Dame Pat McGrath Shares Her Secrets for a Red-Carpet Look at Home

Originally appeared on E! Online

Dame Pat McGrath knows exactly how to get that classic red lip thing that everybody likes.

The celebrity makeup artist—who has worked with stars like Taylor Swift , Jennifer Aniston and Scarlett Johansson —recently shared her tips and tricks to get a red carpet-worthy look for any occasion.

First things first: “ Never skip skin prep,” she exclusively told E! News over email. “That is your canvas—you want the glow to start at the very beginning.”

Indeed, for McGrath, prep is “everything . ” Her go-to products to perfectly glaze your canvas ?

“I always start with Divine Skin: Rose 001™ The Essence and The Hydrating Glow Cream ,” she said. “Then you’re going to want to blend like a backstage pro. When you have creamy, easy to use formulas—like Pat McGrath Labs—you can blend seamlessly so your makeup becomes a part of you versus caked on top.”

To finish off, McGrath added, “A touch of light to the high points of the face with: Highlighter + Balm Duo .”

As she put it of the concoction of primers, “I think that luminosity screams red carpet.”

READ Patrick Starrr’s Secrets to Long-Lasting Makeup: For Novices and Beauty Experts Alike

And now with summer in full gear , McGrath has two words to the wise: “Weightless textures.”

“Layer light and set smart,” she explains, and to do just that? “ Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Concealer only where needed. Then lock it all in with Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Legendary Glow Setting Spray —it sets, hydrates, and gives that dewy, divine finish even in 90-degree weather.”

Using the aforementioned products as a base, the doyenne of beauty trends added exactly what to strive for when creating the perfect summer makeup look.

“Glossy lips in dimensional neutrals and dialed-up monochrome,” she shared. “Think flushed cheeks, flushed lips, flushed lids —all radiant, all coordinated.”

Since the stars McGrath is known for working with famously love a bold lip, she naturally had plenty of tricks up her sleeve to make those the selling point of any makeup look. First things first, she recommends a “well-blotted, conditioned lip.”

“Then start with our new Legendary Longwear Lip Liner , which will hold your lips all day all on its own,” she explained. “But because I can never stop there, I also love to pair the liner with MatteTrance™ Lipstick or LiquiLUST™ and finish with a touch of LUST: Gloss . Blot between each step—it’s artistry and architecture!”

For McGrath, lips “have the power to hold presence and certain authority,” so you can never give them too much attention in a makeup routine .

“Lipstick is transformation in a single swipe,” she explained. “You could have nothing else on your face and then put on a lip and boom - instant confidence. When I created Elson—inspired by the legendary Miss Karen Elson —I wanted a red that felt both regal and rebellious, a true couture classic. Whether it’s Elson, a divine nude, or a bold plum, the right shade doesn’t just flatter—it empowers . That’s the magic of a perfect lip.”

However, as the saying goes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder—and McGrath emphasizes that the success in any great makeup look lies in what you want. And that doesn’t necessarily mean spending hours in a BeautyTok rabbit hole.

“I always say: don’t chase virality,” she said. “Be gentle, be smart, and most importantly, be you .”

For how to achieve that look, the answer is quite simple.

“Start with emotion—how do you want to feel? Confident? Playful? Provocative? Then consider undertones,” she explained. “If gold jewelry lights you up, you might lean warm; silver might mean cool. But above all: experiment . That’s the magic of PAT McGRATH LABS”

Indeed, McGrath has plenty of products to encourage experimentation.

“Our Legendary Longwear Lip Liner was created for that kind of play—precision when you want it, blur when you need it,” she added. “Its PermaLock Technology gives you waterproof, smudge-proof, transfer-proof performance for 8 hours, while the creamy gel texture lets you define, diffuse, or reinvent your lip look.”

The 54-year-old continued, “Pair it with your favorite MatteTrance™ Lipstick or LiquiLUST™ and watch how quickly you find your signature. Or better yet, create a new one every day.”

Or, if you’d rather recreate, say, a certain “Karma” singer’s signature look, McGrath has tips for personalizing a red lip.

“If you want something cool and classic, a blue-based shade like ‘ Elson’ is perfection,” she wrote. “For warmth and vibrance, try an orange-leaning crimson like ‘ OBSESSED !’ But confidence is the real secret—it’s about owning the red.”

Of course, even McGrath admits that she’s learned a thing or two about makeup from everyone’s favorite cherry-lipped Taylor, as well as beauty influencers like The Lipstick Lesbians and Aditya Madiraju .

“A lot of celebrities I work with are so well versed in makeup already,” McGrath admitted. “I used to joke to Taylor Swift that she should join my makeup team. She’s on it!”

All of McGrath’s clients, she said, at the very least provide her “endless inspiration.”

“They remind me that makeup isn’t just about technique—it’s about transformation, vulnerability, performance,” she said. “I learn just as much from watching their process of stepping into a character or emotion as they do from me."

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