Benedict Cumberbatch Embraces Makeup
Photo: Splash News/Corbis
Hollywood’s leading ladies often sing the praises of cosmetics for their impeccable appearances, but now Benedict Cumberbatch is drinking the Kool-Aid. The Imitation Game star thanked concealer for his fresh and well-rested appearance on the Golden Globes red carpet Sunday night. “Makeup is a wonderful thing for men as well as women,” Cumberbatch said at the event, noting that he arrived in Los Angeles just an hour before the show began.
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While we’ve seen our fair share of “guy-liner” (I’m talking to you Russell Brand) there haven’t been too many men that have spoken up about the benefits of wearing makeup for every day—let alone many who have admitted to wearing it off-camera.
Celebrity makeup artist and groomer KC Fee, who worked with Ralph Fiennes at the Golden Globes, is starting to see more of her clients reaching for makeup products on their own. “Men are definitely starting to open up to makeup,” says Fee. “I think they are starting to realize ‘wow, I actually look so much better.’“
The shift is also in part due to more brands launching men’s grooming lines, like Tom Ford who’s men’s line includes a liquid bronzer, oil-free moisturizer, and a lip balm.
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When it comes to selecting products, Fee says it’s all about texture. “For men, you need to keep the products very light in texture so that it goes undetected,” she says. “You don’t want full coverage. You want the texture of the skin to still come through and to look natural.” For concealer, Fee recommends YSL’s Touche Éclat for under the eye and a thicker crayon concealer like Tom Ford’s for covering blemishes or shaving nicks.
“Tinted moisturizers are also a good option as long as you keep it thin,” she says. “They are good for evening out the skin tone.” Her favorites include Laura Mercier and Kevyn Aucoin. Fee also recommends using a mattifying product, either a gel or lotion to help cut down shine. “These products will not only cut shine but also even out skin tone,” says Fee.
With Cumberbatch’s seal of approval, it sounds like more men might be reaching for products in the coming year.
