This is Daniel Kaluuya’s first time running the hectic gantlet of awards season, but we wouldn’t know it. From his bold suit choices to his beauty routine, Kaluuya has emerged a real red-carpet winner.
Kaluuya quickly became one of my red-carpet faves because of his love for strong suit colors—not shying away from burgundies and interesting, unexpected textures and necklines. His Oscars outfit, styled by Mercedes Natalia, was another standout, featuring a nontraditional, caramel-colored velvet Brunello Cucinelli contrast-collar tux jacket that looked beautiful against his skin. Hello, “Posh Kenneth”—except this time, the poshness is real as all get-out.
And here’s yet another reason to love you some Kaluuya: He’s a Fenty beauty fan.
Thanks to his groomer, Amber Amos, Kaluuya nailed that “lit from within” glow on Oscar night that so many aspire to. And the realization that Kaluuya was rocking Fenty (the Pro Filt’r foundation in 480 and 490, to be exact) collectively blew Twitter’s mind.
One Twitter user asked Amos which setting powder she used for Kaluuya’s face, to which the makeup artist replied, “no setting powder babe.”
And then Beauty Twitter’s wigs flew to China.
Because, as you might remember, Kaluuya full-on embraced director Jordan Peele following his win for Best Original Screenplay, and nary a smudge of transfer was to be found on Peele’s WHITE TUX.
I’m nearly as excited watching that GIF as I was seeing Peele win, to be honest.
Amos, who has been working with the very busy Kaluuya since October 2017, gave Billboard the lowdown on how she gave Kaluuya that natural-looking, nontransferring glow: “The most important part is skin prep and making sure his skin is very hydrated because realistically most guys aren’t prepping their skin and they don’t really have a routine,” Amos said. “Daniel is so low-key, every time the goal is to perfect the skin and make him look less tired than he is because he’s doing a lot.”
Here’s the complete routine, which takes about 30 minutes, from Billboard:
Amos first applies a hydrating Lip & Body Treatment Balm from Paula’s Choice, then cleanses and refreshes his skin with their go-to product, Kiehl’s Oil-Free Toner, and then she lightly exfoliates Kaluuya’s complexion with Kate Sommerville’s Clinic to Go Resurfacing Peel Pads.
After applying Kiehl’s Facial Fuel Eye De-Puffer, to help tighten the under eye area and get rid of any potential puffiness, Amos uses Kate Somerville’s DermalQuench Liquid Lift, which is similar to a mini oxygen facial, to push both oxygen and hyaluronic acids into his skin. “It gives a nice boost, and makes sure the skin is plump yet firm and helps lighten dryness from the California air,” she adds.
Next up is more hydration in the form of Kiehl’s Men’s Oil Eliminator 24 Hour Anti-Shine Moisturizer, followed up by a quick sweep of Rihanna’s Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Soft Matte Longwear Foundation (a mix of the shades 480 and 490) using Stila’s One Step Complexion brush #33. Topping off his shine-free look is a mist of Kiehl’s Men’s Oil Eliminator Refreshing Shine Control Spray Toner, followed up with Beautyblender’s blotterazzi reusable shine-eliminating sponge.
It should be noted that this isn’t the first time Kaluuya has rocked Rihanna’s beloved makeup brand on the red carpet. Amos blessed his complexion with Fenty for the SAG Awards, too.
One final tip that anyone can use for an instant lift: Amos completed the look by brushing Kaluuya’s eyebrows upward using a clear brow gel. “A down-shaped eyebrow makes you look weird and angry,” Amos explained. “The gel makes it stay in place.”
And there you have it: Kaluuya, critically acclaimed actor, rising Hollywood star and, also, makeup goals.