We’re conditioned to think red carpets need heavy artillery—the thicker the makeup, the better it withstands the flashes and the frenzy. So when the glitterati arrived at this year’s ABS-CBN Ball, you might’ve expected to see the heaviest of beats. But then there was Belle Mariano, stunning the crowd with her gleaming complexion. The catch? Not a trace of foundation. Here, her trusted makeup artist Jake Galvez tells MEGA how he achieved the ultimate no-makeup makeup look—and the ease of working with the belle of the ball.
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Bare Necessities
It was never about coverage. Mariano’s skin was a star in itself, so they built the look around a ‘glazed skin’ finish.
“Dewy, fresh, and radiant,” Galvez described. “The makeup was extremely minimal, basically a no-makeup makeup look—zero foundation, but with a slight twist.” It was the flash of Tiffany blue on the inner corners, casting a magnetic allure to the look.
The approach made sense. Draped in a floral Francis Libiran design, the rest of the look had to exude a reserved sophistication. “The straight, sleek hair gave the look a modern, polished feel, while the dewy skin and barely-there makeup kept everything fresh and youthful,” Galvez added.
Beauty Breakdown
Priming the skin were Mariano’s favorite skincare products from Pond’s—a non-negotiable, as foundation was off-limits. Then, a hint of Dior bronzer was added for warmth and dimension.
Though the look was minimalist, there was no shortage of vibrance. Galvez used his O.TWO.O lipstick collaboration in HEOL as a soft pop of blush. The lips were treated to a strategic mix of shades—light peach, nudish pink, and brown—to create a multidimensional pout.
The star of the show, we say, is the pop of Tiffany blue on the inner corners of her eyes, adding just the right amount of unexpected appeal. Another is the wispiest set of lashes we’ve seen the star wear, custom 18-20mm clusters, which Galvez had specially designed for her by Indonesian artisans.
The beauty of Belle Mariano’s foundation-free moment lies in its audacity—why mask what doesn’t need to be hidden? She somehow channels the likes of Pamela Anderson and Alicia Keys, who have strutted red carpets with zero makeup on. It’s refreshing to see this in the local scene, an embrace of true, unfiltered beauty.
Photographed by BJ PASCUAL. Creative direction by ELDZS MEJIA. Gown by FRANCIS LIBIRAN. Jewelry by TIFFANY AND CO. Styled by ADRIANNE CONCEPCION. Makeup by JAKE GALVEZ. Hair by RJ DELA CRUZ.
Featured Image and Photos: BJ PASCUAL and JAKE GALVEZ
