Beyoncé & Céline Dion’s Former Makeup Artist Says She Doesn’t Go Anywhere Without These 5 Products

Published Apr 26, 2019

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3:47pm

I’ve often wondered how Beyoncé looks so damn luminous all the time. And I know I’m not the only one.

So when celebrity makeup artist Therese Williams, whose clients include Queen Bey, Céline Dion, Alessandra Ambrosio and more, arrived at my home ready to glam me up, I had no less than a million questions. Chief among them was what products she uses when enhancing some of Hollywood’s most recognizable faces. I expected a laundry list of palettes and things I’ve never heard of. Instead, Williams listed a mere five products, and two of them are even drugstore finds.

Here, five key products Williams always has at the ready.

Amazon

Mineral Air Foundation

Williams says this is a newer staple in her arsenal, but it quickly became a favorite: “I started using this and I was getting so many compliments on my skin, like I used to get when I was 30. [Editor’s note: Her skin is gorgeous.] It would stay matte all day but with a healthy glow, which is everything to me. Sometimes with celebrities, I use it as a base and build off it because you need a little more coverage for red carpet, photoshoots and TV. It’s beautiful on legs, neck, or décolletage. I mix that with crème foundations.” It pours into a spray apparatus for air-brushed (but natural) coverage.

BUY IT: ($150)

Amazon

Anastasia Brow Definer

A self-described brow fanatic, Williams says, “Anastasia changed the game. You can actually use a retractable pen on your brow and it doesn’t look like you’re using a pen, it looks like hair.” That’s definitely the goal.

BUY IT: ($36)

Amazon

L’oréal Paris Voluminous Original Mascara

When it comes to mascara, Williams says you needn’t shell out the big bucks for designer brands. A drugstore run will give you lashes for days and save some shekels.

BUY IT: ($6)

Amazon

Maybelline Makeup Volum’ Express The Colossal Washable Mascara

The Voluminous mascara isn’t Williams’s only go-to. In fact, she mixes two budget brands: “I mix the Colossal lash and Voluminous. I always say, do six coats and then do two more.”

BUY IT: ($5)

Sephora

Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Like her philosophy on mascara, Williams says it’s good to have a couple foundations on rotation. “I’m obsessed with Armani foundation. Sometimes I mix it with Makeup Forever HD [foundation] for red carpet. But for my everyday clients I usually put them in an Armani base and add Mineral Air on top.”

Now excuse me while I go revamp my makeup bag…

BUY IT: ($64)

Lex Goodman

Cat mom, yogi, brunch enthusiast

Lex is an LA native who's deeply obsessed with picnics, Slim Aarons, rosé, Hollywood history and Joan Didion. She joined PureWow in early 2017.

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