Want That Victoria’s Secret Glow? Two Top Facialists Say Less Is More

Before several of this year’s models hit the runway, their skin got a custom treatment designed with the makeup chair in mind. Here’s the thinking behind it, plus simple habits you can borrow at home.

There’s a reason why the angels on Victoria’s Secret’s runway look so ethereal, and it begins with their glowing skin. According to two facialists who work with some of the brand’s best-known models, achieving that glow isn’t about a ton of products. It’s about treating the skin gently.

Prepping for the Runway

For this year’s Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, celebrity facialist Keren Bartov treated models Elsa Hosk, Jasmine Tookes, Joan Smalls, and Amelia Hamlin ahead of the October 18 event, pampering them with her signature facial tailored for each model’s skin.

For Bartov, whose approach isn’t anchored on doing more, but quite the opposite, “It’s about understanding exactly what the skin needs at that moment.”

Bartov’s goal was to make the skin look “fresh, even and naturally radiant, both up close and under intense lighting,” she told New Beauty. Her routine included a gentle cleanse, a serum to refine skin texture and boost radiance, another to support the skin barrier, a hydrating cream, and a finishing mist.

The facialist made sure to prep the skin, keeping in mind how it would look after putting on makeup. “I want the skin to feel smooth, supple and deeply hydrated so that makeup sits beautifully without emphasizing dryness or texture,” she explained.

It was also about personalizing her routine, so no two models got the same treatment. She acknowledged that “no two women have the same skin,” and each has different needs.

Gentle Habits for Everyday Glow

Los Angeles esthetician Joomee Song, whose clients include Victoria’s Secret models Imaan Hammam and Jasmine Tookes, shares a similar philosophy for skin prep, and many of her tips are easy to try at home. Here’s what she recommends.

Don’t overdo cleansing. For Song, the most important step of a regimen is cleansing, but she warns against overdoing it. She suggests using the gentlest cleanser to break down oil and makeup, noting that for most skin types, that’s an oil cleanser. She also says it’s not a must to cleanse in the morning unless treating acne, since the skin builds a natural oil barrier overnight.

Give your jawline some attention. Song also makes a case for incorporating massage into your routine, with focus on the jaw muscles as the place to start. These muscles, which tend to tighten from chewing, talking, and clenching, could be massaged using any tool, but Song recommends always ending the massage with your hands. “By touching your skin, you’ll understand how your face carries tension,” she told Net-a-Porter.

Take a warm bath. Song recommends soaking for about 10 minutes in water just a bit warmer than body temperature, enough to sweat a little. She cautions against water that’s too hot, which can undo the benefits.

Avoid too much of a good thing. From what she sees in her clinic, Song also advises against overdoing treatments or using the wrong products, which can cause inflammation. She prefers using gentle ingredients like centella asiatica and vitamin K, and doesn’t believe vitamin C is a daily must.

For both Song and Bartov, to give your skin that glow, gentle skin preparation is key. Bartov says, “the most beautiful glow is the one that comes from the skin itself, not just from what you apply on top of it.”