Vanity Affairs: Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Beauty Routine Is The Stuff Dreams Are Made Of

Yes, hello, we’ll take one of everything.

Welcome to Vanity Affairs – an editorial series where we document the early morning beauty routines of notable men and women.

There are some people who have an I-can’t-put-my-finger-on-it kind of glow – a certain je ne sais quoi, if you will. You know the ones – their hair falls just right, their skin is dewy but never shiny, and they exude confidence without being arrogant.

In the interest of public service, we’ve set about tracking these aforementioned unicorns down to find out their secrets. So far, GP has spoken to model Georgia Fowler, personal shopper Gabriel Waller, fashion designer Lillian Khallouf and Queer Eye’s resident grooming expert Jonathan Van Ness (amongst others).

Today, we’re speaking to the one and only Rosie Huntington-Whiteley (I know, right?).

Most of us were introduced to Huntington-Whiteley by way of fashion. Signed to a modeling agency at the ripe old age of 16, it didn’t take long for the British native to graduate from catalogues to runway shows. By 24, she was a household name the world over; a certified supermodel. Forbes estimated her annual earnings in 2018 as $11.5 million – placing her third on the list of the world’s most highly paid models.

Now, at 33, Huntington-Whiteley still models but her heart lies elsewhere: the beauty industry.

Two years ago, she launched Rose Inc., a digital beauty destination. It was a logical progression for the fashion week veteran who has spent countless hours with the best hair and makeup artists in the business. “My favourite time, from my working days, was spent in hair and makeup,” Huntington-Whiteley told Vogue when the site launched. “You can ask any makeup artist: I’m fascinated with everything, I’m trying everything, I’m smelling everything, I’m stealing everything.”

Now, she can add Hourglass ambassador to her list of achievements; she is the brand’s first-ever celebrity ambassador. How did the partnership come about? “I’ve been a fan of Hourglass for about seven years now,” Huntington-Whiteley tells Gritty Pretty. She was introduced to the brand via a makeup artist: “I was so impressed by the products and the packaging that I went out the next day to purchase them myself. I’ve been using them in my routine ever since.” Through Rose Inc., she collaborated with Hourglass, met with founder and CEO Carisa Janes, and the rest as they say, is history. 

After her appointment, the British beauty’s first item of business was to help formulate the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer, a sister to the brand’s much loved Vanish Seamless Liquid Foundation. “The consistency is brilliant,” she says, “It’s full coverage but it also just has this beautiful satin-like finish on skin.”

What else does this supermodel-slash-beauty-entrepreneur consider to be her beauty staples? Thought you’d never ask. Here, every single product Huntington-Whiteley uses in the morning – from start to finish. 

“I fill the basin with some warm water and I use a flannel to warm up my skin. When I wake up, I always feel like I’ve aged 100 years. Then I apply a cleanser. I use iS Clinical Cleansing Complex – it’s a fantastic cleanser with a little bit of salicylic acid in it and great for anyone with acne-prone skin like myself. After that, I pat my face dry with a towel and apply a serum – either the iS Clinical Poly-Vitamin Serum or iS Clinical Super Serum Advance+. I finish up with Biba Daily Moisturiser and if I’m going out, I use sunscreen. I’m currently using the Biossance Squalane + Zinc Sheer Mineral Sunscreen.” 

“I haven’t really worn foundation for the last six months and it’s been really quite interesting to see how my skin has changed. I have less spots and less congestion.”

“I take the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer and I dot it any areas where I want more coverage – typically, around my eyes, nose and any red areas. Then you use a brush – I love the Vanish Seamless Finish Concealer Brush that goes with this product – and just blend it into the skin. Keep applying to the areas you want more coverage. The thing about concealer is that you can just keep building and building; you can get real full coverage.”

“After I’ve done that, I always do my eyebrows. I love the Hourglass Arch Brow Sculpting Pencil – the slanted tip means it’s super quick and easy to fill in my brows. Then I stick them down  with a clear eyebrow gel.” 

“Then, I’ll use a bronzer and I do love a cream blush. If I’m feeling like doing a bit of an eye, I’ll add a few layers of mascara – I love a good lash moment. If I’m going to be out and about all day, I’ll choose a lip that I won’t have to worry about if it fades off throughout the day. The Hourglass Lip Treatment Oils are phenomenal.”

“I think my most worn and most repurchased fragrance would be Gypsy Water by Byredo because it’s so easy to wear. It’s never overpowering and it lingers on the skin beautifully. Everybody that smells it enjoys it. It’s very wearable.”

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