Cannes 2025 Red Carpet Beauty: Global Beauty Rituals Behind the Glam

May 15, 2025
0
5 min read

Each year, the Cannes Film Festival dazzles the world not only with cinematic brilliance but with a parade of breathtaking beauty looks. In 2025, a new wave of red carpet glam emerged — one rooted not in fleeting trends, but in timeless global beauty rituals. From the olive groves of Greece to the thermal waters of Hungary, celebrities are embracing cultural heritage as the ultimate skincare and haircare luxury.

In this feature, we’re uncovering the traditional rituals behind the most talked-about beauty moments at Cannes 2025 — complete with DIY tips and product recommendations so you can recreate these red carpet secrets at home.

Table of Contents

Mediterranean Oil Rituals Behind the Dewy Complexions

✨ Featured Celebrity: Bella Hadid’s glowing, goddess-like complexion
🌿 Traditional Practice: Greek olive oil cleansing
🌍 Cultural Context: For centuries, Mediterranean women have used cold-pressed olive oil as both cleanser and moisturizer, valued for its rich antioxidants and nourishing fatty acids.

🎬 Modern Adaptation: Bella’s makeup artist swears by a double-cleansing method starting with extra-virgin olive oil to remove impurities without stripping the skin. This ritual is credited with giving Bella that camera-ready glow under the Riviera sun.

🧴 DIY Version:

Warm 1 tablespoon of organic extra-virgin olive oil between your palms.
Massage onto dry skin, then wipe gently with a warm, damp cloth.
Follow with a gentle foaming cleanser if needed.

Product Picks:

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil
Kiehl’s Midnight Recovery Botanical Cleansing Oil

Eastern European Thermal Water Techniques for Flawless Bases

✨ Featured Celebrity: Ana de Armas’s silky, poreless skin
💧 Traditional Practice: Hungarian thermal water therapy
🌍 Cultural Context: Budapest’s thermal baths have long been praised for their mineral-rich waters known to soothe inflammation, tighten pores, and boost skin circulation.

🎬 Modern Adaptation: Ana’s skin was prepped with thermal water mists before foundation, a method that hydrates without heaviness and ensures base makeup adheres flawlessly.

🧴 DIY Version:

Chill a thermal water mist and spritz onto your face before moisturizing.
Use as a setting spray to lock in hydration.

Product Picks:

North African Henna Treatments for Statement Hair

✨ Featured Celebrity: Zendaya’s rich, lustrous curls
🌿 Traditional Practice: Moroccan henna hair conditioning
🌍 Cultural Context: Henna has been used in North Africa for generations not just for dyeing, but for strengthening and nourishing hair with antimicrobial benefits.

🎬 Modern Adaptation: Zendaya’s stylist used a gloss treatment inspired by henna to add shine and dimension without damaging hair color.

🧴 DIY Version:

Mix 100g of organic henna powder with warm green tea. Let sit 4 hours.
Apply to clean, damp hair for 1–2 hours before rinsing.

Product Picks:

East Asian Pearl Powder for Ethereal Radiance

✨ Featured Celebrity: Zhou Dongyu’s soft-focus skin glow
💎 Traditional Practice: Chinese pearl powder skin treatments
🌍 Cultural Context: Used in imperial courts for over 1,000 years, pearl powder was believed to brighten and balance qi for skin radiance.

🎬 Modern Adaptation: Zhou’s MUA blended finely milled pearl powder into her finishing powder to reflect light naturally on the red carpet.

🧴 DIY Version:

Mix ½ tsp of pearl powder with aloe vera gel for a brightening mask.
Leave on for 15 minutes before rinsing.

Product Picks:

Indian Ayurvedic Prep for Long-Lasting Makeup

✨ Featured Celebrity: Priyanka Chopra’s all-night glow
🌿 Traditional Practice: Ayurvedic oil massages and herb-based tonics
🌍 Cultural Context: Ayurveda teaches that balanced skin begins with internal and external harmony using natural ingredients like neem, sandalwood, and ashwagandha.

🎬 Modern Adaptation: Priyanka’s team uses light facial massage with herbal oils to stimulate blood flow and astringent herbs to minimize pores — creating the perfect canvas for long-lasting makeup.

🧴 DIY Version:

Massage your face for 2 minutes with jojoba oil infused with turmeric.
Rinse and apply rosewater toner before makeup.

Product Picks:

✨ Your Red Carpet-Ready Ritual Timeline

⏳ One Month Before:

Start weekly Ayurvedic or henna hair treatments
Incorporate thermal water into daily skincare

📅 One Week Before:

Pearl powder masks every other night
Olive oil cleansing routine at night

🎥 Day Of:

Ice facial, thermal mist, light facial massage
Mix pearl powder into finishing powder for glow

FAQs

Q: How can I incorporate these global beauty rituals without cultural appropriation?
A: Approach with respect, research, and acknowledgment of the cultural roots. Choose ethically sourced products from brands that honor these traditions.

Q: Which practice gives the fastest results?
A: Thermal water mists and pearl powder masks show immediate effects in hydration and brightness.

Q: Are these safe for all skin types?
A: Most are gentle, but always patch test — especially with henna and herbal oils.

Q: How do celebrities adapt time-intensive rituals for events?
A: By using modern versions — think hydrogels with pearl extract or quick-absorb henna glosses.

Q: What’s trending most with makeup artists?
A: Ayurvedic prep — it’s the go-to for ensuring makeup longevity in hot climates like Cannes.

Conclusion: Redefining Glam Through Heritage

As Cannes 2025 proved, real beauty radiates from the roots. The red carpet is no longer just about flash — it’s about honoring global heritage through intentional, ancient rituals reimagined for today’s glamour.

By integrating these time-honored treatments into your routine, you’re not only embracing radiant skin — you’re becoming part of a centuries-old story that continues to shine.

Ready to glow like the stars?
🌍 Explore more traditional beauty secrets from around the world on our blog.
💄 Follow us on social media for real-time celebrity beauty breakdowns, DIY rituals, and more insider tips.