'The make-up and skincare process was instinctive,' shares Gina Kane, the artist behind Emma Corrin's latest ELLE UK cover shoot for which the Seagull and Black Mirror star strips back the layers, dressed in Miu Miu and archival Cartier jewellery, and a beauty aesthetic that centres upon their natural skin and minimal make-up.
Corrin has long expressed an innate love of performance ('it's how I express myself,' they have previously shared) - an act of metamorphosis which often transcends from their ever-changing roles to their own wardrobe and beauty choices. But for their cover shoot Corrin depicts their softer, truer side; their fluffy brows, real skin, and statement, undone pixie cut front and centre. 'My focus was on capturing every nuance of Emma’s unique and natural beauty,' says Kane.
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This was a purposeful move. 'Simplicity, strength, and Emma kept at the centre were very much the aesthetic of the shoot, so we really leaned into this with the look,' shares Kane, who describes the mood for the shoot as minimal and textural.
Understated make-up was central to the storyline of the shoot. 'The texture of the make-up was vital and played a key part in improving the skin, not covering it,' shares Kane. 'Drawing from a palette of neutrals and an eclectic mix of products, the complexion was strengthened and their features enhanced. Transparent highlights were added on the set to reflect the beautiful lighting that Yulia created,' she added. 'The textures of the make-up melted and fused seamlessly together, with natural contours and features playing a beautiful part in the final images.'
Kane describes this subtle technique as a nod to 'the “invisible” makeup trend'. 'It's by no means new but it’s one that I love to execute – layering a plethora of products is like painting a portrait and is a joy to create; the result can be a really empowering and freeing way to wear make-up,' she notes.
Some of the make-up used on set form part of Corrin's own personal arsenal at home, from the Correcteur Visage N Concealer by Clé de Peau Beauté to The Cell Rejuvenating Illuminator in Golden by Victoria Beckham and Augustinus Bader and the TikTok-approved Prada Optimising Care Lip Balm in shade Maple.
Skin health was both paramount for the shoot and for Corrin's own beauty routine. 'Emma has a healthy approach to both their skin and health in general,' says Kane. 'On set, we started calmly and holistically with a facial massage and skin prep before we applied make-up,' she notes, adding that she used The Rich Cream by Augustinus Bader, the cult Bioderma Sensibio H20 Micellar water, Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré and La Roche-Posay's famed Anthelios Uvmune SPF50.
Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-up Removing Micelle Solution
Augustinus Bader The Rich Cream
Prada Optimizing Care lip balm
La Roche-Posay Anthelios UVMune 400
'Emma is somewhat of a beauty chameleon, and they approach beauty with an open mind, which is exciting when we are creating looks for shoots. On the other hand, they are a free spirit, so on days off, they love to run around make-up-free and with no fuss and only a lip balm in the pocket,' shares Kane.
Read the full Emma Corrin interview here. This interview also appears in the May issue, available on newsstands from April 17.
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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.
