We spoke with the show’s lead makeup artist to uncover the secrets behind Emily’s evolving beauty styles.
After a two-year hiatus, Emily Cooper, portrayed by Lily Collins, returns to Netflix’s Emily in Paris for its much-anticipated fourth season. The first part of the season, featuring five episodes, brings a blend of romance, Parisian elegance, and striking beauty. According to lead makeup artist Aurélie Payen, this season’s beauty looks reflect a perfect fusion of American and French aesthetics.
“It was crucial not to replicate the styles from earlier seasons but to evolve Emily’s look as her character has grown,” Payen reveals.
As Emily’s character matures, so does her makeup. “Initially, Emily’s look was very American,” Payen explains. “This season, we aimed to capture the essence of French beauty, which is often about embracing natural looks or opting for bold statements.” Expect to see plenty of no-makeup moments during Emily’s everyday scenes, contrasted with vibrant, daring looks for evening and party scenes.
“We experimented with more color this season,” Payen shares. “From black-brown lips to graphic eyeliner with under-eye dots, which became a standout look.” Payen used a Makeup by Mario Master Mattes palette to contour Emily’s lips, paired with a burgundy-brown lipstick to create an almost-black effect.
Some looks blend American and French influences seamlessly, such as Emily’s striking green eyes paired with a red-orange lip. “The combination was very ’80s,” says Payen. “Green eyes with a red-orange lip and wet hair was a new experiment, merging two contrasting styles from both cultures beautifully.”
