Nicole Kidman and Sandra Bullock have demonstrated a surprisingly simple beauty trick that can create the appearance of a more lifted, defined face—and it has little to do with heavy contouring.
The actresses showcased the technique at the London premiere of Practical Magic 2, where they reunited nearly three decades after the original 1998 film. Their polished beauty looks relied on luminous skin, soft colour and carefully placed definition rather than layers of dramatic makeup, offering a red-carpet lesson that can easily be adapted at home.
The central trick is strategic placement: using soft, natural-looking tones around the cheeks and eyes to subtly enhance the face without creating harsh lines. Celebrity makeup artist Cassie Lomas says the effect comes from working with lightweight, radiant textures and blending them carefully into the skin.
The Face-Lifting Trick Starts With Blush
One of the easiest ways to recreate the look is to rethink how you apply blusher.
Rather than using a highly pigmented shade or placing colour heavily towards the centre of the cheeks, the aim is to create gentle definition around the cheekbones. Lomas explains that soft tones can help 'lift the face in all the right places', while defining the cheekbones and eyes without making the makeup appear heavy.
Cream blusher is particularly useful because it can be blended gradually with a brush. Start with a small amount and build it rather than applying a thick layer in one go.
The idea is not to create an obvious contour. Instead, the colour should appear to melt into the complexion, giving the cheeks subtle dimension.
Keep the Base Lightweight
The second part of the technique is the complexion itself.
Lomas recommends building makeup in thin layers rather than applying a heavy base. This allows the natural skin to remain visible while still providing enough coverage to even out the complexion.
'Building the makeup slowly is really important,' she says, explaining that the approach creates a naturally glamorous finish while allowing the skin to show through.
For a similar effect, begin with a lightweight foundation or complexion product and add coverage only where it is needed. A small amount of powder can then be used to set the makeup without covering the entire face in a thick layer.
This is important because excessive powder or foundation can make skin appear flatter and heavier, potentially working against the soft, lifted finish.
Choose Colours Close to Your Natural Tones
Kidman and Bullock's looks also demonstrate the impact of colour selection.
According to Lomas, blush and lip shades that sit only a shade or two deeper than the wearer's natural tones can create subtle definition without looking stark.
For the lips, she recommends combining a neutral wash of colour with a lip liner in a similar tone. The result is definition without an obvious contrast between the liner and lipstick.
The same philosophy can be applied to blusher. Instead of choosing an intense shade simply because it is fashionable, selecting a colour that complements your natural complexion can make the finished makeup look more seamless.
Soft Eye Makeup Creates a More Open Look
The eyes are another crucial part of the technique.
Both actresses avoided relying on extremely dark, heavy-looking eye makeup for the overall effect. Softer brown shades can define the eyes without creating the visual weight associated with a very smoky eye.
Lomas also recommends a wispy, fluttery lash. Rather than layering on thick coats of mascara, a lengthening formula can help extend the lashes while keeping them separated.
This matters because heavily coated lashes can appear clumpy and visually weigh down the eye. A lighter, lengthening approach can instead help the eyes appear more open.
Nicole Kidman's Red-Carpet Glow
Kidman's makeup was created by her regular makeup artist Wendy Rowe, who used Clé de Peau Beauty products for the premiere look. Rowe said the intention was for Kidman to embody the spirit of an 'enchantress' while appearing 'glowing, powerful, and effortlessly beautiful'.
The result fitted neatly with the wider technique: radiant skin, restrained colour and definition that enhanced rather than concealed her features.
Kidman's beauty look also complemented the glamour of her custom Chanel gown, which she wore for the London premiere.
Sandra Bullock Follows the Same Beauty Formula
Bullock's look demonstrated the same broader principles of soft definition and polished simplicity.
The similarity between the two beauty looks is notable because their colouring and individual features are different. Rather than suggesting there is one universal makeup style, the technique shows how the same principles can be adapted to different faces and complexions.
That is also why Lomas stresses consistency. According to the makeup artist, celebrity glam teams learn their clients' face shapes, skin textures and the techniques that suit them before major red-carpet appearances.
How To Recreate the Look at Home
The simplest way to copy the effect is to keep the routine light and build it gradually.
Start with a radiant, lightweight base, adding coverage only where required. Apply a small amount of cream blusher and blend it softly around the cheek area to create gentle definition.
Next, use a neutral lip colour with a closely matched liner. For the eyes, choose softer brown tones instead of an intensely smoky shade, then finish with lengthening mascara rather than multiple heavy coats.
Finally, use only enough powder to set areas that need it.
The result is less about using more makeup and more about putting the right amount in the right places. Kidman and Bullock's Practical Magic 2 beauty looks show that a softer approach — particularly around the cheeks and eyes — can create the illusion of lift while keeping the complexion fresh and natural.
With Practical Magic 2 arriving in cinemas in September, the film's London reunion has already delivered plenty of fashion and beauty inspiration. But for anyone looking for an everyday takeaway, this subtle makeup technique may be the most useful spell of all.
