Sunday Riley is proud to be the official skincare partner of Milan Fashion Week. We’re ringing in the semi-annual event with exclusive interviews featuring industry-leading beauty pros and experts, as well as backstage facials at shows like Alberta Ferretti.
For the second season in a row, Sunday Riley has partnered with Alberta Ferretti for a skin-first approach to the beauty looks sent down the runway. Known for their breezy, delicate fashions that once put pinks and ivories at the forefront, Alberta Ferretti took the “new year, new me” approach when it came time to debut their Fall/Winter 2023 collection during Milan Fashion Week. While sartorial aficionados are used to something much lighter from the designer, this year’s show played off its “After Dark Blooms” theme with floral-inspired designs that boasted charcoals, reds, and dark browns.
Fresh Subtlety
The makeup looks, however? They paid homage to the creamy hues that have always defined Alberta Ferretti, and simultaneously gave each ready-to-wear ensemble its moment on the runway. The brand enlisted Kanako Takase, a sought-after makeup artist whose work has been featured on countless magazine covers — including Rihanna’s (literally) bumpin’ Vogue cover in May 2022 — to seamlessly tie it all together.
Kanako — who worked under the legendary Pat McGrath early on in her career — also took a turn from her usual bold aesthetic she’s previously called “not perfect and not planned.” But, as is true with everything else in life, there was a reason behind this change as well.
“We wanted to keep their faces fresh, but also wanted to give them a glaze,” Takase told the Sunday Edit of the idea behind the show’s subtle makeup look. “In order to do so, I kept the lids clean and roughly smudged the corner of the eyes with a touch of a finger.”
Ready to Glow
But before the models made their way to Takase to get their makeup done, Sunday Riley facialists worked their magic with “Runway-Ready Skin” facials. Using “[a] skincare product that helps skin turnover is very important” when it comes to implementing a good skincare routine, according to Takase. The same can be said for creating a makeup-ready canvas. Our facialists used a handful of our cult-favorite products:
- The routine began with a deep and nourishing cleanse, courtesy of the Ceramic Slip Cleanser. It’s a gentle, plant-based facial wash that wipes away any trace of their previous show’s makeup look without stripping their skin.
- Next came a sweet, re-energizing spritz of the Pink Drink Firming Resurfacing Essence — a peptide-infused “power drink” that gives stressed-out skin antioxidant support and rebalances the skin’s natural microbiome.
- This was followed by a gentle exfoliation made possible by our best-selling Good Genes Glycolic Acid Treatment.
- Auto Correct Brightening and Depuffing Eye Contour Cream to depuff eyes and banish undereye circles — and at this point in the Fashion Week game, it was a must for the models.
- The finishing touch to the facial was a healthy dose of ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream, which is packed with ceramides that replenish hydration — a must for running around from show to show in the cold winter air.
Building on our previous chat with Takase during Spring/Summer 2023 Fashion Week, Takase maintains that bold looks will continue to reign supreme in the coming months. “I have seen many makeup artists giving a bold eye makeup look this season,” she says, while also offering her own personal advice: “Decide what kind of base makeup to apply and also blend well. And avoid filling in the eyebrows too much,” shares Takase, adding she’s not a fan of adding too many layers of base makeup because “it makes a face appear flat.” Noted!
Something that never goes out of style? “Good hydration and wearing sunscreen are a must during any season.”
We only recommend products we have independently researched, tested, and loved. If you purchase a product found through our links, Sunday Edit may earn an affiliate commission.
