For Skin That Slays: Sir John Spills His Favorite DIY Skin Care Tricks

When you work on complexions that are honestly #flawless, you pick up a few tricks of the trade along the way. That’s at least the case for celebrity makeup artist Sir John, one of the biggest names in the makeup business right now—and brand ambassador and celebrity makeup artist for L'Oréal Paris—working on the most celebrated tours, editorial shoots, and more. We were lucky enough to sit down with Sir John—and yes ladies, that is his real name—to get some of his skin care secrets, if you will.  And, when Beyonce's makeup artist gives you his skin care tricks, you take notes! Check out some of Sir John’s favorite DIY skin care hacks, below:

When it comes to smooth, supple skin, Sir John goes to the grocery store. “The best scrub for the body, I feel, is cornmeal and honey,” he says. He’ll alternate between this “old school” combo and a mix of raw brown sugar and honey.

“This liquid matte lip trend that we’re seeing right now is going to dry your lips out, it’s not really good for supple lips,” he says. “So you have to make sure that you exfoliate the lips properly.” His go-to for exfoliation is a blend of raw brown sugar and coconut oil which will not only gently exfoliate your pout but also give them some hydration and help prep them for your favorite matte lip color.

Go to the drugstore or a grocery store, and get a huge box of powdered milk. Not the kind that you use in your coffee or a flavored one, but like the old school one that looks like huge snowflakes.

“Go to the drugstore or a grocery store, and get a huge box of powdered milk. Not the kind that you use in your coffee or a flavored one, but like the old school one that looks like huge snowflakes,” he says. “Put three or four cups inside a bath of hot water—you can use soap if you want lather, but I just use the milk. The lactic acid from [the milk] leaves your skin feeling so soft, you’re going to think ‘why has no one told me about this yet?’ The bath is so soothing and relaxing that after you get out, you’re going to want to take a nap.” 

Girls who have oily skin but love to wear a liquid or cream foundation have to try this hack. “After you put on your foundation, take a tissue, split it in half—since all tissues are two-ply—and then take that sheer sheet and blot your face,” he says. “It helps take the oil off your foundation and just leaves color. A lot of times you have to retouch your makeup so much because of the oils in the foundation, but if you take that oil off you’re just left with pure pigment.”