Get all the secrets behind the ‘Past Lives’ star’s strong and ethereal Chanel makeup look.
Throughout award season, Greta Lee has been a study in restrained beauty—and her appearance at the 2024 SAG Awards last night was no exception.
The Past Lives actress was the picture of cool elegance wearing a pistachio-hued gown by The Row, styled with scrunched black leather opera gloves for a dose of edge. “Minty. Ethereal. Strong” is how Lee described her look, finished with her hair slicked back into a clean ponytail to showcase glowing skin, bold brows, and strobed cheeks.
“I wanted something understated and romantic,” Lee tells InStyle. “I’m often drawn to pieces that feel both nostalgic and futuristic, and I really wanted to be comfortable because I flew in that morning from shooting. The hair and makeup had to be effortless and simple with a touch of easy femininity.”
To no surprise, Lee’s glam team was totally aligned. “When we saw Greta in the gorgeous mint gown during the fitting, I knew keeping her makeup clean and fresh would complement the dress the best,” says makeup artist Yasmin Istanbouli. “She has naturally beautiful skin and cheekbones, so I wanted to accentuate her features in the most natural way possible.”
As such, Istanbouli put a special emphasis on skin prep, massaging Chanel’s Sublimage La Crème Texture Universelle Ultimate Cream into her face with pea-sized dabs of Sublimage L’Essence Fondamentale Yeux eye serum applied around the orbital bones. Then, she reached for Baume Essentiel Multi-Use Glow Stick in Mermaid Glow— her “favorite highlighter ever”—and blended it atop her cheekbones before adding a subtle flush with Roses Coquillage Powder Blush Duo in Roses Coquillage.
Finally, a few swipes of 31 Le Rouge Satin Lipstick in Rouge Beige supplied a “subtle sheen” to the lips. “Always start with less and build slowly,” says Istanbouli of crafting a natural rosy-nude pout. “Less is more!”
In the same spirit, hairstylist Jenny Cho gave Lee a poker-straight center part before smoothing her shoulder-length bob into a spiky low ponytail, highlighting her makeup and accentuating her statuesque profile.
Looking chic as ever, Lee was the picture of confidence as she took the stage to present an award alongside Coda’s Troy Kotsur, deftly signing alongside the deaf star even though she was “slightly terrified” ahead of the show.
“Both our films, CODA and Past Lives, are about connecting worlds together,” says Lee, “so I just tried to remember that if I sign, maybe this is a small way to build a bridge between [us].”