Allison Roth Beauty

The hair and makeup room backstage at the Oscars is a place of quiet and cosmetics amidst the commotion—where stars stop in to relax, hide out, and have their hair and makeup touched up before going on stage to present. “When you walk into makeup, it’s very zen. It's the kind of place where people want to go to collect their thoughts,” says Bruce Grayson, the head makeup artist for the Academy Awards for over two decades.

Grayson is in charge of making sure that every person who steps onto the Dolby Theatre stage—celebrity presenter, musical performer, member of the Academy—feels and looks like their best selves. He’s powdered the nose of everyone from Salma Hayek to Meryl Streep and is prepared for any cosmetic emergency, whether that’s a rogue false lash or a smudge of lipstick on a tuxedo collar. In anticipation of this year’s awards, Grayson shares at the link in comments what it’s like touching up Hollywood’s biggest stars on the industry’s biggest night—and the beauty products he uses to do it.

Background photo: courtesy of subject; Center photo: Getty Images

Such beautiful words. I love my work and this makes it even more special. 🩷

She had the wrong extensions; someone in her wedding party wore them! All she had was a synthetic, frizzy one-piece halo extension. I cut it, shaped it and with a lot of product and faith I made it work! It actually looked beautiful!

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