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Following the fanfare surrounding Cillian Murphy’s chiselled cheekbones during the Oppenheimer press tour, it appears that Naomi Campbell has become the latest sculpted complexion to pique the interest of netizens. The legendary supermodel, who was recently the subject of Apple TV+’s illuminating The Super Models docuseries, attended the Formula 1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with her signature plumped cheekbones protruding more than usual.
Campbell’s carved visage is a cornerstone in her makeup repertoire, but the mother-of-two has employed this covert technique to enhance the appearance of her naturally plump cheekbones. Campbell is no stranger to taking style risks, including the 1993 Vivienne Westwood platform boots she donned on the runway and her recent foray into wearing coloured contacts, however, this stealthy trick is one even the most novice makeup enthusiast can practise.
As it turns out, the secret to Naomi Campbell-level cheekbones isn’t contour, or even the cult-favourite Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer that Murphy uses on his face. Rather, the hack is to use blush in a technique makeup artists call ‘draping’.
Campbell herself hasn’t come forward to disclose this surreptitious application manner. However, the presence of candy-coloured pink powder blush across the areas you’d typically apply bronzer is enough proof.
As the name suggests, blush draping involves working high-octane shades like corals and peaches into the apples of your cheek to carve out a portion of your face. Campbell, or more appropriately her makeup artist, has presumably taken two different shades of blush and slowly buffed them into the skin to create a flushed-from-within radiance.
The graduation of colour from light to dark without using contour not only leads to a more youthful glow but a more precise placement of product leading to greater differentiation between the areas that aren’t accented. As any beginner’s art class would tell you, the greater the highlight, the greater the shadow, meaning that the buccal space underneath your cheekbones appears more hollow.
Campbell’s look is also the tamer version of the viral ‘sugar plum fairy’ makeup style popularised by Hailey Bieber. That trend involves strategically placing lurid pink shimmers in isolated areas across your eyelids, browbones, cheekbones and lips. Campbell’s application feels more wearable in everyday situations, while still bringing festive elements to the forefront.
