Dame Pat McGrath, the legendary makeup artist known affectionately as “Mother,” took the stage at Vogue’s 2024 Forces of Fashion event, leaving attendees spellbound with her revolutionary beauty insights. Her focus? The legendary “glass skin” look that shattered the internet and changed the backstage beauty landscape forever.
McGrath revealed that over 340 looks were meticulously created to achieve this flawless, luminous effect. The process involved months of experimentation and hundreds of coats of a specially mixed peel-off mask. The dedication paid off; the glass skin moment became the most talked-about runway beauty sensation of all time. While fans eagerly await her next glass skin product, they can get a taste of McGrath’s magic with her holiday 2024 Luminous Legends: Mega Eye Shadow Palette – a stunning new addition to her kit.
The event was also graced by a surprise appearance from superstar Meredith Duxbury, known for her captivating glow. Duxbury modeled a daring, glittery cupid’s bow, a trend she also showcased on the Miu Miu runway this season. McGrath described the look as “punk rock, but built with joy,” highlighting the contrast of the molten-metal mouth jewelry against Duxbury’s signature spa-fresh skin. She added, “Every time I think of Meredith, I always think about your major glow. We’re just enhancing what she already has.”
McGrath didn’t stop there; she also delivered a masterclass on creating her eternal runway beauty staple: the smoky eye. “One thing we always say at every show season, there’s always a version of a smokey eye, right?” she asked before effortlessly transforming a model’s look with a mesmerizing, mermaid-inspired version in minutes. “Don’t be afraid to get dirty,” she playfully advised.
And in a delightful nod to fan favorites, McGrath resurrected a beloved runway look – the Valentino Couture Spring 2019 feathered eye. This dramatic look, chosen by Vogue readers, featured hand-dyed Japanese feathers that “take on a life of their own” with the slightest breeze. McGrath recounted the chaos backstage, laughing, “It was crazy!”
She concluded by reflecting on the inspiration behind the look: “It was almost as if the face had to represent a flower. It really was a bloom.” Pat McGrath’s visionary beauty and her unwavering dedication to artistry continue to captivate the world, leaving an indelible mark on fashion and beauty trends.