Bouncy windswept hair, sun-kissed skin, berry-flushed cheeks and lips… I’ll have what Molly Gordon is having, please! ICYMI, the beloved actress is our June cover star, and her yacht-ready beauty aesthetic is now at the top of my summer to-do list. Feeling enchanted, I asked the actresses’ on-set glam team to reveal their step-by-step process, including every single product that touched Gordon’s glowing skin and hair. Keep scrolling, because I’m about to share every juicy detail.
Given the aquatic nature of the shoot’s setting, it would only make sense that Gordon’s hair would be easy, breezy (literally), and sunlit. According to celebrity hair stylist Barb Thompson, versatility was paramount. “Since Molly was playing different characters throughout the day, I wanted the hair to move naturally with each look. We switched up the parts from the middle to the side, but other than that, we kept it simple. Healthy, beautiful hair was the goal.”
To begin the process and to add a touch of soft volume around the crown, Thompson used Rōz’s editor-beloved Root Lift Spray ($42) on Gordon’s damp, towel-dried hair. For the lengths, she reached for the brand’s Air Thickening Spray ($39) and for the very ends of the hair (which, Thompson says, require more shine and moisture), she applied Rōz’s Milk Hair Serum ($52). Once the hair was prepped with product, Thompson went in to dry with the Shark SpeedStyle Pro Hair Dryer ($190). “I really focused on over-directing the roots,” she tells me. “This not only encouraged volume but ensured all-day staying power—especially being out on the water for hours.”
After Gordon’s hair was completely dry, Thompson used T3’s SinglePass 1.5″ Curling Iron ($150) to style the actress’s hair. Then came R+Co’s Outer Space Hairspray ($37) for hold and Velcro rollers to set the style in place. (Thompson noted that she also used a few Skinny Clip-In Extensions $65 from The Hair Shop behind Gordon’s ears to give her cut more shape and body.) To finish, Thompson brushed and sprayed everything into place using Leonor Greyl’s Volumforme Styling Spray ($36).
To complement and streamline the languid glamour of Gordon’s strands, celebrity makeup artist Misha Shahzada took inspiration from sun-drenched vacation spots like the French Riviera and Lake Como. “Molly’s hair was soft and airy, so I really wanted to keep her makeup bronzed and minimal,” says Shahzada. “The shoot itself also took place on a boat, so I wanted the makeup to feel realistic—low-maintenance, but still glowing and sun-kissed.”
“Skin prep is the most important part of any flawless makeup look,” Shahzada tells me right off the bat. “I typically start by using a skin-balancing toner like Omorovicza’s Silver Skin Tonic ($90) because it’s gentle on sensitive skin and evens out the complexion before layering on your other products.” Next, Shahzada will typically go in with a juicy hyaluronic acid serum like Westman Atelier’s Skin Activator Serum ($150), followed by a creamy moisturizer if the skin is extra dehydrated. Her pick? Augustinus Bader’s The Cream ($190).
When it comes to the makeup, Shahzda prefers to use a lightweight foundation on Molly simply because her skin is “already flawless and requires very little coverage.” (She’s a huge fan of Lisa Eldridge’s Seamless Skin Foundation, $61.) To create some warmth, Shahzada also applied Saie’s Dew Bronze Soft-Focus Sculpting Liquid Bronzer ($26) all over the actress’s face for a subtle tan.
“I kept Molly’s eyes very simple and used the Victoria Beckham Beauty Eye Wear Longwear Eyeshadow Sticks ($34) to add dimension and contour to the eye sockets,” says Shahzada. Next came Chanel’s cult-loved Baume Essential in Transparent ($48) to create a wink of highlight on the lids, and for Gordon’s lashes, Shahzada swiped a few coats of Dior’s Diorshow Overvolume Extreme Volume Mascara in Black ($33). Last but not least came Violette_FR’s Bisou Balm in Bêtise ($29) for a natural flush, followed by Dior’s Rouge Blush & Glow Palette in Dioriviera ($50).
