This $10 Blush Hack Used On Zoe Saldaña Is The Key to Met Gala-Ready Makeup

Zoe Saldaña sported none other than an Oscar-winning look at the Met Gala this year. The Emilia Pérez actress took the theme “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style” to new heights with a black-and-white Thom Browne gown that was “rooted in heritage, elevated by innovation, and expressed through unapologetic beauty,” says makeup artist Vera Steimberg. The look was paired with a bold eye, sleek bob, and a natural glistening on the cheeks, derived from one well-kept beauty secret.

Yes, Steimberg used the popular Aquaphor Healing Balm Stick on Saldaña’s cheekbones. “I dabbed the balm stick around her cheeks to give her a soft glow,” the makeup artist said. She also used the stick on the actress’s eyelids to “create a shine and natural glow on her eyes,” before applying the usual eye makeup (mascara, eyeliner, etc.). Best yet? You can shop the no.1 bestselling stick on Amazon for just $10. The hypoallergenic ingredients include petrolatum, avocado oil, shea butter, and more, and the balm helps relieve chapped and chafed skin.

In addition to the balm stick, Steimberg used several Hourglass blush products that leave a glowing statement without taking away from the focused eye look and Saldaña’s tailored suit dress. To recreate the look, you’ll need the $36 Hourglass Unreal Liquid Blush in Moment, $48 Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush in shade At Night, and $73 Ambient Lighting Palette in Volume III (Steimberg also used the Volume II palette, which offers lighter tones for a subtle glow, while Volume III carries darker tones to round out the glossy face makeup and dark eye—so it’s up to personal preference on whether or not you want to use both palettes!).

Steimberg says that the finished look champions “Black excellence,” adding that, “the Thom Browne gown reimagines classic tailoring through a regal lens, honoring the strength and structure of ancestral style while boldly stepping into the future.” To learn more about the details of the 2025 Met Gala looks, check out our latest breakdown on the history of Black dandyism.