The Cannes Film Festival is a spectacle of cinematic glamour and sartorial splendour, where the fashion statements are undeniably iconic, but it's the beauty looks that insiders obsess over most. As the sun sets over La Croisette, the legendary five-star Hôtel Martinez buzzes with activity. From Angelina Jolie to Bella Hadid, and most recently Demi Moore and Jane Fonda, the suites are transformed into temporary glam studios, filled with ring lights, garment rails, and makeup kits the size of carry-ons. It's a race against time to prep stars for premieres, photo calls, and after-parties, where the most-requested pre-event facial is taking place beneath the hotel's marble interiors at L'Oasis du Martinez by Carita. The Signature Or Rejuvenic Facial Treatment with 24k gold is a sculpting, radiance-boosting treatment designed to revive exhausted skin before it faces high-definition cameras and Riviera humidity. The treatment comes in two forms: a manual facial featuring choreographed lifting massage techniques designed to plump, smooth, and tone the face instantly, or a radio-frequency version that works deeper to stimulate collagen production over time. The appeal, according to Mathilde Mat, Head of Communications at Carita Paris, is less about transforming faces and more about restoring vitality. Camera-proof beauty is the goal, and flawless makeup is impossible without properly prepared skin underneath it. The real backstage hero is Carita's On-The-Go Energy Shot, a set of highly concentrated ampoules infused with 24-carat biotech gold and 12% vitamin C designed to give skin instant luminosity before makeup. The atmosphere at Cannes is often surprisingly calm, or at least controlled chaos, with black cars picking up beautiful people to take them to their red carpets and events. The balance between glamour and exhaustion is exactly what makeup artists are working against during festival season. According to Jamie Coombes, Dior Beauty International Backstage Makeup Artist – UK, Cannes skin prep is less about piling on products and more about reviving tired complexions that have survived long-haul flights, late nights, and relentless schedules. The goal at Cannes is never to create a character, but always about working with clients to define their individuality rather than trends. The collaborative process often begins long before red carpet day itself, with beauty teams working alongside stylists and hairstylists from the moment a gown is selected. Even with weeks of preparation, Cannes remains famously unpredictable, and the most valuable thing inside a Cannes makeup kit isn't necessarily a hero lipstick or viral foundation, but adaptability — alongside very good lighting. Red carpet hair hacks require military-level preparation, with humidity-proofing products becoming essential backstage staples during festival season. One hairstyle that continues to dominate year after year is a slick-back chignon, which remains a classic request for Abi Constanza, celebrity hairstylist. Both experts are remaining diplomatically tight-lipped about exactly who will be sitting in their chairs this Cannes season, but hints of familiar names in the mix are intriguing.
