Having worked across Vogue, Marie Claire and leading fashion and beauty shoots, Celebrity Makeup Artist Kristyan Low knows that great makeup starts before the first layer of foundation.
Models can arrive on set after long flights, early call times and little sleep, with visible puffiness around the eyes, cheeks and jawline. And when there are only minutes to get someone camera-ready, Kristyan focuses on the skin first.
"A lot of the models I work with have been on long flights and are really puffy when they arrive. We’re always rushing to get them camera-ready, so this is how I sculpt them in 5 minutes, lift their eyes and de-puff their cheeks and jaw."
His technique is simple:
1. DRAIN
2. SCULPT
3. LIFT
4. DE-PUFF
5. GLOW
Here’s how to recreate it at home.
1. Start At The Neck
Before Kristyan starts sculpting the face, he begins at the neck using the 5-in-1 Face Pilates Wand.
Starting around the collarbones, use gentle outward movements before gliding from underneath the ears down the sides of the neck towards the collarbones.
“I always start at the neck before working on the face. This helps support lymphatic drainage and gives excess fluid somewhere to move towards.”
Starting here helps prepare the face for the massage movements that follow, particularly when the lower face is looking visibly puffy.
2. Sculpt The Jawline
Next, Kristyan moves to one of the areas where puffiness can change the appearance of the face most: the jawline.
Start at the centre of the chin and slowly glide the 5-in-1 Face Pilates Wand underneath and along the jaw towards the ear. Once you reach the ear, sweep back down the neck towards the collarbone.
“I’m working along the jawline to help move some of that fluid while bringing out the natural definition of the face. I use slightly more pressure here and let the attachment really hug the jaw.”
Repeat for approximately 5 to 8 slow passes on each side, always working out towards the ear and then back down the neck.
The key is slow, deliberate movement rather than quickly moving the tool backwards and forwards.
The Half Face Test
One of the easiest ways to see what facial massage is doing is to complete one side of the face before moving onto the other.
Kristyan uses this technique to compare the jawline, cheekbone and eye area side by side.
“I’m just doing one side to start. Do you see that difference? Amazing. This is why I love The Skincare Tools.”
Look at the overall appearance of the two sides, particularly visible puffiness through the lower face, cheekbone definition and how refreshed the eye area appears.
Then repeat the same movements on the other side.
5. Add Cold Therapy When You Need it
For particularly puffy mornings, post-flight skin or early call times, Kristyan also incorporates the Cryo Glow Globes.
The chilled stainless steel globes provide a cooling facial massage that helps visibly de-puff and refresh tired-looking skin. Glide them across the cheeks, jawline and around the eye area using outward movements.
They can be particularly useful when you want that immediate cooling sensation before makeup.
6. Activate + Glow
Once the face has been sculpted and de-puffed, the focus shifts from facial massage to the quality of the skin itself.
The Serum Activation Wand is designed to be used with skincare, combining Electroporation Technology, LED Light Therapy, Thermal Therapy and Sonic Vibration to enhance serum absorption and support a hydrated, luminous-looking complexion.
Apply your chosen serum, then slowly work the tool across the face from the centre outwards.
The goal is to create the radiance underneath the makeup rather than relying entirely on makeup to create it afterwards.
Why Skin Prep Changes Makeup
For Kristyan, sculpting and skin prep are not separate from the makeup application. They are part of it.
By addressing visible puffiness first, enhancing the face’s natural contours and creating a hydrated base, there is less need to recreate those effects with layers of makeup.
“For me, great makeup starts with the skin. If I can reduce puffiness, bring out the natural contours of the face and create radiance before I start, I need much less makeup to manufacture those effects.”
It’s a technique that makes sense beyond the makeup chair too. Before a wedding, event, photoshoot, dinner or any morning when your face is looking particularly tired or puffy, remember the order:
Get The Complete Makeup Artist Event-Ready Sculpt Kit
Recreate Kristyan Low’s approach at home with the Event Ready Sculpt Bundle, bringing together the 5-in-1 Face Pilates Wand and Cryo Glow Globes.
Three tools designed to sculpt, de-puff, activate and glow, creating a fresher, more defined and luminous-looking base before makeup.
Camera-ready skin starts before the makeup does.
