Like every single other human I know, I am completely obsessed with Adele—her personality, her music, and, being the beauty-obsessed human that I am, her quintessential makeup vibe. Think full, fluttery lashes, buttery lips, a glowing, perfectly sculpted complexion, and perhaps most famous of all—that signature winged eyeliner. Basically, if I could become any celebrity for a day and copy their exact beauty aesthetic, it’d be Adele’s. Can you blame me?!
Of course, since this isn’t Freaky Friday, I can’t actually switch bodies with the singer. That said, I am so lucky to have access to the amazing artists who have helped curate her look over the years. Enter: celebrity makeup artist and beauty expert Michael Ashton who’s credited for creating that aforementioned signature beauty look Adele’s become globally known for.
“My work with Adele spanned over 13 years, starting just before the release of her first album “19” and continuing through “21”, “25”, numerous iconic television appearances, award show red carpets, and several world tours,” he shares. “After being introduced through a mutual friend in 2007, I popped over to her house to trim her fringe, and she asked if I could do a quick bit of eyeliner for her before she went to meet friends—the eyeliner obviously got the seal of approval and the rest, as they say, is history.”
Since I adore Adele, Ashton, and his amazing artistry, (and because the singer’s birthday is just around the corner on May 5th!) I couldn’t resist asking Ashton to share his best tips, tricks, and product selects for those of us who want to channel Adele’s iconic beauty aesthetic at home. Keep scrolling for everything you need to know.
“Skin prep and skincare is key!” says Ashton right off the bat. “I’m a huge fan of facial oils and balms that really nourish the skin so it is hydrated and doesn’t lose elasticity. Spending extra time using the right skincare before complexion products like foundation and concealer will really amplify your natural radiance. I’m a huge fan of brands like Decléor and Caudalíe as well as more accessible drug store brands including Embryolisse, CeraVe, RoC, and La Roche-Posay.”
“Product cocktailing is key to achieving the intensity and opaqueness of Adele’s signature eyeliner look,” says Ashton. “Always start by outlining the shape of the liner, working from the inner to the outer corner of the eye with a black gel liner. Then, work the product right into the root of the lashes and then build thickness gradually. Once you’ve finished creating the desired shape, use a waterproof liquid liner with a precision tip to intensify and refine the line, finishing by winging the end of the liner last upwards at a 45-degree angle. I love the below products from Chanel and MAC Cosmetics—they’re the perfect power couple!”
“If you make any mistakes, use a super-fine cotton tip dipped in micellar water to gently clean up without disturbing the rest of the makeup,” Ashton instructs.
“If you want to add even more drama to Adele’s iconic look, I always like to use customized lashes, cutting of the inner third of the lash strip to give the eye shape a more youthful, lifted, and elongated look,” Ashton notes. “Red Cherry and Stilazzi have fantastic styles to choose from and Duo Lash Glue in Black allows for a seamless application that gives added color density to the base of the lash.”
“Contouring and highlighting the face is the ultimate way to create true, three-dimensional polish,” shares Ashton. “Contouring is another step where cocktailing your products really helps to enhance your skin with lots of beautiful depth. I always start by using a creamy contour stick in a deep-brown shade, applying the product first to the back of my hand and then buffing it into the skin using a natural hair foundation brush. Start right underneath the cheekbone toward the center of the face and move through the temples and around the hairline. To finish, trace it lightly down each side of the nose.'”The second stage is to go back over using a powder and an angled blusher brush in a circular buffing motion to set and soften your work. I have a palette of contour colors, which are a mixture of matte shadows, blushes, and bronzers as well as some with soft reflective finishes. I like to mix them together depending on the finish I’m wanting to achieve. That said, to achieve added dimension at home, I recommend using Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Contour Wand to begin and follow up with Smashbox’s Contour Palette.”‘
“Lashes and liner is a timeless classic that pairs just as well with both a neutral shade or bold pop of color on the lips,” Ashton concludes. “Apply lipstick directly from the bullet for maximum payoff and then go back in using a lip liner to shape and define the edge of the lip. MAC’s Lip Pencil in Boldly Bare is an absolute makeup kit must-have for creating the illusion of a full and defined pout, without being too obvious, and when it comes to lip color, Valdé Beauty’s Lipsticks are my go-to. They’re housed in the most beautiful refillable armor, and the formula gives instant, long-lasting payoff. The shades Mercy and Truth are the perfect flattering neutral shades for any skin tone.”
“This foundation is an MVP in every makeup artist’s kit and for good reason! It’s lightweight, buildable, and creates a flawless but realistic-looking finish to the skin that’s perfect for every day as well as red carpets and events.”
“As a celebrity makeup artist, having products in my kit that perform and can do double duty is key. I love this formula as it’s incredibly hydrating on the lips and also looks beautiful when used as a flush of color and sheen to the cheeks.”
“Defined brows help to frame any eye look, and I love the shape of this blade-like pencil that allows for super-precise application. The built-in spoolie is perfect for brushing brows into shape before you go in with brow gel.”
“For creating a soft but dramatic eye quickly, these pots of metallic cream shadows are perfect. Try mixing and matching different shades to create your perfect hue and then buff metallic eye shadow on top for an expensive-looking finish.”
“Full, fluttering lashes finish off any beauty look. This mascara has been in my kit for years and delivers every time.”
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