You’d be hard-pressed to find a makeup pro unfamiliar with the name Sir John. Over his decades-long career, the MUA and makeup creative director for Kilian Paris has cemented his status as a global artist, showcasing mastery in the use of colour.

And of course, among Sir John’s elite clientele list is Beyoncé, with whom he has worked closely since 2010. He’s behind some of her most iconic makeup looks, including those for her 2018 Vogue cover and the unforgettable Beychella performance. He also also paints the faces of other Hollywood stars like Zendaya, Gabrielle Union, Doja Cat, and Canada’s own Coco Rocha.


As we approach peak festive season, we chatted with Sir John about his favourite looks and makeup hacks to get you through the holiday party circuit.

What a makeup technique that you swear by?

“I like to apply everything with a damp beauty blender and stipple everything. [I put] a little bit on the back of my hand, dial up the coverage where I need it and dial it down where I don’t. If I’m using a stick foundation, I buff it in with a fluffy brush.”

What’s your number one rule for applying foundation?

“Understand your undertone. Know what texture of foundation you’ll need based on the skin type that you have. I love a luminous complexion, but my skin is already really oily so I need to minimize the shine. I like to ‘multi-foundation’: I use a mattifying moisturizer in the centre and maybe something glow-y around the perimeter. Just knowing your skincare concerns and needs will help you buy better when it comes to looking at your makeup arsenal.”

How do you create a great smoky eye?

“If you think about a smoky eye, it’s more or less the silhouette that encompasses the eyes. So it’s not always a dark colour or some blown out gradation of colour. You can give yourself a smoky eye just by lining all around the eyes. When you do that it becomes really feline. It’s mesmeric, it pulls you in. And elongating the eyes past what naturally exists is a way to not only lift the eyes but make them look more expressive as well. It’s one of the oldest makeup tricks. I mean, it predates the Bible. Women in Mesopotamia were doing the same technique.”

What is the one technique that’s making a comeback?

“The use of colour. I coined the phrase ‘dopamine glam’, and what that means is we’re all looking for a dopamine or serotonin hit. So embracing colour—like maybe a whimsical liner—allows us to feel something that’s a little more connected to ourselves. It doesn’t matter if it’s trendy or not—wear it, do it.”

 

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What is your favourite festive makeup look?

“I love beautiful jewel tone eyeliners. They really catch the light. And if you have a non-committal approach to colour, liner is the best way to go. But if not that, I think the holidays are the time to be festive, so I love a little bit of glitter gel. I [also] think blush is one of the most underrated products in our makeup regime. It’s shows health and vitality through the complexion. And it also looks like you have good sex.”

Some people are hesitant to use glitter. What’s the best way to try it out?

“We’ve had so many technological advances in the last couple of years where you can use glitters in a pot or gel form. So you don’t necessarily have to use loose glitter. Don’t use loose glitter—it’s a little too much and it’ll go everywhere. You’ll have it in your house for about a year. Take a brush, get yourself a beautiful glitter liner and apply it to the [corners] of your eyes for a spotlight situation.”

How can we enhance our lips for the holidays?

“Use a liner all over. It’ll give you a great base. Then, you can put a lipstick on top of that, so when you’re eating it acts as a barrier and you won’t eat off your lip colour. And I still love gloss. Holiday time is all about ‘How can I bring a little disco into the daytime? How can I have a little bit more dazzle?’ Shiny lips look hydrated and they reflect light.”

 

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What are your tips for getting your makeup to last through the night when you’re partying?

“If I’m going to do a concert or something like that, I know I need my client’s makeup to stay on, no matter what’s happening. I use a cream foundation instead of a liquid and I use a brush—almost like a blush brush, so something that’s not as stiff or dense—and then buff it in a circular motion into the complexion. After I [apply] my foundation, I take a loose powder with a fluffy brush and then I’ll buff powder into [the skin] so you have that duality. I do that same thing for blush; I use cream blush and then buff a powder blush into it. It creates a Teflon face.”

Name one product you can’t live without.

“Concealer. If I was on a desert island, I would just need SPF and some tequila. But I would say concealer would be next up in terms of saving my life, for sure.”

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