We caught up with the man behind some of the most gorgeous faces in the business to get his best tips, tricks, and product recommendations for achieving a natural, dewy complexion (his specialty).
Oquendo’s number one tip? ‘Less is more.’ He says that when it comes to foundation, ‘you should only be using enough to cover any redness or discoloration, not your entire face.’ To avoid a cake-y look, he recommends using a damp beautyblender® sponge to stipple on your base in light layers until you achieve desired coverage.
Next up? Concealer. Oquendo likes to use two different shades–one that’s slightly lighter than your skin tone to brighten under-eyes and one that’s slightly darker to contour–and apply them with a small brush for precision. He sets concealer with a loose powder before moving on to eyeshadow.
For eyeshadow, Oquendo likes to keep things simple. He recommends using a matte brown shadow in the crease as a base, then adding a shimmery shade on the lid and lower lash line for some dimension. To really make eyes pop, he suggests tightlining the upper lash line with a black eyeliner pencil and finishing with mascara.
When it comes to blush and bronzer, Oquendo says it’s all about finding the right formula for your skin type. If you have dry skin, he recommends using cream blushes and bronzers for a dewy finish. If you have oily skin, powder formulas will help absorb excess shine throughout the day. And if you have combination skin like Bella Hadid (lucky!), you can use either cream or powder products–just be sure to set any creams with powder so they don’t slip or slide throughout the day.
Last but not least: lips! For a natural look, Oquendo likes to start by lining lips with a nude pencil, then filling them in with a sheer lipstick or lip gloss in a similar shade. If you want something more dramatic, he suggests going for a bolder lip color–just be sure to blot it off after application so it doesn’t look too heavy.