How To Replicate Jennifer Lopez's Makeup Routine

It's no secret that Jennifer Lopez is an icon; a triple threat (actress, singer, and dancer); and, as the creator of "Jenny from the Block," an inspiration to boot. We'll never stop watching classic movies like "Maid in Manhattan" and "Monster in Law," which still get us right in the feels. When it comes to her music, you can catch us listening to "On The Floor" and "Ain't Your Mama" any day of the week because they're that good. And her performance at President Joe Biden's inauguration? Legendary — especially that "Let's Get Loud" interlude.

J.Lo is the epitome of cool when it comes to singing, dancing, and acting, but her makeup game is just as jaw-dropping. The 51-year-old is known for her signature glow, giving us golden glam every time she steps on the red carpet. The world is obsessed with her makeup looks because, well, they're incredible — from her highlighter-heavy "mermaid-esque" beauty at the 2020 AMA Awards to her impossibly fluffy eyelashes and nude lip at 2019's Met Gala (via Elle). 

Regarding her ageless beauty, well, that might be genetics. Lopez told "Today" in 2014: "I have to say, I have good genes. My mom and my grandma had beautiful skin, so I was blessed in that way. I haven't had any plastic surgery ... or injectables or fillers" (via Grazia). While not everyone is that lucky, working with celebrity makeup artists like Scott Barnes and Mary Phillips certainly helps, too.

Here's everything you need to know to nail a J.Lo-approved beauty look.

Ever since stepping out in 1997's "Selena," Jennifer Lopez has stunned us with her makeup looks and is always gorgeous on the red carpet. But her glow is only as magical as her ah-mazing skincare — and we found all her best-kept secrets. 

"Skin prep is really important because you want to make sure the skin is hydrated and plumped before applying foundation and concealer," said J.Lo's makeup artist Scott Barnes (via Byrdie). So what does the Bronx beauty use on her complexion? None other than the legendary La Mer Crème de la Mer, which costs a whopping $350. But it seems to be worth it: Barnes says he loves it "because it's light and never makes the foundation react weirdly." He told PopSugar that the cream is the one product J.Lo swears by and is the "one thing that's on the makeup station, no matter what."

But Lopez owes her famous glowy complexion to more than just La Mer. She told PopSugar that her No. 1 skincare secret is pretty basic: a good sunscreen. "A dermatologist told me at a very young age to use sunscreen, and I was like, 'What do I need sunscreen for? I live in New York,'" she said. "But the truth is, that was a big part of why I was able to stay youthful looking."

The "All I Have" singer knows that beauty is more than skin deep. That's why her routine is all about day-to-day good habits. Jennifer Lopez told PopSugar that she "lives by the five S's — sleep, sunscreen, serum, supplements, and sano," the Spanish word for "health." The star commits to "eating healthy, no drinking or smoking, and exercising regularly." Plus, she swears by positive affirmations, such as going to the mirror and saying, "Today is going to be the best day of my life ever." Citing "a happy, adventurous life full of joy and laughter" as a big reason to be thankful, there's no doubt positivity plays a role in J.Lo's eternal youth.

The star has a few other skincare secrets for achieving that glow, too. Lopez told People that she never goes to bed without removing her makeup; tries to always get as much sleep as possible to start the day well-rested; and has a daily exercise routine that she calls serious "hard work," including dance, weights, and circuit training. "Lots of water and fresh foods with lots of fruits and vegetables" are key to keeping her skin looking great, she says, as well as products with glycolic acid "to get that healthy glow and clear skin." According to ET, Lopez can't live without the L'Oreal Revitalift Bright Reveal Brightening Moisturizer SPF 30 for mornings, loves the Lancer The Method: Polish Exfoliator for gentle exfoliation, and opts for the Dr. Hauschka Rose Day Cream as a moisturizing alternative to the pricier La Mer.

So, now that we know hydration is key to getting J.Lo's complexion, how can we recreate her glowing look with makeup? While makeup artist Scott Barnes loves prepping Jennifer Lopez's skin with Crème de la Mer, telling Byrdie it's his "absolute favorite" to use before starting, makeup artist Mary Phillips has a few other tricks up her sleeve. She told Byrdie that "skin prep is the most important part of your makeup routine" and uses the super-affordable L'Oréal Age Perfect Glow Renewal Day Lotion as a base for Lopez. "What's great about this is that it's their first oil-infused lotion and it has SPF," she notes. Then, she'll use the L'Oréal RevitaLift Miracle Blur as a silky primer.

Next up, foundation. Barnes told PopSugar that he does this step on Lopez before anything else: applying the "matte-yet-luminous" Dior Diorskin Forever Perfect Foundation (via Allure). He also suggests using long-wearing foundations that are "less likely to crease or get stuck in fine lines," recommending the Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Foundation and the Tarte Creaseless Concealer for all skin types (via Byrdie). 

On the other hand, Phillips loves giving J.Lo "exquisite coverage" with the L'Oréal True Match Super-Blendable Foundation, Perricone No Makeup Foundation, or AmorePacific Color Control Cushion Compact Broad Spectrum 50+. Blend with your fingers for a heat-activated "glowy finish" that Phillips describes as "holding two live wires together — it just seems to create a certain spark."

To replicate Jennifer Lopez's airbrushed glam, try Mary Phillips' favorite Tom Ford Foundation Brush 02, and work on your color-correcting skills. Use either the Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Makeup Color Base, Jane Iredale Active Light Under-Eye Concealer, or a multicolor concealer palette. Phillips told Byrdie that she uses "a few different colored concealers" on the "Dinero" singer and always keeps these rules of thumb: "White [concealer] does not cover dark circles ... green cancels red, and a concealer with an orange undertone" will nix under-eye circles. Scott Barnes loves applying the Urban Decay All Nighter Waterproof Full-Coverage Concealer for J.Lo's high-energy events and pressing powder on top with a Beautyblender Makeup Sponge for longevity (via Byrdie). 

Apart from her glow factor, Lopez is known for always being contoured to perfection. Barnes told PopSugar that you should use contour products that are "two shades darker than your base skin tone." To get J.Lo's razor-sharp cheekbones, contour under foundation to give your base "something to grab on to," and contour the hairline, too. Another tip? Blend in your bronzer with a shimmery powder, moving upward, which will make the contour look seamless. Barnes also loves taking concealer down Lopez's smile lines to highlight them and mixes a bit of moisturizer into her foundation for optimal glow (via PopSugar). According to Allure, the makeup artist uses the star's very own Jennifer Lopez x Inglot Boogie Down Bronzer around her face and in the hollows of her cheeks, also applying the Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick as a highlighter. 

Once your J.Lo-approved base is ready, it's time for the fun part: the glow. First off, don't go overboard with highlighter. As Scott Barnes told PopSugar: "If I see the highlighter before I see you, it's a problem. It should be a glow." Instead, he advises, "a good way to work a highlighter is to round it into the skin a little bit. You don't do the stripe." Once that's done, apply a bit to the jawline too, which will create a sculpted effect at the neck. "When you see a little bit of shimmer, and that jaw is strong, it's so pretty," he says. For products, the makeup artist uses his own Glowy & Showy Highlighter Palette on Lopez, brushing it on the highest points of the face for a super-glowy result. A multicolor palette, it's meant to be mixed to find "your perfect highlighter tone" and "correctly hue shift" (via Byrdie).

According to Allure, J.Lo also loves the Huda Beauty 3D Cream and Powder Highlighter Palette, including three powders and a cream formula. With Barnes telling Tati Westbrook he thinks "cream works primarily better than powder [since] it looks like it's coming from inside the skin," it makes sense this would be a fave. Other highlight options include the wallet-friendly L'Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer, which Mary Phillips told Glamour she uses on Lopez's cheekbones. For even more dewiness, Barnes loves mixing face oil into foundation for J.Lo's signature lewks, too.

For Jennifer Lopez's signature blush, use a rounded foundation brush for a streak-free finish, applying in circles on just the apples. According to Scott Barnes, a hint of blush at the lips will give you a perfect pout and add cohesion to the look (via PopSugar). 

Once that's done, how to get her amazing Bambi eyes? Barnes told PopSugar that he back-combs her lashes with mascara: "Instead of just going up and only coating the bottom [of your lashes], I kind of go in and pull the lash down. It makes the lashes look like they're faux." Perfect falsies with none of the mishaps! Another trick he loves using on the "Wedding Planner" glamazon is adding a bit of light eyeshadow just at the inner corners, which opens up the eyes and makes her look awake in no time.

Another can't-miss tip? Ditch your eye pencil and go for a smudgy, blendable black shadow instead. "You can really work this black along the lash line, just to punctuate," he says. "It's almost like using a pencil and then smudging it." It will even stay in place better! For hooded eyes, apply shadow above your natural crease to open up the eye — it works like magic. When it comes to products, Allure counts the Melt Cosmetics Rust Eyeshadow Palette as a J.Lo fave for creating a warm smoky eye. For eyebrows, Lopez reportedly can't get enough of the Iconic London Sculpt & Boost Eyebrow Cushion, which fills in brow gaps beautifully.

Other makeup must-haves J.Lo seems seriously into? Face mists and lipsticks — in large quantities. For one, Jennifer Lopez loves the Tatcha Luminous Dewy Skin Mist, which can be used before or after makeup for hydration (via Allure). Other Lopez-approved face mists include the Tata Harper Hydrating Floral Essence, Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, and Omorovicza Queen of Hungary Mist, which makeup artist Mary Phillips says are "ultimate must-haves ... if you truly want to glow" (via Byrdie).

When it comes to lips, start with the star's favorite balm: the $6 Rosebud Perfume Co. Rosebud Salve. Apply between lipstick applications, or use it as a gloss on top of matte lippies. Once the lips are moisturized, go for neutrals that would make Lopez proud. As per Allure, she keeps the Tarte Color Splash Lipstick in Siesta on her vanity at all times, which seems like the perfect creamy nude. 

Plus, Scott Barnes brings a few lip tricks to the table you might have never heard of, and they're good. He told Byrdie that he loves to "contour," or darken the edges of, Lopez's lips. Go for a lip liner that's one to three shades darker than your lips, then "use a sharp, round, or square-shaped brush with the preferred contour color and go right on the edge of the lips to make them look fuller." Apply any lip color or gloss on top, and you have a perfectly plump pout.

Once your makeup is perfectly snatched — J.Lo-style — you still have a few finishing touches to apply. A translucent powder, like Jennifer Lopez's favorite Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder, will prove great for touch-ups throughout the day. After all, it did "keep Lopez's makeup in place for the entirety of her Vegas show" (via Allure). Scott Barnes recommends applying powder with a small brush for strategic setting, leaving room on the face for some glow, too (via PopSugar). 

He also loves blending foundation down the neck, chest, and hands for a fully cohesive look. Another unexpected glowy body trick? Barnes suggests using spray-on sunscreen for amazing dewiness and shine on the chest and shoulders (via YouTube). For an even glowier body, Barnes loves applying his own brand's Body Bling on Lopez, which is shimmery in all the best ways. "I also like to build in layers of light by using an illuminating body makeup," which can be used on its own or mixed with foundation. Made for red carpets, this will lend you a gorgeous moonlit glow. 

Another can't-miss extra for a Lopez-style beauty routine is a good-quality blotting paper, which keeps makeup "pristine" all day and night. Mary Phillips recommends blotting papers by Tatcha, Serge Lutens, and Mai Couture, which won't damage makeup. A perfect glow from head to toe!