The foundations celebrities swear by for flawless skin on the red carpet

Ever tuned into the chaos of a red carpet event only to be met with a parade of cool-as-cucumber celebrities sporting angel-like flawless skin?

Yeah, same. And what we want to know is – how do they do it? 

What’s the secret to camera-ready skin that looks picture perfect from every possible angle?

Well, turns out it might be as simple as investing in a decent foundation formula (though we’re sure a facial with one of Hollywood’s finest aestheticians surely can’t hurt either). 

Here, at BEAUTYcrew we've taken the liberty of hunting down our most beloved celebs' favourite beauty products so you can embrace a bit of red carpet glow in your own life. From their mascara, to their perfume, we've found all the standout products in an A-lister's beauty collection — here are nine celeb-approved foundations we think are worth buying.

Sydney Sweeney

Much like her Euphoria co-star and on-screen sister Maude Apatow, Sydney Sweeney is obsessed with Armani makeup. The brand's best-selling foundation is her go-to for red carpet events, as well as her days off. 

"I have learned everything I know from my makeup artist, Melissa Hernandez. She introduced me to Armani makeup. I owe anything I know to her," Sweeney told Marie Claire. "It depends on how my skin is that day, but I'll either do a light, light layer of the [Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation in shade 5.75] ($115 at The Iconic) or I’ll just do their concealer and spot cover-up."  

Margot Robbie

“If I go to events I use Suqqu Foundation ($100.98 from Cult Beauty),” Robbie told Vogue UK. “That sh*t doesn’t come off.” 

“It looks like skin, but it doesn’t budge,” she admitted. “I haven’t found another [red carpet] foundation that stays on like that without looking heavy.” 

Zoë Kravitz

Now, if you've been blessed with flawless skin like Kravitz, you probably don't need to wear foundation every day. Instead, the actress and director likes "to balance things out" with Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat Radiant Touch Highlighter Pen ($79 from The Iconic). "I love this stuff because it's light and just kind of brighten things up," Kravitz told Vogue. "This is great for a happy medium of just covering little spots."

Nicola Coughlan

Coughlan gave fans a sneak peek into her makeup bag in a 'Beauty Secrets' segment she filmed with Vogue in May. While she was spilling secrets about working on the Bridgerton set, she also happened to let slip that she's a massive fan of Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Fluid Foundation Natural ($203.64 from Cult Beauty). "I love this foundation by the way," Coughlan confessed as she patted her skin with a Beauty Blender ($34 from Sephora) soaked in Evian Eau Mineral Brumisateur Spray ($8.99 from Chemist Warehouse). Considering the formula harnesses the power of innovative Japanese technology to improve the appearance of skin, and promises up to 24 hours of wear time, we're not surprised it's Coughlan's go-to.

Hailey Bieber

New mum Hailey Bieber has been wearing a more laid back base since giving birth to her son Jack in August. In a recent TikTok, the Rhode Skin founder shared her updated everyday makeup routine with her followers, and subsequently broke the Internet a bit when she revealed she mixes the Dior Forever Skin Perfect Multi-Use Foundation Stick ($99 from Sephora) with Rhode's Glazing Milk (USD$30 from Rhode Skin). Unfortunately, the luminously hydrating, lightweight essence isn't available in Australia, but TBH Skincare Rebound Skin Milk Redness Relief Toner ($29.99 from Priceline) is a worthy alternative that you can use for a similar effect.

Anok Yai

Model Anok Yai is really picky about the foundation she uses for one very good reason. "I hate the feeling of foundation on my skin," she said in a 2023 episode of Vogue's Beauty Secrets. "My favourite foundation right now is Pat's [Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation] ($120 from Sephora)," she went on to say, explaining that she sheers out the product with her hands for an ultra lightweight finish.

Sabrina Carpenter

Although Sabrina Carpenter's makeup artist, Carolina Gonzalez, typically uses Giorgio Armani's Luminous Silk Foundation ($115 from The Iconic) to achieve a flawless finish for red carpet events like the Vanity Fair Oscars After Party, the singer likes to look more natural during the day. In a Waking Up With ELLE YouTube video from 2021, Carpenter shared that she likes to apply Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter ($70 from Charlotte Tilbury) sparingly on her days off. "I really love this flawless filter thing, it makes my skin feel glowy," she explained in the clip. "I just put it on my cheeks and then I'll put on my concealer like wherever I feel inspired to."

Nara Smith

Model, influencer and mum of three, Nara Smith, is in the know when it comes to beauty and fashion. So it should come as no surprise that she's fond of a makeup brand that's beloved by beauty aficionado's everywhere. "There's a few things I can't live without and the people that have stuck around know how much I adore Hourglass," Smith shared in a recent TikTok video. "Lately, I've been using the [Hourglass] Veil Hydrating Skin Tint ($77.62 from Cult Beauty), [it's] super lightweight and immediately melts into my skin."

Phoebe Tonkin

In 2023, Tonkin featured in an episode of Vogue's Beauty Secrets YouTube series, and shared that her foundation of choice was Chanel's Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint ($117 from David Jones). "I do like to see a little bit of my skin underneath, so that's why this foundation is nice because it's not super, super heavy," she explained in the video. "I also have always had kind of darker circles under my eyes — even when I've had 10 hours of sleep — and it was like 10 years ago that I started embracing my dark circles. They're just part of my face, and so I don't try too hard to cover them up."

Main image credit: Getty Images

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