The secret is out. Pat McGrath tells L&rsquo;OFFICIEL her tips for achieving show-stopping looks off the runway.&nbsp;

For over 30 years, Pat McGrath has crafted some of the most iconic looks on and off the runway, cementing herself as one, if not the most, influential and in-demand makeup artist in the world. From her Cleopatra-inspired gilded looks at <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/dior-spring-summer-2026-show-jonathan-anderson-collection-photo-look-jisoo-jimin">Christian Dior&rsquo;s</a> Spring 2004 Haute Couture show, to her <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/porcelain-doll-glass-skin-makeup-pat-mcgrath-maison-margiela-beauty">porcelain-doll creations</a> at <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/glenn-martens-reinvents-haute-couture-with-his-debut-margiela-collection-see-all-of-the-looks">Maison Margiela&rsquo;s</a> Artisanal 2024 collection, she knows a thing or two about making a look unforgettable.&nbsp;
It comes as no surprise that the beauty world has named McGrath the &ldquo;<a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/pat-mcgrath-makeup-artist-facts">Mother of Makeup</a>.&rdquo; It&rsquo;s not simply the fact that she&rsquo;s obviously mastered the <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/beauty/medicube-booster-review-skincare-tool-price-glass-skin">glass skin-like complexion</a>, or that her eyeshadow looks are always flawless: it&rsquo;s her visionary approach that transforms makeup from mere everyday routine into pure artistry, turning every face she touches into a living canvas worthy of a museum. After all, acrylic paint can go far, but so can a highly pigmented palette.&nbsp;
Fresh off <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/schiaparelli-paris-couture-week-fall-winter-2025-whale-tail-thong-revival-history">Schiaparelli</a>, <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/fendi-spring-summer-2026-collection-runway-images-milan-fashion-week">Fendi</a>, and <a href="https://www.lofficielusa.com/fashion-week/bottega-veneta-louise-trotter-debut-spring-summer-2026">Bottega Veneta&rsquo;s Spring/Summer 2026</a> shows, Pat McGrath shares her expert techniques for translating runway looks to real life and reflects on her decades of artistry with L&rsquo;OFFICIEL.

Backstage at Schiaparelli Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

L'OFFICIEL:&nbsp;You&rsquo;ve been creating runway beauty at Fashion Week for many years now. Are there any particular shows or looks that still stand out as favorites for you?
PAT MCGRATH: This is always the hardest question I get, and impossible to choose! Every season, every show is a new canvas, a new dream. Each one feels iconic in its own way&mdash;from crystal-encrusted lips to bare, luminous skin. That&rsquo;s the majorness of Fashion Week; it&rsquo;s always evolving.
L'O:&nbsp;Fashion Week is notoriously intense for anyone in the fashion and beauty world. What&rsquo;s been the most rewarding part of it for you over the years?
PMG: Seeing friends old and new, and watching our backstage family grow&mdash;that&rsquo;s the true joy. It&rsquo;s also where we test our newest creations in the wild. This season, we&rsquo;re showcasing our <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P518468" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Gilded Nirvana: Mega Eye Shadow Palette</a> and Mini <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P506540" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Divine Cream Blush</a>, which were previously tested last season, and also playing with new launches in real time under runway conditions. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing our formulas perform and inspire in that environment.

L'O: You recently launched the Sublime Perfection Longwear Blurring Setting Spray. Could you walk us through its development process? What specific concerns did you want it to address, and how long did it take to get the right formula?
PMG:&nbsp;This spray was years in the making&mdash;more than two years from first lab sample to final product. We wanted a mist that set makeup through hours of heat, lights and movement but still kept skin looking alive. We tested dozens of bases and delivery systems until we achieved a weightless, flexible veil that diffuses imperfections like a soft-focus lens while letting the skin&rsquo;s glow shine through.
L'O:&nbsp;The word &ldquo;blurring&rdquo; might make some people assume it would cancel out the glow. How would you describe the finish to someone worried about looking too matte?
PMG:&nbsp;Think of it as cinematic skin. It&rsquo;s not flat or matte&mdash;it&rsquo;s refined. The <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P519220" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sublime Perfection Longwear Blurring Setting Spray</a> diffuses texture while maintaining radiance. You still see the glow from <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P516004" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Divine Skin: Rose 001&trade; The Essence</a>, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P433003" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Highlighter + Balm Duo</a>, and your foundation&mdash;just smoother, softer, more polished.
L'O:&nbsp;How are you incorporating the new setting spray backstage this season?
PMG:&nbsp;We&rsquo;re using it three ways: misting before foundation to prep; between layers to meld textures; and at the end to lock everything in. It&rsquo;s become a secret weapon alongside the <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P447519" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sublime Perfection Foundation</a> and our Gilded Nirvana: Mega Eye Shadow Palette.

Alex Consani backstage at Fendi Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

Paloma Elsesser backstage at Fendi Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

L'O: Before you launched Pat McGrath Labs in 2015, what were some of your go-to runway staples? Do you still use them today?
PMG: Before Labs, I was literally making things myself&mdash;mixing pigments, decanting glosses into pots, creating skin elixirs on the fly. That DIY alchemy is what inspired me to start Pat McGrath Labs. Today we use Divine Skin: Rose 001&trade;, Divine Blush, <a href="https://www.sephora.com/search?keyword=mothership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mothership eye palettes,</a> and <a href="https://www.patmcgrath.com/products/skin-fetish-the-system?srsltid=AfmBOoq09-YbQ5flH4TCJY28i0FnWCNDbNpxXhNGkDFe5L6Y8_BWeGTq" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sublime Perfection Skin System</a> to deliver that same majorness&mdash;but now everyone can use them, not just me backstage.
L'O:&nbsp;Pat McGrath Labs' eyeshadow palettes are among its best-sellers. Yet eyeshadow beginners can feel intimidated. What&rsquo;s your advice for someone just starting to experiment with darker colors or shimmery textures?
PMG: I developed my Mothership Eye Shadow palettes so they could be your easy one-stop shop. The formulas and colors make it quite easy to find a way to feel confident to find your look. I built the palette so you have your daytime look, your evening look, and your nighttime look. Shimmery doesn&rsquo;t actually mean intimidating. I encourage everyone to think about the shimmery shades as an accessory because they can add a beautiful accent to any look. Using a dark shade can actually be quite effortless for instant soft smoke to the eye with just one swipe. So when I say, "Use Without Caution," that&rsquo;s my way of inspiring the novice and the experienced to be fearless in their approach because makeup should be fun and exciting, never intimidating.&nbsp;

Backstage at Fendi Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

L'O:&nbsp;Are there one or two beginner-friendly eyeshadow tricks you recommend for those hoping to achieve a runway-ready glam?
PMG: When it comes to wearing eyeshadows, there are so many ways to create an effortless glam! Because my eye shadows have such high-intensity color payoff, all you need is to apply one swipe of a shimmer or blitz astral onto the lid and inner corner of the eye. You can even use your fingers for this! Then coat the lashes with <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P440967">FetishEyes Mascara</a>. This will give luminous, runway radiance without trying! Another minimal but major way is to apply <a href="https://www.sephora.com/product/P518067" target="_blank" rel="noopener">PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil</a> in Blitz Brown or Blitz Blue all over the lid, then layer your favorite Blitz Astral or shimmer shade on top for an instant soft sparkling smoke. These are mistake-proof techniques that will give you an instant luxe look!&nbsp;

Gabbriette backstage at Fendi Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

Amelia Gray backstage at Fendi Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

L'O:&nbsp;Beyond social media, our readers look to runways for makeup inspiration. Can you share some of your backstage tips and tricks our readers can incorporate in their own glam routines? Any basic do&rsquo;s and don&rsquo;ts?
PMG: Yes! Here are some of my do&rsquo;s, don&rsquo;ts, and tips:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li>DON&rsquo;T skip skincare. A luminous canvas is the ultimate starting point for any of my looks.&nbsp; I ALWAYS prep with Divine Skin: Rose 001&trade; The Essence, then press Sublime Perfection Foundation in with my fingers for seamless skin.</li>
<li>DO layer your products in thin veils. You want a formulation that is buildable and that can go from &ldquo;no makeup makeup&rdquo; to full extreme</li>
<li>DON&rsquo;T over-powder damp cream products</li>
<li>TIPS: Layer <a href="https://www.ulta.com/p/skin-fetish-divine-bronzer-pimprod2040435?sku=2613924" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Divine Bronzer</a> under Divine Blush to get a fresh, non-patchy flush.</li>
<li>Smudge PermaGel Ultra Glide Eye Pencil under Perma Precision Liquid Eyeliner for the ultimate long wear.</li>
<li>Tap Highlighter + Balm Duo on before powder for an otherworldly glow that lasts.&nbsp;</li>
</ul>

Backstage at Bottega Veneta Spring/Summer 2026. Photography courtesy of Pat McGrath Labs.

L'O:&nbsp;What&rsquo;s your best tip for achieving a polished glam when you only have 10&ndash;15 minutes?
PMG:&nbsp;Start with the Sublime Perfection Skin System: prep with Divine Skin Essence, foundation where needed, Blur Powder to set. Add Divine Cream Blush to cheeks and lips, swipe one shade from your favorite Mothership eye palette on the lid with your finger, and finish with FetishEyes Mascara. In minutes, you look radiant, not rushed.
L'O:&nbsp;Is there a brush technique&mdash;or even a finger technique&mdash;you swear by that people at home can easily adopt?
PMG: Press, don&rsquo;t sweep. Whether it&rsquo;s Color Balm, Sublime Perfection Foundation, or a metallic from an eye quad, pressing locks in pigment and keeps the finish true.

L'O:&nbsp;If you had to choose just one product from your entire collection to keep using backstage forever, what would it be, and why?
PMG: Ahh I can&rsquo;t pick one! No way, no way. I think if I had to choose one, it would be my Skin Fetish: Sublime Perfection Foundation because no matter the look&mdash;whether it&rsquo;s no makeup makeup or something super subversive, it always starts with skin and my foundation is your skin but better. It has a serum-like texture that&rsquo;s packed with ceramides so you can put it on your face with your hands like a moisturizer. I can&rsquo;t say enough good things about it!

Pat McGrath On Turning Runway Makeup Into Night-Out Glam

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