The Odyssey is 2026’s answer to a thematic press-tour aesthetic—think Grecian-inspired gowns, sunlit jewelry, and glowing skin. (We’re still not over Zendaya’s Athena-esque inner-corner highlight.) Lupita Nyong’o is no exception. Her character, Helen of Troy, is the crux of the ancient epic, so it’s no surprise she’s been showing up and showing out on the red carpet.
The Oscar-winning actress attended the London, Paris, and New York premieres with unforgettable hair and makeup looks, courtesy of her long-time hairstylist, Vernon François, and makeup artist, Nick Barose. Ahead, we’re breaking down all three of the timeless premiere looks with Barose’s help. Allow us to take you inside the press tour with expert info and an exclusive, behind-the-scenes photo diary.
Skin Prep
“This kind of press tour for a gigantic blockbuster film like this can be quite a beast from traveling international, time differences, etc.,” Barose says, which is why skin prep is paramount. He relies on a few essentials to prep Nyong’os complexion before applying makeup.
“I always start by misting her face with the Kalkay Wild Rose Refreshing Toner ($65), an Indigenous brand that Lily Gladstone turned me on to during her Oscars season. It’s now my and my client’s favorite. Its gentle, refreshing, wild-rose scent is so relaxing, and the best way to wake up all the senses before I start makeup.”
Next, he uses the ZIIP Halo Microcurrent Device ($400). “I love using this, especially before big red-carpet events, like The Odyssey premiere in London, Paris, and NYC. You really do see the difference right away. It’s the perfect prep for the complexion, so your glow really looks like it’s coming from within. The four-minute facial feature gave such amazing effects and only took four minutes so the hairdresser, manicurist, and stylist don’t get mad at me for eating into their glam time.”
As an exfoliating step, he uses Lisa Eldridge’s Luxuriously Gentle Cleansing and Exfoliating Cloths ($16). “I often soak this in warm water, then squeeze until it’s damp and scrub the face, neck, and lips in circular motions to polish and get rid of any possible dry patches before makeup.”
Lastly, he uses Chanel Sublimage Le Sérum($560) , La Crème ($505) La Crème Yeux ($320), and Lip Oil ($365) to prep Nyong’o’s skin. Then, it’s on to makeup.
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London
“The Silver Christian Cowen dress is very vampy and fierce,” Barose says. “I drew inspirations from Hollywood’s very first Vamp screen persona Theda Bara in 1917 ( as well as the later photographs of Marilyn Monroe dressed up as Theda Bara by photographer Richard Avedon from 1958).” Barose created “sultry, dark, vampy” eyes and lips with “razor-sharp” cheekbones. He kept the color palette quite muted, and created defined eyes and lips with fresh, glowing skin as a backdrop.
The look’s stand-out products came courtesy of Lisa Eldridge. First, the Elevated Glow Balm in High Key Light ($38)—”I applied the golden tone highlighter on the top of cheeks and brow bones, as well as the shoulders. It illuminated the skin adding that candle lit glow.”
Next, two black-cherry products. First, he used the Velatura Balm in Hellebore Heaven ($36). “The black cherry balm adds a hint of colour and shine on cheeks and lips.” Secondly, the Rouge Experience Refillable Lipstick in 190 Bohemian Cherry ($59) “for a seductive vampy pout.” He finished off the look with the brand’s Lurex Eyeshadow in Liza ($30), which is a chic, metallic pewter liquid eyeshadow.”
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Paris
“Fun fact: Eartha Kitt also played Helen of Troy on stage in Paris for the legendary director Orson Welles in 1950. [Nyongo’s] flaming red Chanel see-through red dress is giving a bit of Eartha Kitt, so I wanted the makeup to be a nod to Eartha Kitt with her famous Cat Woman feline eyes.” He paired the eye makeup with deep-red lipstick and gold sparkles on the skin for “extra drama and theatrics.”
He started with Chanel’s Les Beiges Water-Fresh Tint ($72) in Deep Plus and Sublimage L’Essence De Teint Longwear Foundation ($180) in BR152, “for the perfect amount of glow and radiance.” Next, he used Chanel’s Joues Contrast Cream to Powder Blush in Grenat Profond ($56). This fresh berry tone adds a hint of flush on the apples of the cheeks.”
Then, he lined Nyong’o’s eyes with Chanel’s Le Crayon Yeux in 01 Noir Black ($36), added full and fluttery lashes with the Inimitable Mascara Intense ($40), and applied a rich lipstick: the 31 Le Rouge in 11 Rouge Coromandel ($198). “This looks plummy in the tube, but on deep skin, it adds the perfect about of rich red that compliments her fire-engine red Chanel dress without being matchy matchy or competing with it.”
Last but not least, he used Chanel’s Les Beiges Sheer Healthy Glow Highlighting Fluid ($56), Hume’s Supernatural Dry Body Oil Mist ($25), (which Nyong’o actually turned him onto), and a little sparkle—Ben Nye Sparkle Glitter in LD3 Gold ($), to be exact. “The perfect sparkles! I sprinkled them on top of her cheekbones and body while Vernon [François] dusted it in her hair too.”
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New York City
“The regal gold lace Nicholas Oakwood Haute Couture paired with the Sabyasachi necklace harked back to those glamorous femme fatales from iconic Sword and Sandal films of the 50s, 60s—think Anne Baxter from The Ten Commandments, Donyale Luna in Fellini’s Satyricon, and of course Liz Taylor in Cleopatra.” Barose created a ’60s-inspired femme fatale look with winged liner, a defined crease, and gold details that paired with long, feathery lashes and angular, arched brows for an “Old-Hollywood screen goddess” effect.
Barose used T-beauty eyeliners (from his home country of Thailand), as well as Danessa Myricks Colorfix Pigment ($22) in Goldmine. “I painted this on inner corners of eyes, center of lids, and a bit on the brow bones,” he says. “The gold details added highlight to the eyes and tied in with her gold gown.”
Then, he used the I-ENVY The Classic Timeless Wispy False Lashes. “I love the long feathery lashes that have spaces in between. They add drama but not density, so the gold on the lids still shows through without being overwhelmed by the length of the lashes. I then glued 2 of the 12 MM Clusters from The Cluster Palette ($15) on the outer corners for extra lifts and feline effect using I-ENVY Super Strong Waterproof Glue ($5), which is a must especially for this sweaty NYC heatwave.”
A major part of the look was defined, sculpted cheekbones. For that, Barose turned to a product from a fellow celebrity makeup artist, Hung Vanngo. “I was on the Odyssey press tour from London, to Paris, and NYC with Hung who’s glamming Anne Hathaway. He turned me on to this [product]. It’s so dark and delicious, perfect for sculpting, contouring cheekbones for deep skin tones.”
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Heat-Wave Makeup-Setting Essentials
It’s no secret that The Odyssey premieres have been happening in the midst of a summer heat wave. Barose says doing full glam in these conditions is every “makeup artist’s worst nightmare,” as high heat can affect the aesthetic and wear of makeup. Luckily, he has some makeup-setting and shine-controlling staples.
First, he recommends Mehron’s Touch Up Anti-Shine ($12). He uses the shade Dark on Nyong’o. “This Theatre/Cinema backstage brand is my go-to for shine control,” he says. “A little bit goes a long way.”
He also uses a setting spray, but not just any setting spray—it’s Mistine’s Matte Setting Spray ($13), another Thai Beauty Brand he swears by. “A little bit of this help lock it all in,” he says. “I focused more on T-zone so it’s matte and polished while the rest of the face remains glowy in all the right places.”
Last but not least, he uses Payot’s Absorbing Blotting Sheets ($13) before any necessary touch ups. “This heat required more touch ups, which can turn makeup cakey real fast,” he says. ” I always blot with blotting paper first before each touch up to keep skin fresh looking in this heatwave.”
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