a variety of makeup pots, she says, “Basically, with this, you’re going to use La Mer or an essential oil. If you have dry skin, I suggest essential oil and if you have oily skin I suggest the La Mer or a night cream.”
When Achemyan applies the product without using skin prep, it skids across her hand without any glide. “When you apply this foundation with a dry brush, it is just going to look cakey. Also, don’t forget you’re wasting less product using an essential oil. These look impeccable on the face.” Watch the full video below for more behind-the-scenes tips.