Want that J.Lo glow? Scott Barnes has the secrets.
In his over 25 years working with Jennifer Lopez — who celebrated her 55th birthday on Wednesday — the celebrity makeup artist has created hundreds of show-stopping looks for everything from the Super Bowl of fashion to the actual Super Bowl.
And while many of J.Lo’s major makeup moments take hours (and plenty of pricey products) to execute, Barnes’ latest secret weapon is both quick and budget-friendly: Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick ($11).
“I started realizing that as my clients got a little bit older, makeup sits differently — especially when you’re doing extended-wear makeup,” the beauty pro, who’s also worked with Celine Dion and Gwyneth Paltrow, tells Page Six Style.
Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick
His solution? After learning Marilyn Monroe used Vaseline as a primer, the makeup master created his own crease-free makeup hack on set: swiping an Aquaphor stick under his clients’ eyes before powder and concealer.
“It keeps everything moist and pliable, and it doesn’t cake up,” Barnes raves of the “amazing” trick, which has since gone viral.
“It’s really great to use on the neck, too, especially if you get the ‘tree rings,’” he adds. “Foundation sticks really well to it … and it gives a nice glow, too, from underneath.”
It’s not the only budget-friendly buy Barnes keeps in his arsenal, either, as he also swears by Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick ($11 $7) — which he calls a “rival” for high-end alternatives — and Super Stay Hybrid Powder-Foundation ($15 $10).
“It doesn’t come off; it’s waterproof, sweatproof … they should just call it ‘proof,’” he quips of the latter.
And when it comes to star-worthy shine, he typically tops off looks with his own Scott Barnes Downright Dewy Mist ($32), a formula he says “literally gives you an instant glow.”
Maybelline Super Stay Matte Ink Liquid Lipstick
Maybelline Super Stay Hybrid Powder-Foundation
After all, he and Lopez just might be the ultimate pros of glow; as Barnes sums it up, “In 25 years [we] have done more than most people have done in a lifetime.”
Even so, the dynamic duo isn’t afraid to take risks — including at the 2024 Met Gala, where the the multihyphenate stepped out with blond mink eyelashes.
“I think probably 90% of people would be like, ‘You’re not putting mink eyelashes on me,'” Barnes says, adding, “We both had this thing like, ‘You’re a butterfly, why shouldn’t you have blond eyelashes?”
“It’s hard to express yourself as an artist if you don’t have somebody [like that] to work on.”
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This article was written by Hannah Southwick, Commerce Writer/Reporter for Page Six Style. Hannah spies deals on actually affordable celebrity-worn styles, puts Hollywood’s favorite labels to the test and finds the beauty products that keep stars red carpet-ready. She consults stylists and industry pros — including celebs themselves — for firsthand product recommendations, trend predictions and more. In addition to writing for Page Six since 2020, her work has been featured in USA Today and Parade.