Demi Moore turned heads at the 97th Annual Academy Awards on March 2, 2025, and not just because of her Best Actress nomination for “The Substance.” The 62-year-old actress arrived in a showstopping custom Giorgio Armani Privé silver gown featuring crystal embroidery, a plunging neckline, and pleated hips. However, what truly captured beauty enthusiasts’ attention was her absolutely radiant, age-defying makeup that looked fresh and luminous under the harsh red carpet lights.
Behind this flawless beauty moment was Sofia Tilbury (also known as Sofia Schwarzkopf-Tilbury), the niece of makeup mogul Charlotte Tilbury. Working exclusively with her aunt’s eponymous brand, Sofia created a look that perfectly balanced timeless glamour with modern freshness. The best part? She’s revealed every single product used, from skincare prep to the final setting spray, giving fans a complete roadmap to recreate this red carpet magic at home.
The Inspiration: Drama Meets Radiance
Sofia described her vision for the evening as “radiant, fresh skin with pops of color on the cheeks and a sultry sparkle on the eye.” Given that Demi’s Armani gown was already a showstopper, the makeup needed to bring an equivalent level of drama without competing with the dress. The result was a masterclass in enhancing natural beauty while maintaining enough impact for the cameras.
“Demi’s gorgeous Armani gown was such a showstopper on the red carpet, so we knew the beauty look had to bring the same level of drama,” Sofia explained. Yet despite the glamour factor, the finished look maintained what Sofia called a “fresh, barely-there finish” that allowed Demi’s natural beauty to shine through.
The Foundation of Flawless: Skincare Prep
Before touching a single makeup product, Sofia embarked on an extensive skincare routine that laid the groundwork for the entire look. This wasn’t a quick splash-and-go situation. Instead, she methodically layered nine different skincare products to create what she calls “a beautiful canvas.”
The process began with Charlotte Tilbury Charlotte’s Magic Hydrator Mist (£80), applied as a light spray to prep the skin. Immediately following, Sofia pressed Charlotte Tilbury Glow Toner (£76) into the damp skin to enhance absorption. This technique of applying toner to already-misted skin maximizes the product’s hydrating benefits.
Next came the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum Crystal Elixir (£123), pressed into the skin rather than rubbed. This pressing motion encourages better penetration of the active ingredients. While the serum was absorbing, Sofia applied Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Skin Secrets Immediate Eye Revival Patches (£99) under Demi’s eyes for intensive nourishment to the delicate eye area.
After removing the eye patches, Sofia followed with Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue (£90), an eye cream designed to address fine lines and puffiness. Then came perhaps the most critical step: Charlotte’s Magic Cream (ranging from £54 to £149 depending on size). Sofia emphasized the importance of this step, stating, “You can’t have a beautiful painting without a beautiful canvas.”
To complete the skincare phase, she applied Charlotte Tilbury Magic Lip Oil Crystal Elixir (£56) to Demi’s lips and finished with Charlotte Tilbury Invisible UV Flawless Poreless Primer SPF 50 (£55). Interestingly, this primer has been discontinued in Australia, making it a collector’s item of sorts. Sofia even took time to apply Charlotte Tilbury Supermodel Body (£88) to Demi’s clavicle and exposed skin, ensuring every visible inch had that signature glow.
Building the Base: The Secret to That Lit-From-Within Glow
Once the skincare had fully absorbed, Sofia moved into the base makeup phase. Here’s where things get interesting. Rather than starting with traditional foundation, she reached for the Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter in shade 3 Fair (£39 to £70, with a mini version at $19). This cult-favorite product has earned its reputation for a reason—it sells one bottle every six seconds globally.
The Hollywood Flawless Filter served as the primary product for creating what Sofia described as a “blurred, perfected look.” By using this lightweight formula instead of heavy foundation, she maintained that coveted fresh finish. For additional coverage where needed, she selectively applied the Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Hydrating Foundation Stick in shade 10 Tan (£63).
The Lifting Concealer Technique
Sofia’s concealer application deserves special attention because she employed a specific technique designed to create an instant lift effect. She used two shades of Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer (£51 each): shade 5 Medium and shade 8 Medium.
The lighter shade was applied upward over the inner and outer eye corners, along the smile lines, at the outer corners of the lips, and down the center of the face. This strategic placement creates visual lift by drawing light to areas that naturally recede with age. Additionally, Sofia used this concealer as an eyeshadow base, proving that multitasking products can deliver professional results.
To address any remaining discoloration, she incorporated the Charlotte Tilbury Magic Vanish Colour Corrector in Fair (£51), targeting specific areas that needed additional color correction before the concealer.
The Sandwich Hack: Long-Lasting Perfection
Here’s where Sofia shared one of Charlotte Tilbury’s signature techniques: the “Sandwich Hack.” This method ensures makeup stays flawless for up to 16 hours, which is essential for a long awards show night.
First, she applied a light mist of Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray (£20 for 34ml travel size, £32 for full size, $54) over Demi’s entire face. After letting it set into the skin, she pressed Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish powder in shades 1 Fair and 4 Deep (£73) into the T-zone. This creates what Sofia calls a “beautiful, blurred mesh effect” that locks everything in place without looking cakey.
She also used Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Brightening Flawless Finish in Fair-Medium (£73) to add subtle luminosity to high points of the face. The setting spray itself has been the top setting spray in both the UK and US since 2020, and it was also used on other Oscar attendees that night, including Best Actor winner Adrien Brody, Michelle Yeoh, and Colman Domingo.
Sculpting and Color: Bringing Dimension to Life
For the cheeks, Sofia layered multiple products to create depth and dimension. She started with the Charlotte Tilbury Matte Beauty Blush Wand in Pillow Talk (now discontinued in Australia, making this a noteworthy product choice). This gave a natural flush that looked like it came from within.
Next, she added the Charlotte Tilbury Beauty Light Wand in Pillow Talk Light (£60) for highlighting the high points of the cheekbones. To add warmth and prevent the look from appearing too cool-toned under the lighting, she incorporated the Charlotte Tilbury Beautiful Skin Island Glow Lip & Cheek in Paradise Pink Glow (£60).
Contouring came from the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Bronzer in Medium (£84), applied strategically to create subtle definition without harsh lines. The combination of these products created a multidimensional effect that translated beautifully on camera.
Eyes That Sparkle: Layering for Subtle Drama
For the eyes, Sofia took a layered approach using multiple palettes to achieve the perfect balance of depth and sparkle. The base came from the Charlotte Tilbury Super Nudes Easy Eye Palette (£95 in UK, $60 in US), which provided neutral tones for creating dimension in the crease and outer corner.
She then reached for the Charlotte Tilbury Luxury Palette in Uptown Girl (ranging from £46 to £89 depending on size, $38 in US) specifically using the “Pop Shade” for a touch of sparkle. However, the real star of the eye look was the Charlotte Tilbury Eyes to Mesmerise cream shadow in Champagne (£50). This provided that sultry sparkle Sofia mentioned in her initial vision.
Additionally, she incorporated a shade called Super Neutral from the Charlotte Tilbury Palette of Beautifying Eye Trends to further refine the eye shape. The concealer she’d applied earlier as a base ensured all these shadows stayed vibrant and crease-free throughout the evening.
Defining Without Overpowering
For eyeliner, Sofia kept things soft and subtle with Charlotte Tilbury The Super Nudes Duo Liner. Rather than creating a harsh line, she used this to gently define the lash line, maintaining that fresh, approachable quality that characterized the entire look.
Multiple coats of Charlotte Tilbury Exagger-Eyes Volume Mascara (£48) completed the eye makeup, adding length and volume without clumping. The key here was building up the lashes gradually rather than loading on product all at once.
Brows: Soft Definition
Demi’s brows received careful attention without looking overly sculpted. Sofia used the Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat in Natural Brown (£48, with a mini version at $29) to softly define the arches. This pencil allowed for hair-like strokes that looked natural rather than drawn-on.
To set everything in place and add a subtle sheen, she finished with Charlotte Tilbury Brow Fix (£48), a clear brow gel that keeps hairs in position without stiffness or flaking.
The Lips: A Long-Wear Hack Worth Stealing
The lip look incorporated a clever technique that Sofia shared specifically for its longevity. She started by lining Demi’s lips with Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat Lip Liner in Pillow Talk Medium (£38, with a mini at $29). This shade is described as “everyone’s favourite pinky-nude lip liner” and has achieved cult status in the beauty community.
Here’s where the hack comes in: After applying the liner, Sofia did something unexpected. She applied a very thin layer of the Airbrush Flawless Finish powder directly over the lip liner. “It’s a great lip hack for anyone looking to create a lip look that will last through dinner, drinks, cheek kisses, you name it,” Sofia explained.
Only after this setting step did she apply Charlotte Tilbury K.I.S.S.I.N.G. Lipstick in Candy Chic (£54) to the center of the lips. This technique creates a longer-lasting lip that won’t transfer or fade throughout the evening—essential for an event as long as the Oscars.
The Final Touches
After completing all the makeup application, Sofia returned to the Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray for a final misting. This completed the “sandwich” by sealing everything with a protective layer that promises up to 16 hours of wear without melting, fading, or creasing.
The Complete Breakdown: Investment and Accessibility
When you add up all the products Sofia used, the total investment is substantial. The skincare prep alone ranges from several hundred pounds, with products like the Magic Serum Crystal Elixir at £123 and the eye patches at £99. The makeup products add several hundred more, particularly with palettes at £95 and foundations at £73.
However, Charlotte Tilbury offered a special promotion following the Oscars. Using the code REDCARPET, customers could receive 20% off when spending £50 or more. This promotion was valid through Thursday, March 6, 2025, making the look somewhat more accessible to those wanting to recreate it immediately.
Why This Look Works
What makes this makeup particularly noteworthy isn’t just the product list—it’s the philosophy behind it. Sofia prioritized skincare as the foundation, used lightweight products that could be layered for coverage without heaviness, and employed professional techniques like the concealer lift application and the powder sandwich method.
The result was a look that photographed beautifully under harsh red carpet lighting while still appearing natural and fresh in person. This balance is notoriously difficult to achieve, which is why so many red carpet looks appear stunning in photos but overly heavy in real life.
The Charlotte Tilbury Red Carpet Sweep
Interestingly, Demi wasn’t the only star wearing Charlotte Tilbury that night. The brand dominated the Oscars red carpet, with the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray appearing on Michelle Yeoh (who attended for “Wicked”), Best Actor winner Adrien Brody (for “The Brutalist”), and Colman Domingo (nominated for “Sing Sing”). This demonstrates the brand’s professional reliability under pressure.
Meanwhile, other attendees used different beauty prep methods. Both Mikey Madison (who ultimately won Best Actress over Demi) and Zoe Saldana used the CurrentBody LED Light Therapy Face Mask Series 2 (£399) for their pre-red carpet prep, showing that LED therapy has become a red carpet staple.
Recreating the Look at Home
The beauty of Sofia’s detailed product breakdown is that it provides a complete roadmap for recreation. While investing in every single product would be costly, the key products that create the foundation of the look are the Hollywood Flawless Filter, the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray, and the Beautiful Skin Radiant Concealer.
The techniques Sofia shared—particularly the upward concealer application, the powder sandwich method, and the lip liner setting hack—can be applied with similar products from other brands. However, the cohesiveness of using products formulated to work together cannot be underestimated.
The Bigger Picture
Though Demi didn’t take home the Oscar that night (the award went to Mikey Madison), her beauty moment became one of the most talked-about aspects of the ceremony. In an era where filters and editing dominate beauty standards, seeing a 62-year-old woman look radiant and fresh without appearing overdone or “done” sends an important message.
Sofia Tilbury’s work demonstrated that sophisticated makeup application focuses on enhancement rather than transformation. By investing time in skincare prep, using products strategically rather than heavily, and employing professional techniques, the final result looked effortless despite the extensive process behind it.
For beauty enthusiasts, this complete product breakdown offers something rare: absolute transparency about what creates a red carpet moment. No guessing, no approximations—just a verified list from prep to finish, complete with shade numbers and application techniques. Whether you invest in the entire lineup or simply adopt Sofia’s smart techniques with products you already own, the lessons from Demi Moore’s Oscar beauty moment offer valuable insights into creating flawless, long-lasting makeup that looks natural and feels comfortable.
