Jennifer Hudson's Secret to Flawless Red Carpet Skin Is Unexpectedly Affordable

The stars were out in full force at last night’s highly anticipated Met Gala. The event, which took place on the second Monday of September instead of its usual first Monday in May, was held in honor of the Met Museum’s latest exhibit with the Costume Institute, titled In America: A Lexicon of Fashion. Attendees, hailing from Hollywood to Silicon Valley to even Washington, D.C. came dressed to the nines, each in a unique interpretation of American independence. But no one quite captured the ethereal glow of the evening like Jennifer Hudson.

The actress and singer most recently starred in Respect, the Aretha Franklin biopic which premiered this summer. Notably, Franklin is frequently seen wearing red on the screen, so Hudson’s look—a custom AZ Factory dress paired with a perfect red lip by makeup artist Ernesto Casillas—was a subtle homage to the late music icon.

We caught up with Casillas after the festivities to discuss Hudson’s glam, especially her incredible skin. Given the high-visibility nature of the event (between the live-streamed entrances and paparazzi, images are already everywhere), highlighting Hudson’s rich completion was a top priority. “Red carpet skin prep is important for any look and any carpet, but especially was important for me tonight,” shared Callas. “I wanted to make sure I implemented a skincare regimen that would make her skin radiant on the carpet, and perfect for makeup application,” he explains.

Below you’ll find the breakdown of products he used ranging from $30 to $160, how they work, and ways to incorporate them into your routine at home.