There’s no lighting quite as unforgiving as red-carpet lighting. Flash photography, long hours, constant retouching, which is why my prep starts days before an event like the BFAs. When I’m switching from clinical appointments to cameras, my routine becomes all about barrier support, hydration, and a smooth, luminous base that makeup doesn’t have to fight with.

This is the exact red-carpet prep I rely on: simple, effective, and designed to keep my skin calm, fresh, and camera-ready.

1 Week Before: Strengthen + Smooth

Double (sometimes triple) cleanse, but keep it gentle

Every evening, I begin with my ExoYouth Cleansing Balm to remove SPF and makeup. I then follow with a gentle glycolic cleanser to lightly refine texture, and finish with a squalane-based cleanser or serum for nourishment and balance.

Using these three textures, balm, glycolic, then squalene, gives me the perfect combination of clarity and comfort. There’s something about that first step, when the balm melts down and starts to dissolve the day, that feels genuinely grounding after hours in clinic. My skin feels deeply clean but never stripped, which is crucial in the lead-up to any heavy makeup or intense lighting.

Brighten + revive

Each morning, I apply SkinCycles Luminesce-C Serum. It keeps my complexion bright, even-toned, and fresh, especially important for photography.

Support collagen + hydration

In the evenings, I use SkinCycles Collagen Renewal Complex. It helps maintain firmness and long-lasting hydration, and I notice a visible difference in how smoothly makeup applies after a few days of consistent use.

Gentle retinol for texture

If my skin is feeling balanced, I use the SkinCycles Retinol Youth Serum two to three nights per week. It keeps texture refined so foundation doesn’t cling to dry areas.

Night Before / Morning Of: Glow Activation

Deep hydration mask

My non-negotiable is the SkinCycles Bio-Cellulose Mask.
I use it the night before or the morning of the event depending on how my skin is behaving. It delivers intense moisture, visibly plumps fine lines, and gives that “fresh facial” luminosity that makes makeup sit beautifully.

Mist + prep

I finish with the SkinCycles Alpha Radiance Mist to lock in hydration and give the skin a soft, dewy bounce before makeup.

Keep it simple

On event day, I avoid anything too active, no acids, no retinol. Just calming, hydrating layers so makeup goes on cleanly and lasts under lights, cameras, and long hours.

Why This Works for Me

Moving from long clinic days to high-photography events means my skin prep has to be consistent, calm, and barrier-focused. Over time, I’ve realised that what truly makes the difference is keeping the skin barrier strong and supported, building hydration gradually, maintaining smooth, refined texture, and focusing on nourishment rather than anything stripping or aggressive

When the skin is properly prepped, makeup enhances rather than disguises - and under flash photography, that’s everything. The best part? My makeup artist telling me I’ve made her job easier. That’s the real payoff.

By Alice Henshaw, Founder of SkinCycles