Olsen twin beauty 2.0 - skin, makeup, fragrance, nails
"The classic Peter Lindbergh black-eye smudge"
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Hi, I hope everyone is having a beautiful Sunday.
A few months ago, I shared a Substack about the Olsen twins and their perfect hair, specifically how they style it. It resonated — the post has 17,000 views so far — so I thought it fitting to redirect my investigative journalism (lol) towards the remainder of their beauty routines, namely makeup, skincare, fragrance and manicures.
Olsen twin air dry lore
Uncovering the inner workings of the Olsen twins’ beauty routine is the editor equivalent of Pandora’s box. Imagine a ‘what’s in my bag’ only it’s Ashley with a Margaux pulling out her favourite lipstick… I would probably pass away.
We don’t know a lot, but what we do know is VALUABLE information. All of which I’ve compiled, below:
Skincare
They love Biologique Recherche…
There’s a bit of evidence to suggest Mary-Kate and Ashley love BR. They know. My favourite is the pap shot of Ashley holding a box of what appears to be a BR moisturiser (maybe, maybe it’s Biofixine?). I feel as if she left Rescue Spa in NYC, and bought this on her way out. I think this image was taken on her birthday? A facial on your birthday is PERFECT.
I love this page from a back issue of Lucky, as well… Rodin Olio Lusso face oil (RIP), Brave Soldier Lip Defender and coconut oil (I wrote about their apparent love of coconut oil for hair here, as well).
Products that double as decorative objects
Remember when the Olsens curated beauty at The Row? As per ITG, products included Santa Maria Novella baby wash and shaving cream, Serge Lutens kohl liner and mascara, Vilhelm Parfumerie (in Smoke Show) and Rodin oils.
"There's something for everyone, make-up, shampoo, shaving cream, soap, bath oils, baby cleanser..." — Mary-Kate to ITG
ALSO, at The Row in Amagansett, there is a shelf of Santa Maria Novella amenities including the rose water mist, this shaving cream, this hand cream, Idrasol body cream… You can see the photo for yourself on Habitually Chic, another great Substack. It’s behind a paywall and an original image, hence me not sharing it here. But such a great post, worth hitting subscribe.
Also, on Santa Maria Novella, it’s an Italian brand known as the world’s oldest pharmacy. It was established by nuns in Florence in 1221. If you live in Sydney, they have a beautiful store in the Strand Arcade. I’ve heard rumours that the scented Armenian paper burns in The Row boutiques, too.
The takeaway? Olsen-approved beauty products must also double as Objets d'art. Because of course.
Makeup
The early days (bronzer, strobed skin)
No one was immune to the early 00s makeup aesthetic, not even the Olsens. But instead of matte mousse and concealer lips they pioneered strobed skin and lots of bronzer. Very chic of them.
Makeup artist Pati Dubroff posted a great video series about their makeup in the early 00s — specifically Ashley’s ethereal angel skin, and Mary-Kate’s rock and roll vibe.
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The ‘Peter Lindbergh smudge’
MK+A also love a smudged, smoky eye, especially from 2010-ish, onwards. There’s a quote in Allure Magazine from 2014 I find incredible — when asked, ‘what’s the best tip you learned from a makeup artist’, they answer, ‘the classic Peter Lindbergh black-eye smudge, because we look shy.’ Lindbergh was a Hollywood photographer, mostly known for shooting supermodels with raw skin and a smudgy eye. He never retouched his images, either.
Based on available evidence, we can assume they like the Serge Lutens kohl, which I can’t seem to find on any legitimate websites, only this one.
A nude lip (not too pink, not too brown)
So sometimes, the Olsens wear a red lip. But mostly, it’s nude. BUT not just any beige or taupe or pink. It’s CUSTOM. Ana Marie Rizzieri, another long time MUA of theirs, shared a bit about lip colour for VOGUE. “What works for them is bushy, brushed-up brows; contoured cheeks; and a nude lip that’s “not too pink and not too brown.” “They really love it to look almost like their own lip—but more earthy.” Mood.
Apparently, they love La Mer Lip Balm for prep, Make Up For Ever lip liner in 3C and Chanel pencil in Mordoré Nude (sadly, discontinued). Also, re lip shade, Rizzieri used Serge Lutens Lip Palette 2, which is also hard to find. But I think the lesson we can learn here is not too brown, not too pink and NOT GLOSSY. That would probably cheapen the entire vibe.
Lashes = chunky
Despite their preference for mostly low-key makeup, lashes are always thick and chunky, even today.
The Amazon Olsen Twin concealer you’ve never heard of
I remember an episode of Eyewitness Beauty, where Annie mentioned it was discussed in the Glossier offices that the Olsen twins’ loved the ‘ILLUMINARÉ Concealing Mineral Foundation’ (often referred to now on the Internet as The Olsen Concealer). Truthfully the reason I waited so long to publish this Substack is because I was waiting for mine to arrive via Amazon but my order was cancelled TWICE. I guess we need to simply trust that it’s incredible.
They also love Clé de Peau
Another classic Japanese makeup brand that always gives rich girl skin energy. I love the concealer.
Fragrance
The Olsens have both sold fragrance, and shared some of their favourites, including Vilhelm Smoke Show (you can buy it at Mecca). First they had Elizabeth & James, which was actually very sophisticated against the celeb fragrance landscape at the time (this was the peak Brittney Spears Fantasy era, when everything was a sickly sweet gourmand). The scents were unisex, and Mark-Kate mentioned in an interview on Byrdie that the unisex vibe was partially inspired by a friend of theirs who wore Tova, an ‘incredible musk’. BUYING AS I TYPE.
Now, The Row has its own trio of perfumed oils, ‘R’, ‘O’ and ‘W’. Interestingly they aren’t currently live on The Row website. Each is by the perfumer Haley Alexander Van Oosten, who also has a studio type space in LA called L’Oeil Du Vert where she sells fragrance and scented objects, as well as accepting custom projects (can you imagine!!!!). I tried ‘O’ in the NYC boutique when I was trying to buy a dress for my wedding (fun fact — Jennifer Garner was in the change room next to me and helped me into the dress! Honestly, it was awful on me but she INSISTED I but it and I ALMOST DID BECAUSE JENNIFER GARNER). Dress below.
But back to the perfume, it was incredible. The price? Maybe not. But still, this is the brand that charged $750 USD for a white t-shirt…
Bonus: Nails
Okay, Olsen nails. When it’s not a naked manicure, it’s bright red, blood red or very dark purple. No exceptions. I suggest OPI Big Apple Red (true red), Lincoln Park After Dark (deep black-purple) or Blues For Red (blue-toned dark red).
I hope you loved. Any intel you have that I have missed, PLEASE divulge below x
Another incredible Olsen post, total smudged eye perfection. I miss Lucky magazine.
Epic ♥️