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These Are the Products Used on the Set of Your Favorite TV Shows

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tvmakeup
Photo Credits: Getty Images

We’ll come right out and just say it: We have a love/hate relationship with TV sometimes (REALLY, Game of Thrones, BRAN?). But one thing we’ll never lose interest in is the beauty looks on the set of some of our favorite on-screen shows. Sure, it’d be cool to have a blood-thirsty pet dragon or maybe have Meryl Streep as a mother-in-law and Reese Witherspoon as a best friend, but what we really want to know about is the dirty little (beauty) secrets of Hollywood.

How does June Osborn fight the patriarchy AND split ends? How did Daenerys Targaryen look perfect even as she was stabbed in the back, er stomach, by the love of her life? Luckily Dany—like any mad queen—had a team of committed stylists and makeup artists to keep her looking fresh. Since hiring a full beauty team to touch up our makeup 24/7 isn’t really in our budget, we reached out to the the experts on set of our favorite TV shows to get the scoop on the top tips and tricks to flawless beauty.

You May Also Like: TV Stars Swear by This Off-the-Radar Cleanser for Taking Off the Toughest Makeup

1 / 7

TEMPTU Perfect Canvas Hydra Lock Airpod Foundation ($48 without TEMPTU Air)

Big Little Lies may be full of, well, lies, but one thing is gospel: TEMPTU is the secret behind some of the stars’ dewy complexions. The Monterrey Mothers may not be perfect, but their full-coverage, skin-perfecting foundation certainly is. Perfect Canvas is loaded with beauty ingredients like clarifying white birch and antioxidant goji berry that protect skin while covering up everything from acne to what really happened to Perry. Bonus: it’s also transfer-, water- and murder-resistant (probably), so it’s not going anywhere. 

If this isn’t enough to hook you, consider this: eternally cool, girl-next-door Zoë Kravitz sports TEMPTU on set for flawless skin. Miho Suzuki, the makeup artist behind every character you love (and hate) on Sharp Objects, loves this airbrush foundation to keep Kravitz’s skin aglow on the set of Big Little Lies. “I wanted to keep Zoë’s skin as raw as possible,” she says. “So I touched up using TEMPTU Perfect Canvas throughout the day.” According to Suzuki, the formula fits like a second skin and is totally buildable, so add as little—or as much—as you’d like for bespoke coverage. “It sets matte enough to keep the skin looking natural and raw, and it doesn’t build up at all.” 

2 / 7

Lancôme Paris Monsieur Big Mascara ($25)

Regardless of how we feel about Daenerys Targaryen’s fate at the end of season 8 (who are we kidding—down with the Mother of Dragons!), one thing is certain: Khaleesi’s eye makeup was so sharp, it alone could kill. We initially imagined that riding on the back of a dragon at top speed and setting cities aflame might at least cause some flyaways or smudged eyeliner, but the First of Her Name remained flawless (beauty-wise) until the bitter end. Somehow, in a world of supernatural wights and wolves, the stay-put mascara seemed the most magical. 

As reported by Yahoo!, Jane Walker, the Emmy award-winning makeup artist who graced us with some of our favorite Game of Thrones looks over the past few seasons, believes that the best way to elongate lashes while waging war is to focus on the brush first. “Mascara should be a ‘no buildup’ type,” she says. “Scrape any excess off the brush back into the tube before you apply to get a thin wash of color on the lashes.” Walker preferred Lancôme on set and used it to add major-yet-natural length to Emilia Clarke’s fringe. We may still have literally thousands of questions after the GoT finale (can we please address why the Night’s Watch is still a thing?), but we’re confident of one thing: Team Targaryen rocked the most lush of lashes. 

3 / 7

Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels ($30)

If you’ve ever wondered how the stars always look so well-rested after filming for 12 hours straight, this is it: Skyn Iceland Hydro Cool Firming Eye Gels. Harnessing the ultimate de-puffing power of ginkgo biloba leaves (note: this is an actual tree name and NOT a character from The Lord of the Rings trilogy) and cranberry seed oil, these eye gels are the true supporting character in some of your fave tv shows.

Zoe Hay—the Emmy-nominated makeup artist known for her work on Glee, The People v. O.J. Simpson and our new go-to, This is Us—turns to Skyn Iceland when she needs to soothe skin on set. She says: “What I love most about these are that they stay put and don’t slide down the face. Our actors can drive to work with them on or apply while they are getting their hair done. We have very early call times and have to take everyone back in time, so they’re an essential part of our kits.” We’re adding this product to our online shopping cart immediately so that the next time we queue up This Is Us, we can continue to sob uncontrollably without fear of resulting under-eye volume. 

4 / 7

Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Foundation ($47)

A standard in any professional makeup kit, Lancôme’s intensely durable foundation was made for the big (and laptop-size!) screen. It achieves the big three: oil-free, easily blendable and long-lasting. MUA to the stars, Ana Lozano, had the challenge of transforming Penelope Cruz into the one-and-only Donatella Versace for the show American Crime Story. 

In order to get the perfect look, Lozano utilized the other-worldly power of Teint Idole. “I love this foundation as it stays all day long and they have 40 great shades to choose from,” she says. For a dewy finish, Lozano recommends mixing in strobing drops. “The drops are a good base for the highlight areas, which helps me match and meld Penelope’s face with Donatella’s face.” 



5 / 7

Collosol Eau de Lait 8.5 Fl Oz ($28)

French cult-favorite brand, Collosol, has had an intimate relationship with actresses ever since its inception. Much like Bridgette Bardot’s acting career, Collosol Eau de Lait was born in Paris in the 1950s, when thespians had a great need for a tough-but-gentle product to remove heavy stage makeup. 

Cut to 2018 (or whenever Westworld Season 2 takes place—still trying to work out the timeline), and this product is still in high demand, most notably by Westworld’s makeup artist Rachel Hoke. “The show’s shooting locations often contain elements such as dirt, wind, heat, and character makeup. Evan Rachel Wood and Thandie Newton use the product every day they work. It’s a perfect cleanser for mid day makeup removal for touch ups.” Word to the wise: Collosol Eau de Lait is so good, you’ll be tempted to pull a Karl Lagerfeld and straight-up bathe in it. Talk about a French twist.



6 / 7

TATCHA Luminous Dewy Skin Mist ($48)

The Handmaid’s Tale isn’t all sunshine, roses and the patriarchy. Long days of shooting require the ultimate star power in terms of hydration: TATCHA Luminous Dewy Skin Mist. Ultra-moisturizing hyaluronic acid and green tea combine to give us an unparalleled glow that we tell our friends is 100-percent natural. (We trust that you can keep a secret!)

Among TATCHA’s many fans is Burton LeBlanc, a recent Emmy nominee for his work on The Handmaid’s Tale (though you may also know him for his extensive background in film, including his work on everyone’s favorite crime drama, American Gothic). He says, “On The Handmaid’s Tale, I love to use TATCHA Dewy Skin Mist for a quick face refresher, especially after a long set day and before an after-lunch makeup touchup.” Bonus: he’s also a fan of Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder ($36). “[It’s] a super fine powder that I use on Elisabeth [Moss], particularly on her T-zone when needed to tone down any shine.” Praise be.

7 / 7

Sisley Paris Hair Rituel Precious Hair Care Oil ($100)

Renowned for their award-winning, plant-based skin care, Sisley Paris returned this year to gift us mortals with the most luxe leave-in hair product on earth. With the unbeatable combo of shea, passion fruit, cotton, and moringa oils, the lightweight blend from the 2018 Hair Rituel line creates a radiant shine so glassy, we’re convinced that we could see our reflection in it. 

Enter: Jessica Elbaum. One of our fave makeup and hair care extraordinaires, Elbaum is celebrated for her work on Modern Family and Gracie and Frankie. To ensure that Sarah Hyland never has a bad hair day on set, Elbaum favors Hair Rituel Precious Hair Oil, which she says is “perfect for smoothing dry ends & taming fly aways.” Elbaum also won’t be caught without Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray ($46), which she loves for “maintaining volume and that perfect under-done look.” Two timeless hair care standards for one very modern family.

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