Show up to any big fashion venue three hours before showtime. You’ll see models everywhere doing different things. Some getting their hair fixed, others practicing their walks, but the really smart ones? They’re doing something most people never think about: getting their skin ready for those brutal runway lights.

I’ve been hanging around backstage lately, talking to makeup artists who work with some of the biggest names out there. What I found out is that perfect skin requires knowing what to do in those final hours before everyone starts taking pictures.

Models don’t just start doing skincare the morning of a big show. The makeup artists I talked to all say the same thing: if you want your skin to look amazing, you’ve got to start early. In fact, Vogue once highlighted how supermodels like Sara Sampaio swear by a 24-hour reset that includes pure hydration and barrier support—”drinking water… using hyaluronic serum, vitamin C serum…and adjusting moisturizer based on weather.” That kind of thorough prep is what sets the stage for camera-ready refinement.

The night before any big show, models do what people in the industry call the “reset routine”:

I’ve seen this happen over and over backstage. The models who do this whole 24-hour thing show up looking like they already won half the battle.

Here’s what happens on show mornings:

What’s interesting is what models don’t do in the morning. No trying new stuff, no strong treatments, nothing they haven’t already tested. The whole point is keeping the skin they’ve built up, not trying to make it better at the last second.

This is where crazy stuff happens. I’ve seen some wild techniques backstage. The makeup artists have figured out specific ways to make skin look impossible right before show time.

Models put products on in layers, waiting three minutes between each one. Hydrating essence first, then some kind of serum, then primer that works with professional makeup. Backstage, pacing and layering matter—but so does technique. As Elle once shared from Victoria’s Secret models, key backstage habits include “mixing Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair with foundation” and relying on vitamin-C serums under makeup for that extra glow. Those smart layering tweaks echo the hydration-layer strategy used by pro MUA teams to boost luminosity.

Using those jade roller things or gua sha tools, models do targeted massage on spots where cameras catch shadows – under the eyes, along the jaw, around the temples.

All the makeup artists keep mentioning that models who look best on camera have skin that’s been prepped with calming stuff. That’s why keep showing up in backstage kits. These mix organic hemp CBD with other tested ingredients to calm and hydrate skin before professional makeup goes on.

Sometimes models have like 30 minutes between a fitting and showtime. I’ve watched makeup artists do crazy transformations super fast, and their tricks work for regular people, too.

Instead of trying to fix everything, focus on making the best stuff look even better. The makeup artists always say that trying to handle too many skin problems in 30 minutes usually makes things worse.

Beauty editors who cover fashion weeks keep writing about the same kinds of products showing up backstage:

Stuff with ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or peptides that make skin work better instead of just covering problems.

Things that hydrate, protect, and prep skin all at once work best when people are rushing around.

If it takes more than five minutes to soak in, it gets thrown out of backstage kits.

Fashion magazines keep noticing more CBD skincare in makeup artists’ collections. From what people say about these products, they combine calming hemp CBD with hydrating plant stuff made specifically for stressed or sensitive skin.

Models know that keeping skin healthy happens between shows, not just during them. What they do after a show matters just as much as prep.

Right after a show:

Same-day recovery: Models plan specific recovery time even when they have multiple shows. Maybe it’s 20 minutes between venues, but they use it smartly for fixing their skin.

The coolest thing about watching professional pre-show routines is that they’re built around timing and consistency, not expensive products.

For everyday use:

The real secret is not having access to exclusive products or treatments. It’s understanding that glowing skin under pressure needs strategic prep, professional techniques, and products that work with your skin instead of against it.

Whether you’re getting ready for a photoshoot, an important meeting, or just want to look your best, these professional techniques create results that look amazing both in person and on camera.

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