How does Millie Bobby Brown look radiant, and Kris Jenner stay ageless? Buster Knight reveals the secrets behind their coveted beauty routines—and his, too
Hollywood beauty is often treated like a luxury, reserved for the stars and their elusive, expensive routines. But let us tell you that it’s not the case. That glow might be more attainable than you think, and we went straight to the source to set things straight. Buster Knight is the beauty creative who works with Hollywood heavyweights with the likes of Priyanka Chopra, Kris Jenner, and Millie Bobby Brown, and in this exclusive, he spills the six beauty secrets that keep his stars—and himself—glowing, and how you can make them work for you.
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Behind every Hollywood-worthy look is a master of their craft. As mentioned, the work of this London-based makeup artist has glammed up stars like Ashley Graham, Anttonia, Priyanka Chopra, Kris Jenner, and even Millie Bobby Brown for her wedding day. But beyond the star-studded portfolio, he hints that this red-carpet allure isn’t as complicated to achieve.
Skin Comes First
Good makeup starts with great skin, and it’s something Buster swears by. “Skincare and tools are the basis of good makeup,” he told MEGA. He doesn’t just talk about a good cleanser or moisturizer, but other steps of the prep. He loves his sheet masks—ones from skincare brand 111SKIN—as well as the Dr. LEVY cooling device to take down the puffiness. Then, he massages and tones the face with the Dr. Vali contouring tool.
When Buster can’t use his electronic tools (or if you live in a place like the Philippines where they’re not as easy to get your hands on), he turns to simpler alternatives. “A gua sha or jade roller works wonders. Sometimes, we even just use ice to depuff,” Knight reveals. If it isn’t already obvious, depuffing and toning are must-dos.
No to Trendy Brows
Brows are not one-size-fits-all, which explains why Buster isn’t a fan of the “Instagram brow” trend. “I really don’t like brow trends,” he admitted. “Those solid, drawn-in, ultra-brushed, and gelled brows.”
Instead, he goes for what’s timeless and simple. “I like the brows to be classically beautiful and frame the face,” he says. It’s really that easy: no need for a multi-step brow routine. It’s strongly advised to keep it natural—future you will look back at your photos and be glad you did.
Prime and Set for All-Day Wear
Some like to skip the primer and see it as an “added” step to their makeup routine, but Buster insists otherwise. He tells MEGA: “Always use a primer and a setting spray. It’s key to longevity and skin-like texture.”
His products of choice are the Shiseido primer, which works to improve the skin barrier while keeping it natural and healthy-looking, and the One/Size setting spray. “It’s the only setting spray I use right now. It’s the best!,” he claims. In a humid place like Manila, where makeup melts faster than you’d like, it’s best we trust Buster on this one.
Pick the Perfect Powder
There are a lot of makeup products in the market, but the right one makes all the difference. Buster revealed that the translucent setting powder from Laura Mercier is his go-to.
“I know it works for any lighting, any occasion, and it really helps make the makeup last.” Again, it’s all about longevity here. It also helps give a skin-like finish in photos, which Buster likes. “I use the Translucent Honey [shade] on most skin tones.”
Natural Lashes are In
Buster’s all for false lashes, just not when they look exaggerated. “I love false lashes, but I hate seeing false lashes,” he said. “I like lashes to look real, natural, wispy, and fluffy.”
He rarely reaches for strip lashes, too. To be fair, cluster lashes look more natural. Right now, he loves using the Dark Swan of Denmark lashes, which are about as close to real and fluffy you can get.
Spend Smartly
Lastly, the makeup artist drops a bomb on spending, sharing that makeup need not be expensive to work and use. “I love to mix formulas and mediums, and textures and shades to create what I need, and it doesn’t need to break the bank to create a beautiful look,” Knight shares. It thus becomes clear that you can have all the expensive products you want but, at the end of the day, it’s all how you apply, and not how much you spend.
There you have it—six beauty secrets from the pro. If you ask what we’ve picked up, it’s that beauty’s not about trend-chasing—it’s about finding what works and sticking with it. And maybe that’s the seventh beauty tip: don’t overcomplicate things, because it seems to be that the simplest approach is what keeps stars looking their best.
Photos: 111SKIN, DR. LEVY, DR. VALI, SHISEIDO, ONE/SIZE, LAURA MERCIER, DARK SWAN OF DENMARK (via website)
