If clean girl make-up, with her glazed cheekbones and ‘just enough’ of everything (mascara, blush, brows), dominated social feeds this year, next summer sees her evolving into the patron saint of stealth wealth beauty.
In fashion, stealth wealth is the second coming of the normcore trend, a movement which sees the eschewing of logo belts and Insta-bait pieces for neutral, wear-everywhere colours and most importantly, quality pieces that lasts. Beauty’s interpretation of the 'quiet luxury' vibe sees a gleaming complexion that thrives on a protocol of regular facials, farm-to-table meals and uninterrupted, eight-hour sleep followed by downing a Stanley cup of water upon waking. But as the runways at London Fashion Week proved over the weekend, stealth wealth doesn’t have to be all beige and neutrals.
Make-up artist Terry Barber agrees. Speaking to ELLE backstage at Richard Quinn, where the haunting grey eye make-up was inspired heavily by romantic, Victorian portraiture and Bette Davis, the industry legend says: ‘I think there’s a new take on the natural. I learnt make-up where you don’t do a lot but what you do tells a story, whether that’s making the eyelids a bit watery and oiled (Barber created gold metallic accents on the eyes) or a little highlight on the Cupid’s bow but not really anything else.’
Barber achieves the picture perfect canvas with a cocktail of MAC Studio Radiance Serum Powered Foundation and Strobe Dewy Skin Tint and clever, targeted powdering for a ‘real-life, glossy skin’ effect. Expensive looking skin has a polished gleam, not excess shine, so Barber recommends dusting on powder between the brows, on the chin, middle of the forehead and around the lower parts of the cheek using a small, domed brush.
Elsewhere at 16Arlington, make-up artist Lauren Parsons was inspired by the sunkissed tan one gets after a few weeks on the Italian coast, as the 1% are wont to do over the summer. That means creating ‘sheen in all the right places’ by blending in an ultra-sheer bronzer (Parsons concocted her own for the show) onto the cheekbones followed by a hint of sunset orange liquid blush on the very high points of the cheek and keeping things matte everywhere else on the skin. ‘The bronzer goes underneath the eyes too, to bring the darkness back in. I think that’s really sexy,’ says Parsons.
The riviera vibe continued at Emilia Wickstead with ethereal eyes on a base of healthy, dewy skin by make-up artist Petros Petrohilos. He mixed Chantecaille Luminescent Eye Shade in Cheetah with the brand’s signature Pure Rosewater to create shimmering eyelids that mimic the glimmer bouncing off the ocean in high summer.
It goes without saying but stealth wealth beauty relies on investing in your skin. Regular facials and professional treatments help, but so do a disciplined approach to skincare. That means keeping a streamlined regime with plenty of SPF and barrier-boosting products (all of which can be found at a variety of price points) to keep the complexion healthy and strong.
At Tove, make-up artist Lynsey Alexander focused on enhancing each model’s freshly-massaged face (all expertly done by Orveda) by grooming the eyebrows, opting for brown mascara and gently pinching the cheeks and lips to bring the colour in. The polished finish is a testament to the make-up artist’s skill. ‘Anyone can mask a face but it’s harder to perfect in a natural way,’ says Alexander.
This understated movement means having less make-up, but making them go the extra mile. Look for a perfectly matched concealer, buildable foundation, brow gel, brown mascara and liner, and a multi-use cream palette plus one or two ‘statement’ buys such as a red lipstick or an eye product you love. It will see you beautifully through every occasion and season.
