Why This Actress Will Never Wear a Nude Lip

Courtesy of Armani
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Trust us when we say that Sarah Gadon is about to be everywhere. While fellow makeup hoarders may recognize her from her stunning campaign with Giorgio Armani Beauty, the Canadian actress has some blockbusters under her belt, including The Amazing Spider-Man 2 and Dracula Untold. She'll soon be starring as James Franco's love interest in the Hulu miniseries 11/22/63.

It's not just her gorgeousness and acting chops that make her a star — we're obsessed with her because she's a legitimate beauty-lover. As a former ballerina, Sarah has been playing with stage makeup since she was very young. "You learn not to be afraid to put makeup on," she explained. "There are no rules! Women get a little scared when they're doing their makeup because they don't want do something wrong. Playing with cosmetics is like art: you need to get creative and messy in order for you to find those moments of beauty that are going to be the most revolutionary."

It makes sense, then, that she's the go-to girl in her friend group for beauty know-how. "In high school, I did everyone's makeup before going out," Sarah said. She's such a pro that she's even stepped in as a makeup artist for weddings! "It's really nerve-racking, but really special!" she shared. "Even now, my girlfriends from home are low maintenance. I'm always encouraging them to glam it up." Don't you just love her already? Sarah chatted exclusively with us about her makeup must haves, beauty advice, and trends — read on to learn more!

The Inspiration Behind Her Signature Look
Getty | Venturelli

The Inspiration Behind Her Signature Look

Sarah brings the glamour to all of her red carpet appearances with her signature beauty style, which makes her appear as if she's stepped off a film set from the 1950s. That isn't a coincidence! "I'm definitely influenced by all the Hitchcock women — Eva Marie Saint, Grace Kelly, and Tippi Hedren," she remarked. "There was such a strength to their beauty, that timeless, glamorous look."

The 1 Beauty Trend She'll Never Try
Getty | Karwai Tang

The 1 Beauty Trend She'll Never Try

"I would never try a nude lip!" she divulged. "I have a naturally strong purple-red pigment to my lips. Often makeup artists try to tone them down, but my lips turn any nude lip color into a weird gray/purple. It's always a disaster!"

Her Best Beauty Advice
Getty | George Pimentel

Her Best Beauty Advice

"It's really important to know what your own strengths are and the things that you like about yourself and your face," Sarah said. "Always try to enhance those features. When you feel like your best self, that confidence manifests itself into your entire look." Keep reading for her product must haves.

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup

"I'm obsessed with this — it's a game changer. I used to be a Luminous Silk fan, but when I worked with [makeup artist] Linda Cantello on a shoot for the campaign, she used Maestro foundation and I fell in love with it. It's light and hydrating, and has a good SPF as well. Even if you just leave the house and put a little bit of that on, it makes you look so luminous."

Giorgio Armani Maestro Fusion Makeup SPF 15 ($64)

Egg-Shaped Sponge

Egg-Shaped Sponge

"I love these tiny egg sponges! I use it for blending my foundation, but you can use them for anything. I wash mine after every application with a little gentle shampoo. It's so important for your skin — otherwise bacteria can get into the sponge."

Try: The Original BeautyBlender ($20)

Giorgio Armani Eye Tints

Giorgio Armani Eye Tints

"Before I discovered these, I didn't really wear a lot of eye makeup — I was a little intimidated about doing an eye look because I didn't really know what I was doing. But these are literally foolproof. You cannot make a mistake using them."

Giorgio Armani Eye Tint in 9/Gold Copper ($38)

Eyelash Curler

Eyelash Curler

"I'm really into lashes right now. I love curling mine because I have really long, straight lashes — I'm all about the eyelash curler."

Try: Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler ($20)

Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Lacquer

Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Lacquer

"I love a statement lip. It's definitely my go-to look for red carpets and even in my own life when I go out — there's something really beautiful about a powerful lip color."

Try: Giorgio Armani Ecstasy Lacquer in 400 ($38)

Aloe Vera Gel

Aloe Vera Gel

"I put it on my face for 10 minutes — like a hydrating mask — and then I wipe it off with a cold compress."

Try: Key West Aloe Aloe Max 100 Skin Gel ($22)

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer

"You just put a little pump on your hand and you use a sponge to apply it on your cheeks. It goes on sheer but stays on all day and keeps you looking rosy, which is really great because my skin tends to eat blush."

Try: Giorgio Armani Fluid Sheer in 6 ($62)