Inside Hilary Duff’s Glowing Makeup For The TIME100 Gala

Lately it seems like Millennials love nothing more than nostalgia. If they had to pick a face for peak Millennial magic, there’s a good chance it would be Hilary Duff —even Nicole Ritchie agrees. In Ritchie’s tribute to the singer and actress for the Time100 , she shared, “In the minds of millennials everywhere, she’s been our friend for most of our lives… I would like to speak for all of us by saying we experienced one big, collective surge of serotonin when she released new music. Hilary exists in that rare space of both nostalgia and now. She reminds us of a time that felt safe and full of possibility. But she also grew up, unapologetically. She built a family, a career, and an overall rhythm that is expansive and authentic.”

Duff is held to the highest standards by her fans, and last night at the TIME100 Gala in New York City at Lincoln Center, which celebrated the 100 most influential people of the year, she certainly didn’t disappoint, making a splash on the red carpet and beyond. “I was totally inspired by Hilary’s flowy ethereal dress and I wanted the makeup to have the same soft, unstructured feeling,” says Celebrity Makeup Artist Gita Bass , who did Duff’s glam for the occasion. “This meant glowing skin, blurred smoky eyes and a soft flushed cheek.”

Duff donned a diaphanous caped gown by Anna October from the Spring 2026 ready to wear collection. “For this look, I used the makeup to really enhance her natural beauty,” Bass says. “My main goal was for people to notice her gorgeous face first, and the makeup second. The dress was definitely the inspiration as well as Hilary’s natural beauty and radiant energy. I wanted the makeup to enhance her already beautiful inner glow.”

To ensure Duff’s look was cohesive, Bass worked with her fashion stylist and hairstylist to create the look. “We all collaborated to make sure we were on the same page and that all areas worked together,” Bass says. “Teamwork is super important when you’re creating a red carpet look—it’s one of my favorite parts of the job.”

Duff was certainly glowing on the red carpet, but Bass envisioned her makeup telling a story beyond that. “I wanted the makeup to give off a glowing goddess vibe—stunning radiant beauty that appeared to come from within,” Bass says. “ICONIC London is the perfect brand for this!”

Bass shares her step-by-step breakdown of Duff’s TIME100 Gala makeup:

Step 1:“I prepped the skin with the a few sprays of the ICONIC London Prep-Set-Glow Hydrating Glowy Setting Spray and Underglow Blurring Primer to create the perfect canvas for makeup.”

Step 2:For her complexion and cheeks, Bass applied the medium contour shade from the Multi-Use Sculpting Palette along the cheekbones, temples, forehead and jaw and set it by applying the bronzer from the Get Cheeky Face Powder Palette over the top. “I then applied the Kissed By The Sun Multi-Use Cheek Glow in Hot Stuff on the apples of the cheeks blending up toward the temples. For a gorgeous glow, I added Illuminator Liquid Highlight to the high points of the face.”

Step 3:For the eyes, Bass smudged the top and bottom lash lines with the Smokey Eye Duo Dual-Ended Kajal Eyeliner in Chocolate brown and blended well. Next, she applied a sheer wash of bronzer from the Get Cheeky Face Powder Palette over the lids for a soft seamless finish. She finished the eye with a few coats of Triple Threat Mascara .

Step 4:For the final touch, Bass lined the lips with Fuller Pout Lip Liner in Material Girl, feathering it over the lips and blending the line with a soft brush. She then applied Melting Touch lip Balm in Love Language for a warm sheen.

This article was originally published on Forbes.com