Jenna Ortega's make-up artist on "glorifying her freckles" for her Bazaar cover shoot (2024)

Transformation may be what actors do best, but for Jenna Ortega's recent Harper's Bazaar cover shoot, highlighting her mesmerising natural beauty was the priority.

For the Bazaar Awards issue, our 'Breakthrough' winner was photographed by Agata Pospieszynska in Paris dressed in beautiful creations by designers including Celine by Hedi Slimane, Alaïa, Simone Rocha, 16Arlington and Dior – the house for which Ortega serves as a face. In line, Peter Philips, creative and image director for Dior make-up, was behind her beauty look. The brief, he tells us, was "a 'light' look, luminous with a delicate focus on the eyes".

Of the collaboration with Ortega, he explains that the Wednesday star "mentioned she was feeling an eyeliner," which resulted in "a slightly winged eyeliner, delicate on the lash line, but kind of heavy towards the outer corner – knowing that the wings would blend in with the edges of her fringe" (the focus of her effortless-looking hairstyle by Jenny Cho). "This eye also gave a nice contrast with the luminous skin, glorifying her freckles."

Her freckles are a feature Ortega is keen not to downplay. "I remember I was insecure about them when I was younger," she tells us in her 'Inside my beauty bag' video (above) filmed at the photoshoot, noting that whenever make-up artists try to cover them now she objects. "My face is my face, and they’re there for a reason." Clearly, Philips didn't need to be told.

"I prepped the skin with a dot of moisturising cream, then I applied a thin layer of the Dior Forever Glow Veil – which is like a luminous primer. To unify her complexion, I used a little bit of Dior Forever Skin Glow Foundation and some Dior Forever Skin Correct Concealer where needed." To "unify" without masking is quite an art, he admits. "It’s tricky not to 'pollute' the freckles when you apply too much product; it kind of washes them out." It’s about applying the right amount of coverage on the right spot, he reveals. "And if needed you can intensify some freckles with some eyebrow pencil or tiny dots of matching matte eyeshadow." The Rouge Blush 959 Charnelle – with its "luminous satin finish" – further elevated Ortega's complexion while maintaining a 'real skin' finish.

For the vintage feeling eyeliner with its "touch of timeless elegance and a bit of daring punk" Philips use the Dior On stage Liner 091 Matte Black, and "finished the eyelids in a subtle way with the beautiful Diorshow 5 Couleurs Eyeshadow Palette in 649 Nude Dress". For her lashes he applied a little Diorshow Iconic Overcurl Mascara 090 Black.

And finally, for her lips, the make-up artist mixed a bit of Dior Addict Lip Glow Oil 015 Cherry with a touch of Rouge Dior Lipstick 200 Nude Touch, which resulted in a neutral look that read "plumped and hydrated, slightly bitten". Seen from a poetic point of view – which fashion editorial rightly should – "they promise a genuine smile and a sweet kiss," he concludes.