Hughes is perhaps best known for her enviably glowy skin. And it's not that it's shellacked with heavy products and chrome-y highlighters; in fact it's just the opposite: It looks almost completely bare, except somehow also almost otherworldly in its #filtered dewiness.
Turns out, that the secret behind this covet-worthy complexion is quite simple: "I treat skin care as prep for makeup," she explained. We got to see her work her magic at a demonstration for British beauty brand Elemis and step by step, she held true to this credo; creating the perfect canvas with more skin care products than makeup. Keep reading to see some of her perfectly imperfect no-makeup makeup hacks.
Image via @katiejanehughes
DOUBLE Cleanse, ONCE per Day
Like many, Hughes is a big proponent of double cleansing (she recommends doing the first step with Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Cleansing Balm, $64) — but there's a twist: She only does it once per day. She double cleanses at night, then swipes her face with the pH-balanced Elemis Dynamic Resurfacing Facial Pads, $59, in the morning "to remove any dead skin." According to Hughes, she first started washing her face once per day after learning that that's what Salma Hayek does — and she hasn't looked back since.
Start With a Little Peel
Oh and speaking of those peel pads: Hughes notes that they're a great way to start off your pre-makeup skin care routine. They lightly exfoliate, leaving behind a smoother, brighter canvas.
Don't Forget Eye Cream
A lot of beauty enthusiasts tend to write off eye cream, since many of them don't live up to their claims (honestly, eradicating dark circles, puffiness and fine lines seems like a tall order for any product). That said, don't overlook them for their ability to add a little extra dewiness to your complexion: According to Hughes, a lightweight eye cream (like the Elemis Peptide 4 Eye Recovery Cream, $49) patted around your orbital bone can add a gorgeous natural highlight.
Focus Dewifying Spritzes on the Outer Perimeter
Hughes demoed the new Elemis Pro-Collagen Rose Hydro Mist, $68 (which she describes as a "milky serum mist"), noting that it leaves skin "very, very dewy." Because of this, she tends to focus her spritzing to the outer edges of the face, avoiding areas more likely to get shiny (such as the T-zone).
