How to get that Bridgerton glow for just £5: HANNAH BETTS reveals the make-up secrets of the Netflix hit

The second half of the third series of Bridgerton is now on Netflix, and, frankly, I could watch it with the sound off, on a loop, merely wallowing in its cosmetic glory.

Forget Pen or Francesca, the real star of the show is hair and make-up designer Erika Ökvist.

I am particularly besotted with her trademark ‘Bridgerton glow’, the dazzling highlight that graces the cheekbone above every heaving bosom. One can see why Erika and her crack team won an Emmy for season two.

I felt obliged to grill this slap supremo for her on-set secrets so that we could all become Bridgerton beauties.

I am particularly besotted with the 'glow' - a dazzling highlight that graces the cheekbone above every heaving bosom. Pictured: Nicola Coughlan as Penelope Featherington

The show takes place in an ‘eternal’ summer, with cosmetics bigger and bolder than they would have been in real life — anachronisms such as Penelope’s (pictured right) season three scarlet lipstick permitted to serve a larger, artistic end.

‘Each face has had a glow up, one more level of refinement,’ Erika, 52, explains. ‘The brief for every character is to make them the most desirable, sexy and sultry they can be.’ All the cast appear to be in the first flush of love, passions inflamed.

Hundreds of products were used by Erika’s army of make-up artists (30 on typical days, up to 150 for balls). ‘Pre-make-up skin prep is a huge part of the look, varying from actor to actor. We use face masks, lymphatic drainage massage, and beauty tech such as LED masks and microcurrent devices which work to improve texture, for depuffing and plumping.’

Erika admires Eucerin (from £9, Boots.com), the budget-conscious dermatological giant trusted for over a century. She also uses newer broom Emma Hardie skincare (from £10, emmahardie.com), which includes the multi-award-winning Moringa Cleansing Balm (from £18), cherished as a facial in a jar.

Her choice for sensitive skin is Örn Kuu (from £6, ornkuu.com), formulated by make-up artist Alice Hopkins who struggled with chronic eczema.

‘Choosing primers and foundations is as personal as the skincare,’ insists Erika. ‘I use two to four different primers on some performers: mattifying on the nose, perhaps, pore perfecting on the cheeks. Sometimes, a good primer with an under-eye corrector is all you need.’

Race you to it! 

Billed as five benefits in one bottle, Olay Super Serum (now half price, £19.99, boots.com) looks set to become an instant classic. 

Olay's Super Serum firms and evens skin tones

With niacinamide, vitamins C and E, collagen peptide and AHAs, it firms and evens skin tones, while lending a radiant, ‘pearl skin’ effect. 

Her top primer is Hourglass Veil Mineral Primer (from £24, johnlewis.com). For under-eye concealer and complexions, she favours Shiseido Synchro Skin Self-Refreshing Concealer (£35.50) and Revitalessence Skin Glow Foundation (£49, shiseido.co.uk); or Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer (£27), and Airbrush Flawless Foundation (£39, charlottetilbury.com). Her budget choice: No7 Instant Radiance Under Eye Concealer (now £14.41, boots.com).

Erika deems By Terry Hyaluronic Hydra-Powder (from £20, cultbeauty.com) ‘great for mature skin as it doesn’t look drying’. She loves Burts Bees Lip Tints (£5.09, hollandand barrett.com), and advocates Rumi VolumeCare+ Mascara (£31, uk.rumicosmetiques.com), designed for mature women with thinning eyelashes. 

To adapt the Bridgerton glow for older women, Erika notes: ‘I love layering a couple of different highlighters. I use the old Hollywood technique for black and white photography. The light hits the cheekbones, forehead, nose and chin, so use dewy shimmer to lighten and lift. On dark areas, apply a matte texture to create a subtle contour.’

Erika urges us to innovate with make-up, be artful, and keep an eye on Gen Z techniques. ‘Always experiment,’ she decrees. ‘When in doubt, start with very little on your brush and build up. Don’t be scared to mix colours — apply blusher by layering at least a couple of shades. To experiment with colour, buy a cheap brand first, then invest once you know what you like. There are no age-appropriate looks.’

‘Make-up should empower you.’ Amen to that.

Hair perfume

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Hair Perfume (now £51, johnlewis.com)

Hot date? Try Jacques Polge’s ambery flirtation.   

Gisou Honey Infused Hair Perfume (from £34, cult beauty.co.uk)

Inspired by the brand’s bee garden, this scent adds shine and helps to strengthen.

Nourishing camellia oil and scented with pink peppercorn, patchouli and rose

Diptyque Hair Mist Eau Capital (£58, spacenk.com)

Nourishing camellia oil and scented with pink peppercorn, patchouli and rose. 

Byredo Blanche Hair Perfume (£60, byredo.com)

This addictive, fresh-laundry, light aroma leaves hair subtly perfumed throughout the day.

Moroccanoil Hair & Body Fragrance Mist (£12.85, sephora. co.uk)

A portable option for a speedy hot-weather zhoosh — an exotic blend of spicy amber and sweet floral notes.

Cosmetic craving 

Infused with collagen and elastin, this brilliant blur has sold out six times

I’m late to the party with Trinny London Miracle Blur (£26, trinnylondon.com), one of this great British businesswoman’s most hotly adored products. Infused with collagen and elastin, this brilliant blur has sold out six times — at its peak being purchased every six seconds.

The reason? It works. Pad on with fingers before or after make-up using the fool-proof, speedy application for which Trinny Woodall’s brand is famed, and your lip lines, wrinkles, acne scars, cavernous pores and/or pillow indents are instantly veiled over. It’s also lovely if going make-up free.

Here is the quick fix we have all been dreaming of.

My icon of the week

The actress, 43, starts her day with Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Powder drink mix

Jessica Alba

The actress, 43, starts her day with Ultima Replenisher Electrolyte Powder drink mix (from £30.65, amazon.co.uk) to keep skin hydrated. 

By day, she uses Honest Beauty Daily Green Juice Antioxidant Super Serum ($24.99, honest.com); by night, Honest Hydrogel Cream (£26.45, amazon.co.uk). She massages with a Shani Darden Sculpting Wand (£236.60, cultbeauty.co.uk).