Her on-screen roles - a Bond agent, Bob Marley’s matriarch wife and a Shakespearean heiress - have proved that whether she’s starring in a Hollywood blockbuster, an indie biopic or TV drama, there’s no character that former ELLE UK cover star Lashana Lynch can’t master.
It’s this same versatility that the Jamaican-born, London-based multi-hyphenate injects onto the red carpet, which can see her experimenting with everything from custom couture and coruscating sequins to baggy jeans and a bold red lipstick.
For the BAFTA’s TV awards, which took place at London’s Royal Festival Hall on Sunday night, Lynch settled on something somewhere in the middle: a statement lip and signature buzzcut, styled with a pale grey leather 16 Arlington dress.
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‘Unfussy, impactful and graphic’ were the three words that Alex Babsky, the London-born make-up artist behind the look, used to describe the beauty references and inspiration for the night. 'For me, when it comes to make-up, Lashana is always striking with a bold, simple statement rather than anything overly detailed or fussy,' he tells ELLE UK.
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That statement, paired with the peplum leather dress and ultra glossy black manicure, was all about the lips. 'On the catwalk, Lashana’s grey 16 Arlington dress was shown with a bright red, patent leather bag which I felt gave the outfit such a boost that I wanted to replicate the effect with her lipstick,’ Babsky tells ELLE UK.
Lancôme Teint Idôle Ultra Wear Foundation
'For the main event - the lips - I layered three different products to make sure the colour stayed put,' he shares. 'I began with a coat of bright red L’Absolu Drama Ink 154, and then waited for that to set fast, before applying several thin layers of L’Absolu Drama Matte 82, blotting between each application to create the boldest, most opaque finish. To top everything off, I then mixed some more L’Absolu Drama Matte 82 with a Juicy Tube to create a rich, red lacquer which I laid over the top,' he shares.
This 'lip layering' make-up hack has been making waves on TikTok as a means t0 create a full and long-lasting finish and works a charm to master that glossy lacquer look seen on the AW24 runways this season.
Elsewhere, skin prep was all about radiance thanks to a glow-enhancing 'anti-stress' cream, while cheeks were given a subtle pop of colour using Lancôme's Blush Subtle. 'Since I knew Lashana’s lips would be the focus of the look, I kept the eyes neutral but defined with the deepest shade (from the Hypnôse Palette 01); I then drew some length outward along her upper lash line with Idôle Liner, and finished the eyes with Hypnôse Drama Mascara,' he shares.
With awards season in full swing, and a slew of bold make-up gracing our feeds, the Bob Marley: One Love star proves that sometimes a subtle statement, some OG make-up heroes and a clever TikTok-approved hack are how to win red carpet make-up.
Lancôme is the official beauty sponsor of the BAFTAs 2024.
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Amelia Bell is the Multiplatform Beauty Director for ELLE UK and Harper’s Bazaar, developing beauty strategy, writing, editing, and commissioning, and leading beauty content across both sites. Amelia has a particular interest in wellness and longevity, exploring the skin-mind connection, and decoding the latest treatments, tweakments and runway trends. She also has bylines for Women's Health, Refinery29, British Vogue, Harrods Magazine, and more.
