In the film industry, the Cannes Film Festival [1] is basically the unofficial start of Summer. A-list actors and directors — and more recently top models and social media influencers — from all over the world gather in the South of France to preview new movies, many of which will go on to become award winners in the coming year.
The week-long film festival is jam-packed with events. There are dinners and galas, photocalls and screenings, parties and afterparties, and of course, the step-and-repeat on the red carpet [2]. The red carpet at Cannes is quite possibly the most glamorous red carpet of the year, so it's no surprise that along with all those actors, directors, models, and social media stars comes an army of hair and makeup artists to help get them looking their best. One of those makeup artists, New York City-based Vincent Oquendo, has a particularly jam-packed week as many of his regular clients — models Bella Hadid (who's already been owning the red carpet [3] this year), Elsa Hosk, Izabel Goulart, and Winnie Harlow to name a few — are Cannes staples.
This year, Oquendo took a few minutes out of his busy schedule to share what it's like being a beauty pro at the Cannes Film Festival, including taking us behind thescenes of the glam process with two of his girls: Hosk and up-and-coming actress Leyna Bloom, who stars in the much-anticipated film Port Authority.
Leyna Bloom at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
"We looked at old images of Eartha Kitt, Lena Horne, and Diana Ross," Oquendo said of the inspiration behind Bloom's look for the afternoon photocall of her new movie, Port Authority. "It's a Romeo & Juliet-style of love story set in the New York City Ball scene of the '80s."
Leyna Bloom at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
"It was important for me to play up Leyna's natural beauty, which we did by using touches of iridescence and metallics," said Oquendo.
For the eyes, that meant a mix of three different shimmery shades — Solar, Cosmic, and Lunar — of Shiseido's Aura Dew shimmery cream pigments [4] (£28) that he pressed onto her lids, along with a flick of brown liner traced along her top lashes.
Leyna Bloom at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
Most of the focus of the makeup, however, was on Bloom's skin — although the only base product that's on there is concealer, if you can believe it. "We just spot-treated with concealer because she has such beautiful skin," Oquendo said. "Then we added tons of highlighter, contour, and setting powder." He also buffed Shiseido Inner Glow Cheek Powder in Cocoa Dusk [5] (£32), a warm, rosy-taupe hue, across her cheeks (Oquendo is a spokesperson for Shiseido).
The secret (in addition to Bloom's naturally dreamy complexion, that is) was less in the products Oquendo used and more in how he used them. "In between each base layer, I'd spritz her face with the Eau Thermale Avene Thermal Spring Water Spray [6] (£8.50) and then buff, buff, buff the product in with a fluffy brush. I did that about three times — it's honestly the best way to make the skin look superdewy and glassy-looking."
Leyna Bloom at 2019 Cannes Film Festival
"I mean, how major was this moment!" said Oquendo laughing.
Leyna Bloom at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
Here, Oquendo captured Bloom with his Polaroid camera before she went off to her second event of the day — a dinner with the Kering Group, the company that owns brands like Gucci and Saint Laurent.
Oh, and by the way, according to Oquendo, Bloom did her own hair for the day — something she does quite often.
Leyna Bloom at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
For the evening, Oquendo amped up Bloom's makeup with more shimmer, more shadow, and a touch more base, buffing Nars Sheer Glow Foundation [7] (£33.50) all over and adding a few dabs of cream concealer.
On the lips, Oquendo applied a beige-y gloss, the Shiseido Lacquer Ink Lip in Electro Peach [8] (£25). "We wanted to just make sure the lip colour doesn't overpower her entire look."
Elsa Hosk at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
Oquendo shifted gears with this second client of the day. Whereas Bloom's makeup was all about shine and glow, with Hosk he kept her makeup on the matte side of the spectrum. "Her skin had a velvety finish, which we did by using a very light layer of Nars Sheer Glow Foundation and topping it with powder," he explained.
"We kept her eye shadow very, very matte and used very pale colours," said Oquendo. After laying down a base of white cream shadow all over her lids, he then buffed taupe-coloured powder shadows on keep the whole effect "creamy and pastel."
Elsa Hosk at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
Here, Oquendo posed with Hosk and her hairstylist Benoit Moeyaert, who used extensions to create her braided headband and Leonor Greyl Spray Structure Naturelle Hairspray [9] (£24) to keep the entire style in place.
Elsa Hosk at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival
Oquendo did a little makeup magic to ensure Hosk looked like she was glowing from within. "I started by adding a layer of cream blush to her cheeks, the formulas of which had a bit of shine," he explained. "Then I laid a matte powder blush on top so that the matte was the dominant texture, but there was still a hint of shine."
And while the entire look was based around matte, velvety textures, Oquendo made sure to add dimension by varying the levels of matte on each feature. "On the eyes, it's super matte, the cheeks are demi-matte, and the lips we thought to do creamier." He applied a matte lipstick and then pressed the Shiseido Crystal Gel Gloss [10] (£22) on top, which gave her lips a touch of shine without looking too glossy.
