Zendaya's 'Greek goddess' makeup was important for this subtle reason

I was recently talking to a wedding makeup artist, who introduced me to the concept of "a second look". For the uninitiated, this is when the bride changes her makeup after the wedding ceremony, wearing a different look for the evening reception.

I was taken with the idea. So much more economical than having a second wedding dress (which is becoming increasingly common), but still a way to freshen up your look.

The idea isn't new in the world of celebrities, who often change their makeup and outfit halfway through an awards ceremony, walking the red carpet in one look and wearing a different one inside the soiree.

But one person who rejected this notion is Zendaya when she attended the world premiere of her, Tom Holland and Anne Hathaway's new film, The Odyssey, wearing a makeup look created by Ernesto Casillas.

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While she switched from a glittering Schiaparelli gown with a marble-esque structured top and fringed ombre skirt to a tiny leaf top with a billowing grey skirt, she kept her makeup exactly as it was.

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Zendaya's Odyssey makeup  

"I wanted to give Zendaya a sun-kissed complexion worthy of a Greek goddess with the eyes pulling in the ethereal nature of the dress," Ernesto Casillas said. "The brief was ethereal goddess, @luxurylaw wanted a glam that felt Grecian but current. Not too done; airy and fresh."

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The MUA told HELLO!: "I prepped the skin with Charlotte's Magic Cream to moisturise and revive the skin, as well as prime ahead of makeup application. To get the flawless look to last, I used Airbrush Flawless Finish Powder to smooth and blur the skin, setting and locking the makeup look into place with the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray."

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As for the makeup? That was a full face of Charlotte Tilbury products, too, including Exagger-Eyes Easy Eyeshadow Sticks and Unreal Highlighter, plus the Fresh, Healthy Glow Stick in Glazed Goddess.

We spoke to makeup artist (and Zendaya super fan) Rose Gallagher for her take on the look – and what made it special enough for Zendaya to wear for two events and a big night out in a row.

"This makeup was more angular than we're used to seeing from her," Rose began. "The brows are sharp, and she's got a very bold, bright highlight in the inner corner to widen and brighten the eyes."

It wasn't just the placement of the highlight that was unique, but the choice of using a matte formula. "It's very modern and is very prevalent in the likes of Zara Larsson's makeup at the moment, as well as in lots of theatrical makeup looks online.

Zendaya's lashes of choice are notable, too. "I loved the cluster lashes," Rose says. "That tiny little technique, rather than using fanned-out, natural-looking lashes makes the look more doll-like."

Learning lessons

The beauty of Zendaya's press tour looks is that beauty is there to be fun. "You can experiment and enjoy yourself, and it doesn't have to be a chore. You don't have to find the colours that work for you or the shapes that work for you. You just wear what you fancy on the day, and that is the whole joy of partaking in makeup play."

Making it last

I marvelled at how beautifully Zendaya's makeup lasted over the course of two events and a late-night parting, and Rose was quick to reassure that despite having the crème de la crème of glam squads, the actress would still need touch-ups.

"The biggest misconception I hear about makeup is assuming it'll last all day," laments Rose. "As your skin gets hotter, it's going to move around. It's not there to last for days and days; it's there as a temporary thing.

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To keep it looking fresh, Rose recommends keeping a tiny bit of your complexion product on you top up, in particular, the T-zone through the day is the key to looking flawless all day.

"If you don't want to take your full complexion product out, take a setting powder out with you and whenever you go to the bathroom, top up your setting powder, again, down the T-zone. That's an area that's most prone to getting hot, oily, and things moving around.

Rose adds: "Top up your lipstick. You wouldn't believe how much more put-together you look when your lips are still immaculate. If everything else has disappeared, topping up your lippie just makes you look like you've still got a full face on. And it doesn't really matter what's going on everywhere else. The T-zone is where the other person's eye will go to, it's where your eye will go to. If that is in place, nothing else is going to go wrong."

With several more stops on the Odyssey press tour to come, we can't wait to see what Zendaya goes for next.