Jillian Dempsey

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The Protocol: Jillian Dempsey

The Protocol: Jillian Dempsey

Our series featuring the daily routines, expert advice, and beauty tips of industry insiders (read: those who’ve got it down to a science). Because we should all have a Protocol.

An unequivocal industry innovator and one of the first prominent celebrity makeup artists, Jillian Dempsey started out in the early ‘90s, mastering her craft alongside high-profile fashion photographers in Paris and London. The Los Angeles native eventually returned to her hometown, signed with Smashbox Studios, and went on to become the go-to artist for both elevated editorials (Vanity Fair covers, shot by Annie Leibovitz, evolved into ongoing collaboration) and well-known clients, with a roster that includes Jennifer Lawrence, Kate Winslet, Kristen Stewart, and Kirsten Dunst, to name just a few.

She launched her eponymous beauty line in 2014, with an equal-parts focus on a commitment to organic, vegan, and cruelty-free products and an expertly edited, high-performance selection. If you haven’t already tried it yourself, you’ve surely heard rave reviews about her uniquely vibrating facial bar. The same goes for her seductively smudgy Lid Tints. (Jillian also heralded a more hands-on approach to application, championing blending both base and color with one's own fingertips over potentially more restrictive brushes.)

Now she’s upping the ante once again with her game-changing beauty and grooming app, FYFE, which merges video tutorials from industry experts with an instant shopping experience. 

Here, Jillian shares her easy advice for a flawless face, clear mind, and necessary reset:

What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
I check my phone briefly, then go downstairs to let my dogs out and make a cup of coffee to map out my day.

Describe your morning and evening skincare routines.
I live for my skincare routine and have a million favorite products, but I’ll keep it top-line. Morning-wise, I cleanse, moisturize, and apply a facial oil that dries matte (perfect for applying makeup on top!) and I definitely do not walk outside without applying sunscreen. If I am going surfing with my kids, I will use Vertra’s sunscreen face sticks for ultimate protection.

At night, I cleanse my face again (I love Sisley’s Radiance Foaming Cream for everyday use) and apply U Beauty’s The SUPER Hydrator. For nights where I want the ultimate treatment, I apply my Jillian Dempsey Hydrating Eye Masks. As I let the eye masks work their magic, I massage and contour my face with my Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar.

Do you have a fitness routine? If yes, what are your objectives/goals when you work out?
I work out with a trainer about three to four times a week in order to stay toned and go on either bike rides or walks with my dogs and kids daily. I believe in trying to get as much exercise in as possible to feel my best and keep a healthy balance with my work life. I love an endorphin blast.

Which procedures do you love, and which would you never try (or never try again!)?
A photo facial at the end of summer. It helps get rid of sunspots with very little downtime.

What’s your diet like on a typical day?
I don’t have a set diet, but I try to incorporate as many fruits and vegetables into my meals as possible. I also do not eat any animals with four legs or shellfish.

What's the last thing you do before you go to bed?
Kiss my kids goodnight.

Who’s your beauty idol?
I don’t believe in idols. I look up to many people and find the term to be a lot of pressure for one person to take on :)

What’s the most high-maintenance aspect of your beauty protocol?
Hair color, FOR SURE! I like to explore a variety of blonde shades so I am constantly changing up with being an icy or warm blonde. I drive Tracey Cunningham (my colorist) nuts!

What’s the best piece of beauty advice you’ve gotten?
Always make sure you match your face foundation or tinted moisturizer to your neck and blend, blend, AND blend.

What’s your 24-hour plan for getting ready for a big event or photoshoot?
My most recent “big” photoshoot was shooting our new artist tutorials for my beauty app, FYFE. We secure our models, make our mood boards, plan how many looks we will try to shoot and in what order, and ensure the artist has every product lined up that they might need to live out their beauty visions.

Our latest artist is a hairstylist, so there was a lot of fun hair accessory sourcing involved as well. In fact, the night before, I wound up sewing scrunchies myself based off a YouTube video! That was certainly not part of our original 24-hour plan, but I had a last-minute creative idea, and I couldn’t help but see it through.

What do you do when you want to reset, regroup, or detox?
I apply my Hydrating Eye Masks and go over them with my vibrating Jillian Dempsey Gold Bar to de-puff and relax. I also take a run around my block sometimes for claritythe sprints are great for that!

Featured Products

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Resurfacing Compound

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The SUPER Hydrator

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