My Beauty Back Catalogue: Emily Wood
The Early Memories
Watching my mum reapply her frosted pink lip about 20 times a day was definitely my entry into beauty – in the car rearview mirror, in the bathroom, even without looking. It’s her signature, her comfort blanket. Her favourite shade was from Revlon, and when it was eventually discontinued, she stockpiled it – she now has a drawer full of lipsticks, so she’ll never run out.
My nana – who hates being called glamorous, despite being exactly that – also loves make-up. Her go-tos are mascara and blusher; she won’t leave the house without them. I lived with her and my grandad for a while, and I have vivid memories of watching her curl her lashes, and layer on the mascara to create a thick, dramatic lash.
The Experimentation Era
When I first started wearing make-up, it was about trying to appear more palatable. As a teenager, you just want a sense of belonging and not to feel like an outsider. My best friend was quite rebellious and dyed her hair blue. I thought it was the most incredible thing, but I couldn’t do it myself. I was covering spots and wanting to look prettier – throughout school an eyelash curler lived permanently in my blazer pocket. Creativity is so important for people with dyslexia because we have to find other ways to think that aren’t so conventional. When I started properly experimenting, I was in my late teens, and it became my outlet. I started trying out bright colours, but not necessarily leaving the house with it on. During my make-up course, I learnt a lot about colour theory and technique, but my own approach is very instinctive. I remember using Got2b’s Glued Wax Stick to fix brow hairs upwards – soap brows before it was even a thing!
The Key Learning
Early on in my career, I grasped the importance of mastering skin. The key to great make-up is starting with a freshly washed face. Massaging a gorgeous, quality cleanser into the skin gets the blood flowing and just makes you appear brighter. Following up with a hydrating moisturiser creates a supple, even canvas.
The Creative Approach
I’ve never particularly followed trends – I love seeing what’s happening on the runways, but I don’t necessarily draw inspiration from there. I’m more guided by how I feel, and inspired by what I see around me. Deciding which colours and pigments to blend and layer comes quite naturally to me. I’m a maximalist, but everything has to be blended perfectly. I’m a bit of a rule-breaker, but there are certain techniques that can help elevate your look. For instance, when you curl your lashes, you want to get really close to the root and pulse it for a few seconds to get you that lift. This will make your lashes look fluttery and fresh when you come to apply mascara. I’m currently loving Revolution’s Wrap Lash. It has incredible staying power, and I flit between the different shades depending on my mood. Another key tip is layering an eyeshadow base or a pencil underneath eyeshadow to make it appear more pigmented and smoother, rather than transparent and blocky
The Current Look
Mostly, I skip base coverage except for a touch of concealer under my eyes. I like to add dimension with blusher – that’s how I create contrast. I live on the third floor, and during the 30 seconds it takes in the lift to get to the ground floor, I’ve curled my eyelashes and done the liner trick – I step out a new woman. It just changes your face; with that extra depth, you just feel that bit more alive and elevated. When I’m filming, my make-up is always colourful, bold and daring. But my everyday look is usually a lifted lash with a flush of colour across my cheeks. I’m obsessed with lip liner – it’s my non-negotiable. I use it to create a contoured effect then smudge it out. I’m not into a really crisp, defined lip. I prefer soft and blurry, and to keep the inner part of the lip quite bare.
The Mood-Lifting Rituals
I have to wash my hair every single day – I know it’s not particularly good for the hair, but it’s a sensory thing, I need to feel fresh and clean. I can’t take baths because I’m not very patient; instead I love a shower. Before I hop in, I’ll dry brush my body all over to stimulate lymphatic flow. I also love the sensation of a physical scrub – Wild Source’s Body Revival Scrub is my favourite.
The Bold Take
I’ve been staying in New York recently and the celebrity culture over there is crazy. People aren’t really used to seeing an overbite, so when they see me, they’ll think I’m my sister [White Lotus star Aimee Lou Wood] and often stare. Whenever she has a surge of interest in her, I’ll also have a surge. That’s what happens when you look similar to your sibling. London’s way more chilled, I feel so at home here. The bolder you go with your make-up, the more people are likely to look, so while I feel rebellious and enriched when I’m creating, I’m actually most comfortable when my make-up is pared-back. You have to go with what feels right.
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