There’s a reason Zendaya consistently tops every best-dressed — and best-glam — list in Hollywood. Whether she’s stepping onto the Met Gala carpet in a sculptural Schiaparelli gown or touching down at a Dune premiere in head-to-toe Valentino, her makeup is always flawless, intentional, and somehow both timeless and of-the-moment. Behind every iconic look is her longtime makeup artist, Deja Smith, who has become one of the most watched MUAs in the beauty world. Here’s a closer look at the products, techniques, and philosophies that make Zendaya’s red carpet skin so unforgettable.
The Foundation of It All: Skin First, Makeup Second
Deja Smith has been vocal in interviews about her core belief: the real work happens before a single product touches Zendaya’s face. Prep is everything. Smith typically begins with a deep cleanse followed by a hydrating sheet mask or facial massage to boost circulation and give the skin that natural lit-from-within luminosity. She favors facial oils and barrier-strengthening serums to ensure the skin is plump and smooth before any base goes on.
For moisturizer, Smith has mentioned reaching for rich, fragrance-free formulas that don’t pill under makeup — a critical consideration when cameras are flashing from every angle.
The Base: Skin-Like and Buildable
Zendaya’s skin on the red carpet rarely looks like she’s wearing foundation — it looks like her skin, but perfected. Smith tends to favor foundations with a natural-to-satin finish rather than anything too matte or too dewy. The goal is dimension: skin that catches light naturally rather than reflecting it all at once.
Smith has been spotted working with Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation, long considered an industry holy grail for its ability to blur pores while maintaining a breathable, second-skin feel. For concealer, she gravitates toward formulas that blend seamlessly without creasing — often applying them with a damp beauty sponge to melt the product into skin rather than sit on top of it.
Setting is equally deliberate. Rather than baking — which can look cakey under high-definition cameras — Smith uses a light dusting of finely milled translucent powder only where it’s truly needed: under the eyes, down the center of the nose, and along the T-zone.
Eyes: Drama or Minimalism, Never an Afterthought
Zendaya’s eye looks run the full spectrum — from the dramatic graphic liner of her Euphoria-era appearances to the barely-there softness of her more recent Challengers press tour. Deja Smith approaches the eyes as the mood-setter of the entire look.
For smokier moments, Smith leans on blendable gel liners and eyeshadow palettes with rich pigment payoff. Charlotte Tilbury’s eyeshadow palettes are a frequent fixture in her kit, praised for their buttery texture and staying power. When liner is involved, Smith often uses a fine brush with a black gel formula to create precise, graphic lines that photograph cleanly.
For softer looks, a wash of warm brown or champagne shadow on the lid paired with a coat of volumizing mascara does the heavy lifting. Deja has noted a preference for mascaras that lengthen without clumping — a non-negotiable for red carpet shoots.
The Glow: Highlight Placement Is Everything
Zendaya’s signature is that supernatural glow — but it never looks glittery or overdone. Smith achieves this by layering: a liquid highlighter mixed into the foundation for an all-over radiance, followed by a pressed or powder highlight applied with a fan brush to the very top of the cheekbones, the brow bone, and the inner corners of the eyes.
Chantecaille’s Philanthropy Eyeshadow and highlighter products, as well as offerings from Pat McGrath Labs, are regulars in Smith’s kit for their exceptional pigment and blendability.
Lip: The Final Statement
Lips are often where the entire look pivots. For Zendaya’s bolder moments — deep plums, fire-engine reds, earthy browns — Smith lines meticulously and sets with a touch of translucent powder to lock color in place for hours. For nude looks, she slightly overlines the cupid’s bow for definition and opts for a satin rather than matte finish, which keeps lips looking full and fresh.
The secret to Zendaya’s red carpet beauty, ultimately, isn’t one product — it’s the discipline of understanding her skin, adapting to each look’s emotional register, and letting her natural features lead. Deja Smith doesn’t cover Zendaya up. She amplifies what’s already there.