Lily James knows a thing or two about glowy, dewy skin. Although she confessed to me that growing up she had a complicated relationship with her skin and a long journey managing her acne (even admitting to doing a hard stint with Roaccutane), she has found ways to navigate around her skin woes. While mixing it up with some self-esteem juice, she has also learned some great practical tricks along the way.
Although best known for her roles in Downton Abbey, Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again and, most recently, her breaking role as Pamela Anderson (in the Disney+ Pam & Tommy mini series), this Golden Globe nominee is also famous for her killer red carpet beauty looks. So it comes as little surprise that Lily James can be spotted in Charlotte Tilbury's new campaign as the latest ambassador for the brand.
Speaking exclusively to GLAMOUR, Lily reveals the importance of a good canvas, how to use highlighter for a next-level luminous glow and how you can completely transform your skin finish with just a few tricks. “I'm really into my beauty routine," Lily confesses. "I think that you can completely transform your day – like it's outward, but it becomes inward. It makes you feel good, and look good. It's all interlinked in this way.”
When talking about her everyday makeup routine, Lily reveals she prefers to keep things simple. “For normal day-to-day, I like the actual makeup part of it to be quick and easy,” she adds, revealing that a good moisturiser is key. “If your skin is moisturised, then your makeup goes on easier. It looks glowing, it looks bright. As Charlotte [Tilbury] says, you can't have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas.”
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When it comes to foundation, she tells us that she prefers light to medium coverage for a natural-looking base. “I use foundation, but really light, not too heavy, and some concealer under my eyes.” Good eyebrow framing helps balance the face, too. “I brush up my brows. I'm all about the brows. I plucked my eyebrows a lot thinner [when I was younger]. So I’m happy they're growing back,” she says.
But then, the magic happens. “I would put on this new Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Glow Glide Highlighter that really gives you great facial architecture,” Lily says. “You put it on the high points of your face and it kind of glows and sculpts your face and you put it on your nose and you can use a brush or you can use your fingers.” As well as applying it on her cheekbones, under her brows and on her cupid's bow, Lily's secret hack is to sweep highlighter along her jaw.
Applying highlighter on the jawline? That is not something we’re too familiar with, but Lily swears by it. She tells us that, while most people only apply a dark contour there, you can actually do both. “So what this does is recreate that Hollywood look," she says. "Usually when I'm out doing my job, you have a cinematographer and amazing light that highlights the right part of your face. This does just that.” We cannot argue with that.
“I was using it yesterday just to go out. I just put my big hat on, and my face just really glowed underneath it.” Big hat and glowy, donut skin? That is the 2023 energy we’re on.
Here are some highlighters to try for your best dolphin skin yet:
Here are some other beauty products you will find in Lily James' beauty cabinet:
For more from Glamour UK Beauty Writer Shei Mamona, follow her on Instagram @sheimamona
