If you need a peg to turn to when creating a glowing makeup look, Kelsey Merritt is your girl! Just scroll through her IG grid, and you'll often see her with a dewy, sculpted complexion and a sun-kissed flush. Lucky for us, the Fil-Am model gave a step-by-step of her go-to makeup routine on Allure's 10-Minute video series. (Spoiler alert: She uses a lot of bronzers!)
How To Recreate Kelsey Merritt's Glowing Everyday Makeup Look
Before reaching for her foundation, Kelsey likes to apply a liquid illuminator all over her face for that lit-from-within glow.
"I love [Charlotte Tilbury's Hollywood Flawless Filter] because it just gives you such a beautiful glow underneath the concealer and foundation," she explained.
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in 05 Tan, P3,300, Lazada
According to Kelsey, she likes to keep her base light, applying just a little bit of foundation. "I love [showing] my freckles," she said. "I really like this foundation because it's buildable. [Also], I try to avoid putting too much on my nose because it makes you look like you have a lot of foundation on."
Laura Mercier Foundation Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Foundation, P3,400, Lazada
BTW, she swears by Giorgio Armani’s Luminous Silk Concealer because "it doesn’t crease."
Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer, P3,033, Shopee
To contour her face, Kelsey loves using Charlotte Tilbury’s Internet-famous Hollywood Contour Wand. "It's very easy to use and blend," she shared. "I feel like with contour, you want to start with little then keep adding rather than smearing a lot so you have more control over how much you put."
Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Contour Wand, P2,800, MUP Store
Here’s a trick we learned from the US-based model: Right after contouring, use a concealer to further "sculpt" your cheekbones. "I've been doing this recently and I feel like it just cleans up the contour that you just did. It really likes lifts the face," she explained.
Kelsey uses Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Finish powder to set her base: "This is literally the best. It still keeps the glow underneath while setting the makeup that you have."
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish, P2,800, Lazada
To bring back the glow to her skin, she also applies not one but two illuminating powders all over her face.
Laura Mercier Candleglow Sheer Perfecting Powder, P1,950, Rustan's The Beauty Source
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, P3,300, Sephora.ph
If you’re looking for a mascara that won’t *budge*, Kelsey highly recommends Japanese beauty brand Heroine Make’s Long Up Mascara Super Waterproof.
"I used to hate mascaras because I would always look like I cried. It always runs under my eyes until I found this product," she said. "It has its own mascara remover because it's that hard to remove."
Heroine Make Long Up Mascara Super Waterproof, P795, Lazada, Shopee, Beauty Bar, and Zalora
Now, here’s the secret to Kelsey’s sun-kissed glow: She layers different bronzers! She usually applies Chanel’s Healthy Glow Bronzing Cream on top of her contour for added definition. "This just [makes you look like] you've been in the beach all summer," she revealed. Then, she layers it with a shimmery bronzer from Kosas.
For her blush, Kelsey usually goes for a deep mauve shade to complete her bronzy look: "It's a deep color that I like to use with the bronzers. It's not too pink."
Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in Mood Exposure, P2,750, Sephora.ph
Kelsey’s lippie of choice is quite interesting. She uses a violet lip stain that leaves a natural-looking rosy color on the lips when wiped off.
"It's purple. It looks scary at first but it works so fast. Take it off right away," she said. "It gives you a beautiful, natural-looking lip that will last you all day."
Wonderskin Wonder Blading Peel & Reveal Lip Stain Kit in Whimsical, $29, Wonderskin
Watch the full video below: