Barbara Palvin has one of the most esteemed faces in global beauty. From iconic lipstick campaigns to headlining the Victoria’s Secret hall of fame, the Hungarian supermodel has represented some (if not most) of the world’s leading make-up brands and she’s not hitting the breaks yet.
What started as a Budapest scouting at the age of 13 has catapulted Palvin into worldwide stardom. For the 30-year-old model, beauty is all about confidence and lead by her own self-expression; an ethos made evident by a lifetime of statement beauty moments. Whether it’s channelling her inner Brigitte Bardot or debuting a vintage power lip, the model is first to divert towards daring modern references when the spotlight is on. Adorning runways and red carpets year-on-year, she’s a regular on prestigious best beauty lists and a must-follow for anyone looking to expand their glamorous make-up vision boards for 2024.
‘I inspire myself beauty-wise,’ Palvin tells ELLE UK. ‘I try to express myself through my make-up and hair. It’s always a reflection of my mood on that day.’
Now a poster girl for the illustrious Armani Beauty line, we caught up with Barbara Palvin to discuss everything from make-up bag essentials and the secrets of supermodel wellness, to 90s beauty references and the need-to-know details of her covetable Vivienne Westwood wedding look.
On her first scent memories...
'The first scent that has really good memories is the first snow of the year. I feel like a lot of people can smell it. And then my mom's fragrance. I can always tell when someone is wearing it when I'm at the airport and I'm like 'Mom!''
On her wedding scents...
'I usually like fragrances that are more fresh and light and lemony. Citrusy. For my wedding I had these candles and it was a Jo Malone English Pear and Freesia and it was pretty sweet. They sent me the fragrance too and I loved it so I've been wearing that ever since. I guess my taste is changing.'
On bridal make-up and the big day...
'I wanted to do something timeless and effortless that highlighted my features and didn't overpower them. I wanted Dylan to marry me and not a doll that doesn't even look like me. I ate healthy, worked out and used an infrared sauna. I tried to sleep and I tried to rest, but that wasn't really in the planning. I was excited and stressed because we didn't have a wedding planner. It's just like me and my sister doing everything. So it was a lot of work.'
On beauty trends...
'I try everything and then most of the time I like them, you know? Right now, I really love that the 90s beauty trend is coming back. I love it. A lip liner, a nude lip. I never liked the dewy skin. But I always try everything. At the moment I'm going through the Giorgio Armani Beauty Lip Power and their colours, just to see which one fits best. I do like a darker lip liner and then I use a lighter lip colour.'
On the city that inspires her most...
'Whenever I land in New York, the energy of the city always catches me. And then Japan.'
On minimal skincare...
'It's very simple. I always just try to keep my skin clean. I make sure that I remove my make-up before bed and drink a lot of water and hydrate my skin. I can't put a lot of oils on my skin because my skin just can't handle it. So I always keep it very minimal. For day to day I like to use a La Roche-Posay Moisturising Cream, but if I'm getting ready for an event, the Armani Crema Nuda gives me such like a nice glow under the foundation.'
Armani Mascara Eccentrico
Jo Malone London Lime Basil & Mandarin Home Candle
Armani Crema Nera Supreme Reviving Cream
On her make-up artist pro tips...
'I learned everything from them. In the beginning of my career everything was a good trick. You know, I like the contouring where it's basically like drawing a three on your face and you get your forehead, your cheeks and your jaw.'
On wellness rituals...
'We have a dog and I love to go on little walks with her and sit in the park with her. Just going and being outside is what charges me, being out in nature. I love camping.'
