Ever since starting out in my career as a beauty assistant, I’ve been venturing backstage at London Fashion Week, and being behind the scenes is as busy as you can imaginee. Makeup artists, hairstylists and nail techs are up against the clock to prepare the models for each show (there’s usually someone with a clipboard telling them to get a wriggle on as they prepare for rehearsals), so I always feel for them when we nosy beauty journalists then head backstage to find out all the details on the beauty vision for that show.
Usually, the hair and makeup are sponsored by a brand (such as MAC or Nars), and the MUAs and hairstylists will exclusively use that brand to prepare the models for the show. However, regardless of the beauty sponsor, there are products I see time and again in the pros’ kit bags. These are top-tier professionals who need their products to work and deliver results. Models are often hopping from show to show on zero sleep and subjected to a lot of makeup application and removal throughout the week, so those pros need products that work across skin types and hair textures. Whether it be a hair spray that will hold a style in place or a makeup remover that will effortlessly (and gently) remove a model’s smokey-eye look from the previous show in seconds, there are certain products they depend on in their kits. The good news? They’re all seriously affordable.
After being invited backstage for the autumn 2023 shows, I took note of the 13 cheap beauty products I kept spotting backstage that come with the experts’ approval. See them below.
Weleda’s Skin Food has become a cult product. MUAs love it, as do a whole bunch of celebrities, and I spotted it backstage multiple times this season. It’s a rich moisturiser and makes a great makeup primer if you have drier skin or want an ultra-dewy finish. I saw people applying this all over—on the face and body as well as on hands as nail techs prepared the models’ nails.
This is another iconic product that has stood the test of time. This luxuriously thick emollient is unsurprisingly a mainstay in many a makeup artist’s kit bag, as it has so many uses. It can be used to hydrate lips, add a glossy sheen to cheekbones, tame brows and hydrate dry areas. Plus, a tube of this stuff lasts forever.
You know that ultra-dewy look you see on models? It’s most likely a dab of this. A makeup artist was using this backstage to make the models look like they had been caught in the rain. It also gives limbs a dreamy-looking sheen. A word of warning, though: If you have oily or acne-prone skin, you’ll definitely want to avoid this as a moisturiser, as it’s very heavy in oils.
This is probably the product I see the most backstage during fashion week. This French-pharmacy favourite micellar water effortlessly removes even the heaviest of makeup in a swipe, so I can see why so many MUAs keep a bottle or two in their kit.
While we’re on the topic of French-pharmacy skincare, this is another find I often spot backstage. All of Avène’s skincare is ideal for sensitive or compromised skin, so it makes sense that MUAs keep it close to hand when they’re working on models who are probably on their third show of the day and having makeup applied and removed each time.
Hairstylists call upon this ultra-strong-hold hair spray when they need a style to stay in place. And at this price, I can’t quite believe how affordable this high-performing product is.
This is another regular I see a lot backstage. It has a lightweight, silky emulsion texture that melts so beautifully into the skin and makes any makeup that sits on top look totally flawless.
I’ve been spotting Garnier’s skincare backstage but particularly the micellar water. This is another no-frills makeup remover that just gets the job done.
When models need body lotion, this is quite often pulled out to give a healthy sheen with a non-greasy finish that sinks in fast and, more importantly, won’t transfer onto the clothes they’re about to model.
Lip balm is a must in every MUA’s kit bag, and I spotted many tins of this backstage. This rose salve works for just about everyone and perfectly hydrates lips for lipstick.
When the beauty look calls for a matte skin finish, or the model has oilier skin, this mattifying moisturiser is amazing. It’s velvety soft, leaves skin softly blurred and is suitable for acne-prone skin.
Elnett hair spray is probably one of the most iconic beauty products of all time, and I still see it to this day backstage at fashion week. It brushes out so easily, making it perfect for busy stylists backstage.
As well as the moisturiser, I see the Weleda Skin Food Body Lotion a lot backstage. It’s ultra hydrating and leaves skin looking luminous.
