by “I learned all things ‘beauty’ through the industry,” Barbara Palvin tells me via Zoom on a sunny winter afternoon. The model is showing her 17 year career, and how far she has come from being a scout at the age of 13 on the streets of Budapest.
Named a Victoria’s Secret Angel, she has walked countless runway shows, from Chanel to Miu Miu and Prada, appeared in editorials for glossy publications like this one, and now, aged 30, is an ambassador for Giorgio Armani Beauty.
Working within a collaborative space often means modeling to create that magical moment, and that’s something Palvin finds herself recreating off-set for red carpet appearances.
“I’ve always been a beauty girl. Red carpets are my favorite events because I love brainstorming with my team for about two weeks before any event,” says Palvin. That ‘team’ often includes hairdresser Owen Gould, make-up artists Charlotte Prevel or Tobi Henney, and stylist Marc Eram. “You have to give credit where it’s due. We usually choose the outfit first and then we send all our ideas and meet in the middle, although we often have similar ideas.”
From a ’60s-style Bardot bouffant to deep berry lips paired with a Lara Croft-style braid, it’s clear that Palvin enjoys experimenting with intricate hairstyles and high-glamour make-up. Ahead, she shares her off-duty beauty staples and a matte finish make-up is often the most elegant way to go.
My beauty philosophy is…
“Less is more and let your inner beauty shine. I know it’s cheesy, but I see it myself – when I’m in a good mood, my pictures look so much better.”
Not every trend works for everyone…
“I like that the stronger lip liner look is coming back, like in the 90s. One I’ve never liked is dewy skin; I couldn’t get into it. I usually like a more matte finish on my skin. Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation will give you brighter skin but we always put a little matte powder on top because I prefer it that way. Some people can pull it off, I can’t!”
I am always inspired by…
“Supermodels. They’re usually on my mood board when I’m getting ready for the red carpet.”
One beauty tip from my grandmother…
“I think she wanted me to drink my milk this morning! She always told me to have a glass of milk to have beautiful skin.”
My current favorite beauty products…
“I like plum lip glosses like the new Giorgio Armani Prisma Glass (launching April 2024). You do a liner and then you put a gloss over it and it makes your lips look a little bigger.
“When I travel, I usually have the Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation. I usually wear brown and black mascara too – black for night and brown for day so it’s more natural. I always have lip balm with me, too. If you go through my bag, there are about five lip balms. Burt’s Bees is my favorite.”
My hair routine…
“I let it air-dry; I don’t use heated tools unless I have to. I put a little oil at the ends of my hair. It has a dry oil spray that doesn’t leave it greasy but adds shine. At work, we also use the Bumble & Bumble Hairdressing Invisible Oil because it protects my hair from the heat and makes it shiny.”
My wedding beauty…
“I just wanted something timeless and natural. We wanted to highlight my features and not overwhelm them. The process was stress, stress, stress, and then you try to calm down on the day of the wedding. And then cry! You need a lot of waterproof mascara.”
My wedding perfume was…
“Something new, really! All the guests received a scented candle from Jo Malone London, English Pear and Freesia, as a wedding favour. Jo Malone London sent me the matching perfume and I loved it. It has a sweet smell. I usually go for a fresher and lighter lemon scent but I fell in love with it. Everyone complimented my perfume that day, and I was like, ‘Well, now you’ve got the candle!’.”
And before my wedding…
“Did the keto diet with Dylan [Sprouse, Palvin’s husband] and my sister. I love many things – meat, fat and not much dairy but heavy cream and cheese. We have a gym at home so we would work out together and then use the infrared sauna every day. The infrared sauna is also good for your health, I try to use it daily. It makes my skin feel so much nicer.”
My beauty advice for future brides…
“Try not to stress and sleep more. Whatever your dream wedding is, it’s the day to live that dream.”
In my endless time…
“I binge-watched Netflix shows. I like to have something cozy in the background, like Gilmore Girls or Friends. I love the holidays. My sister and I love decorating, we put up our Halloween decorations on September 1st and in November we’re getting ready for Christmas.”
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