Ashley Graham Is Giving Mother In Our Latest Editorial—Discover Every Detail of Her Minimalist Glam
Straight from her makeup artist Kabuki.
Ashley Graham warrants many monikers. Supermodel comes to mind after just a passing glance in her direction during our Marie Claire Motherhood Issue cover shoot. After all, she has graced the runways of every designer from Dolce Gabbana to Victoria’s Secret, and snagged dozens of fashion and beauty campaigns over her 25-year career. Entrepreneur, content creator, board member—they all describe the beautifully multi-faceted woman serving look after look on set—but mother (in every sense of the word) seems to be the best to encapsulate Graham in this particular moment.
On this day, the 38-year-old mom of three is radiance personified, with the type of luminous complexion beauty fans around the world are eager to replicate. “Motherhood was the theme of the shoot, so a natural, glowing complexion was the goal,” explains her makeup artist Kabuki. “I’d say the makeup was ‘breathable,’ [so] quite minimalist and timeless.”
The key to this level of glow always starts well before cosmetics come into play. As Kabuki explains, skin prep is key, and a well-hydrated complexion is essential. The makeup artist reveals that he added an Augustinus Bader face mask over Ashley’s own skincare routine during shoot prep to keep her skin soft and moisturized throughout.
Once it was time for makeup, he notes that it was all about achieving an even radiance from head to toe.“Ashley’s face is a shade or two lighter than her body so I color-matched her tan with the Revlon PhotoReady Lift Fill Skin Tint and added a few drops of Revlon Face + Body Glow Lotion,” he says. Technique is everything with complexion products, especially if you want to avoid that caked-on look. Kabuki suggests pre-mixing the product on the back of your hand and applying it with a damp sponge in order to achieve a translucent and even appearance, starting outwards and working inwards towards the center of the face.
“The key is light layering of luminous foundation which lets the natural skin show through,” he explains, noting that the trick is to use as little product as possible to get a polished, natural-looking complexion. “On areas like the sides of the nose towards the corners of the mouth, you don’t want too much shine, so I use oil-absorbing blotting sheets to [mattify] without adding more product and texture.”
Kabuki also used a very minimal amount of concealer to brighten her under-eye area. “To blend, tap with the index finger so it melts into the skin.” Otherwise, there was no need for a super sparkly highlighter to achieve that maternal glow. A hydration mist or a colorless highlighter on the cheekbones can garner the same effect; however, as the makeup artist notes, “it wasn’t necessary on this shoot.” Some women, like Graham, glow plenty all on their own.
To keep the model’s look low-contrast and gorgeously soft, Kabuki reached for the Revlon Glimmer Tinted Moisturizer Stick, which he used to sculpt under her cheekbones, blending well to avoid any harsh lines. “With a soft fluffy brush, I added a whisper of cream blush along the high planes of the cheek to simulate a natural flush.”
As for the eyes, the makeup artist went in first with an eye primer before using a very soft brush to apply the Revlon Glimmer Tinted Moisturizer Stick, shading the outer eye and working it inwards over the lids, blending halfway to the brow. “It’s a wash of taupe-y brown, nothing obvious,” he notes. Then he set it lightly with the Revlon Colorstay Day to Night 505 Decadent #2 Eyeshadow. “It has a soft shimmer so I apply in the center of the lid and blend outwards. I wanted the dreamy look of a woman in a portrait by [Jean-Auguste-Dominique] Ingres,” a French Neoclassical painter.
Pared-back mascara is taking over 2026 (meaning little to no pigment is all the rage) so the makeup artist kept things as minimal as possible, only curling the model’s lashes and brushing them with clear mascara. “I think freedom of choice is the best option in 2026,” he says of the current trend. “The mood of this shoot was intimate and maternal so the pared-down approach felt more appropriate.”
Graham’s lips were painted a slightly deeper version of her natural lip color—nothing super drastic, but still beautiful and lush. Says Kabuki, “I use a lip brush for accuracy, but if you have well-defined full lips as she does, your finger could work just as well.” He used Revlon ColorStay Limitless Matte 002 in Poster Child to achieve this look, noting that if you want more of a natural stain rather than a bold color, try tapping it onto your lips and then blotting with a tissue. “I topped it off with Revlon Glimmer Lip Treatment Balm + Mask added to the center for extra dimension and lasting moisture,” he says.
So, while we might not all have the same type of stunning radiance as Ashely Graham, Kabuki assures me that as long as you’re working under the right conditions, you can get pretty darn close. “Apply the makeup in natural light, by a window if that is possible,” he says, “because you will have the best color balance, and the most flawless finish if you can really see what you're doing.” Stunning makeup, immaculate application—all in all, it’s giving mother, don’t you think?
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