MARA takes NYFW backstage at the Collina Strada show, where models had our signature luminous, pearlescent skin thanks to Pearl Peptide Glaze.
For Spring/Summer 2027, Collina Strada took a Detour through Storm King Art Center, staging the first runway show ever held across its landscape of grass, sky and monumental sculpture. To complement the collection’s collision of medieval romance, punk and Y2K rebellion, lead makeup artist Francelle Daly created an equally unexpected beauty look: immaculate, ethereal skin set against lived-in, grungier eyes. “There is a fairy-tale indie-sleaze vibe with the hair, makeup and clothes,” says Daly. “The skin is immaculate and ethereal against the grunge eye looks.” Luminous skin is going to be everywhere for spring 2027 according to Elle, so here's how to get it.
Step One: Clean Skin
Backstage prep began with Algae Enzyme Cleansing Oil, massaged onto dry skin to melt away makeup, SPF and buildup without stripping moisture. Powered by fruit enzymes, algae and nutrient-rich botanical oils, the silky formula left every complexion clean, soft and naturally glowing—the fresh canvas needed to make the show’s pearlescent finish feel luminous rather than overly polished.
Step Two: The Pearl Peptide Base
Next came Pearl Peptide Glaze, The Essential Complexion Prep Step.
A few pumps were pressed into cleansed skin to flood it with hydration, soften the look of redness and create a smooth, plump surface for makeup. The 3-in-1 essence-toner-serum and primer pairs marine collagen peptides, pearl powder and algae to give skin that lit-from-within quality before foundation is even applied.
“The skin story is all about luminescence, and starting the skin prep with MARA Pearl Peptide Glaze is essential for our pearlescent Collina Strada glass skin,” says Daly. “It hydrates, treats and primes the skin and is the perfect glowy base for foundation.” The glaze created an even, hydrated surface that allowed foundation to spread beautifully and bind to the skin—preserving its freshness beneath the lights and throughout the show.
Step Three: Finish with Light
To complete the complexion, Universal Face Oil was tapped across the upper cheekbones for a subtle, dimensional sheen—no glitter or heavy shimmer, just skin that caught the light as the models moved through the landscape. Sea Sculpt Body Oil was then smoothed over the arms, legs and décolletage for a hydrated, sculpted finish without a greasy feel.
The final effect was a study in contrast: pearlescent glass skin against smudged, rebellious eyes; fairy-tale beauty with an indie-sleaze edge. Ethereal but never precious, polished but never perfect—the kind of skin that looked fully alive in the wild setting of Storm King.
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