You may watch Jasmine Tookes and Bella Hadid walking down the runway and think they are the most flawless human beings ever (they kind of are). But being a top model also means they have to shuffle their way through a bunch of different fashion shows a day, and that can be extremely tolling not only on their bodies but on their skin. From masking tricks to cleansing techniques, we got all the details on how top models keep their skin healthy during New York Fashion Week.
A day in the life of a NYFW model can be super taxing on her skin (think: irritation, breakouts, dry patches), so there’s really no one better to get skin care tips than from a professional who’s in charge of treating their skin and making sure it looks as glowy and bright as possible. We had the chance to chat with Eileen Harcourt, a celebrity aesthetician who was using belif products to prep the models’ skin backstage at the Prabal Gurung show, and she broke down exactly what she does and what models like to do to take care of their skin during a particularly intense and wintry fashion week.
Use a cleansing water as much as you can.
Harcourt says the key to protecting winter skin is washing your face with a cleansing water instead of a harsh foaming cleanser. “To prep the models’ skin for the show, I always start with the belif Herbal Cleansing Water,” she says. She says the biggest problem she sees with models’ skin is that their skin is over stripped from so much on and off makeup applications. “The cleansing water is great because it’s very soothing,” says Harcourt. “It’s especially great for winter since so many people are putting acids on and stripping their skin, and you need to maintain a little of your acid mantle on the skin.” Switching to a cleansing water instead of your regular cream-based cleanser will ensure that any stress in your skin is reduced and, according to Harcourt, the belif cleansing water is “very anti-irritating so it’s great for sensitive skin.”
Carry a hard-working moisturizer with you at all times.
Harcourt couldn’t stop praising the belif True Cream Aqua Bomb, a light gel-cream that she says is a literal “drink of water to the skin.” This cream is so hydrating that when I watched Harcourt apply it to a model’s skin, the model looked sopping wet, but once Harcourt pressed it in, it turned into a nice matte, plump finish. “As soon as the Aqua Bomb hits the skin, the water molecule actually bursts with the temperature of the skin so they get this instant hydration immediately,” says Harcourt. She says it’s best for normal to oily skin, but it’s also a great hydrator for drier skin types. “Dry skin or oily skin can be topically dehydrated and this gives it immediate hydration to those surface cells,” says Harcourt. “I’ve found that if you have fine surface lines, it instantly softens and smooths out those lines.”
Even more, Harcourt recommends applying a moisturizer like the belif Aqua Bomb multiple times throughout the day to keep dry patches at bay. “It has a bouncy gel texture so the models love the way it feels, but it’s also the fact that it’s soothing and fresh that makes all the difference,” she says. “It’s unusual to have this fresh burst of water but also be soothing at the same time.” Harcourt especially recommends moisturizing your eyes throughout the day. “I use the moisturizer as an eye cream on the models because the eye area gets dry with all the foundation and concealer,” she says. “I just tap it in and it gives an instant source of moisture for that area.”
Take time to really press your skin care products into your skin.
Backstage at Prabal Gurung, Harcourt really paid attention to gently press every drop of the Aqua Bomb into models like Bella Hadid’s skin. She also performed a similar technique when she would apply the belif Aqua Bomb Sheet Mask on the model’s faces. Instead of just slapping it on, Harcourt took a good three minutes to make sure the mask was securely fit on every corner of the model’s face and that it was seeping essence in as many places as possible. “The girls love to keep the masks on when they’re getting their hair done,” she says.
Turn your moisturizer into a mask.
If you’re in a bind and you don’t have any sheet masks around (a true dilemma), Harcourt shared a brilliant idea with us: Turn your moisturizer into a mask. She likes to transform the Aqua Bomb cream into a mask since it has the same ingredients as the sheet mask. “Put a thicker layer all over and leave it on for five minutes,” says Harcourt. “Once you remove any residue, it leaves a really good moisturized surface.”
+ Craving a great sheet mask after reading this article? Click here to check out the eight different types of sheet masks out there and choose the one that fits your needs the best!