Sarah Jessica Parker's MUA relies on this specific formula for Carrie Bradshaw's 'glowy and dimensional' look

Sarah Jessica Parker's on-set makeup features these glowy picks – and they can be yours from £18

Sarah Jessica Parker is seen on the set of "And Just Like That..." Season 3, the follow up series to "Sex and the City" in Gramercy Park on May 21, 2024 in New York City
(Image credit: James Devaney/GC Images via Getty Images)

Ever wondered what’s behind Sarah Jessica Parker’s über healthy glow on And Just Like That? Wonder no more, because her makeup artist has just given us some behind-the-scenes intel into her Carrie Bradshaw kit. Not only that, she also confirmed the key reason the star always looks so radiant.

While Sarah Jessica Parker's on-screen counterpart is known for her fashion sense and affinity with Manolo Blahniks, her makeup deserves just as much attention – especially when it comes to her complexion. And while the best foundation serums and liquid glow-boosters have a similar finish, the star's makeup artist has revealed that there's one product type, in particular, to thank for Carrie's lit-from-within glow: cream formulas.

In an Instagram post of a picture of SJP and a selection of products from her kit, makeup artist Elaine Offers wrote: "I use a lot of creamy products for a glowy and dimensional look." This makes a lot of sense, as the best cream blushers and bronzers are known for having a slightly dewy and/or radiant finish – and, thanks to Elaine, we're about to have a few more in our arsenals.

The 'glowy' staples behind Sarah Jessica Parker's radiant makeup

The first product name-checked on Elaine’s list is Tom Ford’s Shade & Illuminate, an iconic makeup product that features both cream bronzer and highlighter to really add dimension to the face, housed in a luxurious compact. (That luxury is reflected in its £84 price tag, so if you’re hoping for something a bit more affordable, try Milk Makeup’s Matte Bronzer stick and e.l.f.’s Halow Glow Highlight Beauty Wand.)

Next up is the Stila Convertible Colour Dual Lip and Cheek Cream, a multipurpose product that, again, comes in a useful mirrored compact. There are four different shades to choose from but Carrie’s AJLT shade is Lillium. Finally, MERIT's Flush Balm in Cheeky is another dewy formula that, as its name suggests, creates that healthy and glowy flush. We also love Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, which we find works particularly well on oily skin for a liquid formula.

These first three products are clearly signatures for Sarah Jessica Parker’s alter-ago as Elaine notes: "All of these have been used for Carrie’s look since Season 1." A newcomer to Carrie’s makeup roster for the show’s second season is Finding Ferdinand’s Cream Blush in the shade Attitude, a bold pink. The brand doesn’t seem to have arrived on UK shores yet but, at a glance, we’d tout Bobbi Brown's Pot Rouge in Calypso Coral as a similar pink-coral shade. To master SJP’s signature glow, you can snap up her MUA's other go-to cream formulas above. 

Lucy Abbersteen

Lucy is a UK-based beauty journalist who has written for titles including Marie Claire, Glamour and OK!, as well as contributing to woman&home. Her work covers everything from expert skin and haircare advice to beauty trends and reviews of the latest products. During her career she regularly speaks to the industry's leading hairdressers, dermatologists and make-up artists, has covered backstage at London Fashion Week and interviewed many a celeb about their beauty routine.