The secrets behind Jenna Ortega’s goth glam beauty looks

On her press tour for Tim Burton’s Wednesday, Jenna Ortega has taken notes from the Addams-family macabre. While most stars default to safe, clean-girl beauty for their press runs, Ortega has let gothic edge creep under (and on to) her skin and the result is some of the best celebrity beauty (and fashion) we’ve seen in a long time.

With bleached brows, smokey eyes and dark-lined lips, the Wednesday star could fall right into a Charli xcx cameo or likely be spotted in the queue for a basement rave bathroom. In London, succubus chic make-up was paired with a loose-and-low braid and an Ashi Studio couture dress that looked like melted wax. In London, her hair was swept back into a messy low-ponytail, framing the ensemble of gloomy gothic eye and wine coloured lips. The overall effect was one that Ortega’s make-up artist Melanie Inglessis calls “a little rebellious, not too conventional, a little goth, a little rock’n’roll,” and one that perfectly complements the ethereal goth style of the fashion.

Alongside Inglessis, the team giving the usual red-carpet formula a refreshingly creepy twist is made up of hairstylist Cesar Ramirez and stylist Enrique Melendez. When coming up with the looks, they work together with a collaborative Pinterest board which they flood with inspiration. “Through the year, we pin glam ideas that suit Jenna’s look, personality and mood,” explains Inglessis. The references include early Galliano/Dior make-up, Peter Lindbergh smoky eyes and – unsurprisingly – 90s Angelina Jolie.

This creativity is unlikely for press runs, which usually stick to the plainer, more classic palettes. Inglessis attributes the editorial experimentation of the looks to Orgeta’s willingness to play. “We like to create ‘a look’ with Jenna, she is so down to play and it is so refreshing, especially because it doesn’t feel forced. She allows us to explore and create.”

To achieve the looks, Inglessis used a range of Dior beauty products (Ortega has been a Dior Beauty ambassador since May). For the Seoul debut, where Ortega appeared with smoky eyes, muted lips and bleached brows, she used Diorshow Overvolume mascara, the Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette, and her converted Dior Forever Skin Perfect. “It blends onto the skin so well – undetectable but buildable. It looks and feels like skin. It can be used as a concealer, a foundation, or just in a few areas to cover redness or spots,” she explains. So now you can recreate the look for yourself or read our piece unpacking Wednesday’s beauty looks from season one here.