Cara Taylor’s Guide to Model Makeup—And Fighting Fashion Month Fatigue
You could say Cara Taylor is getting the hang of this whole modeling thing. After being scouted on Instagram at 15, the Alabama native has walked in dozens of runway shows—Alexander Wang, Saint Laurent, Prada, and Chanel to name a few—and is now in Milan for the Spring 2020 season.
To prepare for a night out after a busy day of shows, Taylor starts her routine with a double cleanse, first with an oil to remove any excess makeup from her runway look then with a special foaming cleanser, care of her dermatologist. “My skin is super-duper sensitive,” she says. “So I need something super light and pretty natural so my skin doesn’t break out.” Next, to banish any sign of jet lag or a late-night fitting, Taylor applies a de-puffing under-eye mask followed by a Bioré pore strip. “I mostly use these nose strips just for fun with my boyfriend,” she says. “It’s super satisfying when you pull it off.”
In her three-year tenure as a model, Taylor has gained some serious beauty eduction from some of the world’s top makeup artists. “I learned how to do all this skin-care stuff from just being backstage at shows,” she says while patting on a hydrating serum. “You hear so many people talk about skin care. They give you some really amazing tips.” One of the wise words? “Don’t forget the neck!”
Starting on makeup, Taylor preps her lashes with a quick curl. “I don’t really do foundation,” she explains, “but since I have pimples, I just use concealer on those.” Reflecting on her favorite Fashion Week city, the model says New York is her top choice. “It’s my time zone,” she says. Beyond being able to talk with her friends, it means she’s not jet-lagged, which she says is “a big deal for me because I get it bad.” But this year, the city left her with a cold. To combat it, Taylor takes a shot of a vitamin C–packed ginger and turmeric shot. “This won’t be pretty,” she says. “But it’ll help.”
Next, the model then gives her cheekbones a lit-from-within glow with highlighter and defines her natural brows with a light-colored sculpting gel. Eyes get the evening treatment, as Taylor adds a shimmering shadow at the inner corner of her eye. “I love sparkles,” she confesses. The last step is a swipe of pink lip gloss and spritz of perfume.
“Fashion Week can be stressful,” Taylor says. “You just have to remember to be grateful for it.”
Originally Appeared on Vogue
