Today is the day. After many moons of waiting, Bridgerton season two is finally out. And while everyone is focused on the plot lines, costumes and set, I’ve got something else on my mind. If you haven’t already binged the lot (I had my alarm set—what can I say?), you might not be aware of just how completely and totally stunning the beauty looks are. From the hairstyles to the glowy complexions, everything about the second season of Bridgerton oozes beauty.
Compared to the first season, the looks are significantly different. This time around, the makeup is notably more wearable. In fact, one particular aspect of the beauty looks had me googling the show’s makeup artist as soon as I saw the first trailer. I simply had to know what product was giving every character’s skin that dewy, lit-from-within glow. And after a bit of research, I discovered that it is in fact BAFTA award winning makeup designer Erika Ökvist who is responsible for the beauty looks across Bridgerton season two.
Alas, I could find no clue whatsoever about what products were used. That was until last week, when I had an email from makeup artist Pat McGrath’s team to say she had a major announcement. Major indeed.
This season, all of the products used on the entire cast of Bridgerton (there are over 140 of them) came courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs. And to be honest, it kind of made sense. I already know that Pat McGrath Labs products are the crème de la crème, so it was no major surprise to learn that the Bridgerton looks I was so taken aback by came from the brand.
As I sat down on a Zoom call listening to McGrath in conversation with Ökvist and Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, I found myself taking actual handwritten notes. So if you fell in love with the Bridgerton beauty look just like I did, keep scrolling to discover the six Pat McGrath Labs products used on basically every cast member and to get a full rundown of some of the most iconic looks.
1. Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Primer
One of the key themes for the beauty looks across the entire cast for season two is bright, healthy-looking skin. It was all about invisible makeup that looks totally radiant. This primer played a crucial role in skin prep to help get a smooth, glowing complexion ready for foundation application.
2. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Foundation
This foundation is considered a totally cult product amongst the beauty community, so it makes sense it went down such a treat of the Bridgerton set. "Everybody wore the foundation," says Ökvist. "It is fluid and invisible. A lot of cast wanted to go home with their makeup on, especially men. They felt so comfortable that the makeup was invisible, and they felt beautiful, radiant and sexy—that is the aim for Bridgerton. It caters to everybody's skin—it was wonderful," she adds.
3. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Concealer
With a similar finish to the Skin Fetish Foundation, this concealer packs more coverage to help disguise blemishes, even out pigmentation and reduce the appearance of dark circles for a bright-eyed look.
4. Pat McGrath Labs Sublime Perfection Setting Powder
Studio lighting and cameras have a wonderful way of making skin appear oily or shiny once foundation has been applied (especially considering the level of skin prep required for a glowing look). A loose setting powder is every makeup artist's go-to on set, and this one was used on all cast members.
5. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder
"When filming inside, the lights would essentially be trying to re-create a room that would have been lit by candlelight. It meant the light would be in different places and sometimes might not have been the very best," says Ökvist. "This under-eye powder helps that situation and makes it quick and easy to get what you want from the eye area."
6. Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Highlighter + Balm Duo
I am already a huge fan of this product, but since learning this duo stick is the secret behind the Bridgerton glow, I'm reaching for it every single day. "With lights, sometimes the face looks a bit flat, but you can use this product to sculpt the face. In the day, I use the balm, and at night, I use the highlight. The cheekbones go straight up to God. It’s so quick to apply. Always have it in your pocket. It’s a saviour for everything," says Ökvist.
Penelope Featherington
Coughlan, who plays Penelope Featherington, had her on-set makeup artist Jenny Rhodes McLean on hand to execute a beautifully radiant look for season two. "In season one, it was important that Penelope had fussy hair, but this time, Jenny got to develop her look and make it more sophisticated," says Coughlan. "It was about making the skin look really glowing and having it match the lavish costumes and incredible wigs. We did loads of skin prep with highlights to make it glow. It was just about looking fresh and glowy. We did a sheet mask every single morning," she adds.
Ökvist reveals Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Divine Blush in Nude Venus was the on-set go-to product for a natural-looking flush. "It's exactly the right amount of blush on Penelope. It looks natural because it is a colour that exists in her skin tones—that's why you can literally load it on while it still looks subtle," she adds.
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Kate Sharma
"The Sharma sisters and their mother are just flawless, flawless, flawless," says Ökvist. "Kate is a very no-nonsense, effortless character. She should look effortlessly beautiful, as though she hasn't put a lot of effort in to look how she does—like she woke up like this."
The hero product for Kate's look was a rosy, nude lipstick, specifically Pat McGrath Labs MatteTrance Lipstick in Venus in Furs. "Venus in Furs shields the DNA of her look. It is beautiful and cohesive with her character and outfits," explains Ökvist.
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Queen Charlotte
Queen Charlotte is without a doubt the beauty moment for Bridgerton season two. "The wigs have their own life," says Ökvist. "They also set the tone for the makeup. The colour of the wig reflects back to the skin and alters the final result. Because of this, her looks cover every single product. With the foundation, depending on the colour of the wig, we might have to use a couple of shades darker or lighter," she adds.
The go-to product for Queen Charlotte? The Pat McGrath Labs Mothership eye palettes. "She used all of them. Every time we did a fitting, she had a different colour wig, and it was like reinventing her look," Ökvist reveals.
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