Julianne Moore's makeup artist spills the secrets on achieving a perfect base and bushy brows

She's responsible for Julianne Moore and Margot Robbie's glow-ups. Now CHANEL's makeup artist, Kay Montano, talks to woman&home about the celebrity makeup tips that will elevate your every day look in an instant...

Tip 1: Ace your base

"I've been working with Julianne Moore since the Venice Film Festival, four years ago. I spent a week with Julianne Moore at Cannes in 2019, where we created this look" says Kay.   

"The trick with foundation is to know where coverage is and isn't needed. Most people need coverage around the nose and chin rather than around the hairline and jaw. So whether you use a brush, a sponge, or your fingertips, always start at the center of the face around the nose, and blend outward, until there is no product visible at the outer edges of the face. 

"Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation By Chanel has been a main kit go-to for my grown-up clients for many years as it covers luminously without heavy, often aging aspects of many medium-to-high coverage foundations. 

"Loose powder is also an absolute necessity in any professional make-up artist’s kit. I only powdered Julianne T-zone as the oiliest areas are around the nose, forehead, and chin. I love the skin on the cheekbones to be dewy." 

$47 at Selfridges

Chanel Vitalumiere Aqua Foundation, $47 [£40], Selfridges

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Tip 2: Make sure your concealer is designed for dark circles not blemishes

"I wanted to keep Rachel Weisz's makeup glamorous here, but with an understated elegance as her dress was ultra-feminine. Makeup can make or break an outfit with a strong theme, and I wanted Rachel to wear the look, not the look wear her.

"I used a very minimal base then concealed around the eyes with a little Longwear Colour Corrector.  

"Many people still don’t know that there are two types of concealer- one for the eyes, and one for blemishes.  The delicate skin around the eyes is finer and drier so the concealer you use needs to be powder-free (which blemish concealer is not) to avoid accentuating any fine lines.

"I painted a semi-circle of concealer, from the inner corner to underneath Rachel's eyes, and patted it in with my finger for a seamless finish. To really lift the eye, you can also apply a stroke of concealer from the out corner of your eye in the direction of the ear."

$35.50 at Selfridges

Chanel Le Correcteur Longwear Colour Corrector, $35.50, [£30], Selfridges

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Tip 3: Keep your brows soft and wide

"I’ve worked with Margot Robbie since her press junket for The Wolf of Wall St.

"We both agreed that for this look her make-up should be understated and shaped well. The only strong point was the black liner on her eye and her brows. Margot is very particular about her brows, she loves them wide and soft, which is exactly how I love them, too, so I shaped them subtly with the Chanel Brow Wax and Powder Duo. 

"If you prefer a pencil, make sure it is hard so that the application is sheer and not too warm in tone. An angled tip also means that you have the option of a fine tip to replicate hair,  or a wide edge for a softer, fuller shape. 

"Finish off by brushing the brows upward and setting them with Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze."

$48 at Harrods

Chanel La Palette Sourcils Brow Wax and Powder Duo, $48 [£40], Harvey Nichols

$27.50 at Selfridges

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze, $27.50 [£23], Selfridges

Tip 4: use a matte lip pencil, even for a glossy lips

"The Long Shot London premiere was the first time I’d worked with Charlize so I got the chance to go for maximum impact. She was wearing a stunning couture gown, and it was obvious to me as soon as I saw the dress, that I’d keep the eyes neutral, and paint Charlize’s perfect mouth with the same fuchsia. 

"Few of us have naturally ‘perfect’ pouts, though there is so much you can do to improve the shape of your lips.  Even when painting this bold lip, I still created an outline with a natural pencil first. Shine accentuates any ridges that shape the lips, so use a matte pencil first to subtly tweak lips to look larger, smaller, or more even."