The Red Carpet Reset: 3 Look-In-Your-Locker Formulas For Radiance

If the recent award season taught us anything, it’s that “expensive-looking skin” is the only accessory that matters for 2026. From raw, sensuous beauty to cohesive cream-based glows, we’ve rounded up the exact products the pros used to get the world’s most famous faces camera-ready. —Noa Nichol

The “Cohesive Glow” | Merit + Yerin Ha

Makeup Artist Misha Shahzada focused on a look that literally melts into the skin for actress Yerin Ha. By stick-shifting away from drying powders, Shahzada created a modern dimension using Merit‘s cult-favorite cream formulas.

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• Complexion Base: Great Skin Serum paired with Great Skin Moisturizer for that lit-from-within foundation.
• The “Minimal” Touch: The Minimalist in Sand and Bisque for seamless coverage.
• Modern Eyes: Solo Shadows in Studio, Brun, and Surrealism for soft depth without the chalkiness.
• The Finishing Pop: Flush Balm in Bespoke on the cheeks and Signature Lip Blush in Andie for a cohesive, flushed finish.

The “Sexy & Raw” | ILIA + Keri Russell

MUA Tina Turnbow wanted to contrast Keri Russell’s slicked-back hair with a “strong, sexy beauty” featuring glossy skin and a bold, hot lip, courtesy of ILIA.

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• The Secret Weapon: The new Skin Blur Serum Concealer (launching March 3!) to perfect the canvas.
• Sculpted Cheeks: Multi-Stick in In the City and All of Me layered with Soft Focus Blurring Blush in Glimpse.
• The Power Pout: A deep, sensuous red created with Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon in Blue Note and Overglaze Hydrating Lip Gloss in Flambé.
• The Frame: A powerful brow using In Full Micro Tip Brow Pencil and In Frame Brow Gel.

The “Deep Hydration” | rhode + Sarah Pidgeon

For Sarah Pidgeon, MUA Emily Cheng proved that great makeup (read: rhode) starts with a serious skincare ritual. The focus here was a “barrier-first” approach to ensure a dewy, sculpted finish.

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• Prep is Everything: A targeted routine including the Caffeine Reset Sculpting Cream Mask and Peptide Eye Prep patches.
• The Moisture Sandwich: Glazing Milk followed by the Barrier Restore Cream and the heavy-hitting Barrier Butter.
• The Mystery Shade: A first look at a brand new Pocket Blush shade (announcing March 3!).
• Defined Lips: The Peptide Lip Shape Contouring Lip Sharper in Twist topped with a new, yet-to-be-named Peptide Lip Tint shade.