Val Garland unveils Heathrow Airport beauty look ahead of Fashion Week with World Duty Free campaign

London Fashion Week makeup artist Val Garland has created the definitive airport look ahead of Fashion Week, designed for long haul travel and inspired by Heathrow. Made entirely with cosmetics available in Heathrow’s World Duty Free beauty offering, passengers will have a chance to get the look themselves, as well as other immersive experiences as part of the Redefine Your Beauty campaign. Photos by Daniel Lewis/Heathrow.

London Heathrow Airport (LHR) has partnered with world-renowned make-up artist Val Garland to create the ultimate airport-ready look ahead of London Fashion Week, which begins next Thursday.

A runway-inspired look for long haul travel

Known globally for her work with celebrities such as Lady Gaga and Rihanna, and for creating looks with top designers, photographers and magazines, Garland has now turned her talents to Heathrow. She has designed a look that works equally well on the Fashion Week runway and in the airport terminal.

The exclusive new look, inspired by Heathrow and suitable for both men and women, is tailored to withstand the pressures of long haul flights and early morning departures, while remaining stylish and fresh. Garland focused on skincare and hydration, incorporating touches inspired by Heathrow, including nods to its classic purple palette, to give a chic finish to a travel-ready look. Every element has been created using cosmetics available through Heathrow’s World Duty Free beauty offering.

Air travel is notoriously harsh on the skin. Low humidity, recycled air and disrupted sleep often leave passengers with dehydrated and dull complexions. Ordinary make-up is rarely able to cope. Garland’s curated routine is designed to counter these effects, blending skin-restoring techniques with bold, fashion-forward accents.

The products behind the Heathrow Look

The look features a series of products from Garland’s World Duty Free skincare favourites. Key items include Charlotte Tilbury Magic Serum, Instant Magic Dry Sheet Mask, Estée Lauder DayWear and Elemis Superfood Multi Mist to maintain hydration throughout the flight. To add glamour, Garland has chosen Benefit Boi-ing Cakeless Concealer, Charlotte Tilbury Unreal Skin Sheer Glow Tint Foundation Stick, Estée Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick, MAC Squirt Plump and MAC Stack Mascara. The finishing touch is a spritz of Jo Malone Wood Sage & Sea Salt Eau de Cologne, a favourite of Garland’s and suitable for both men and women.

The curated routine forms part of Redefine Your Beauty, a campaign from Heathrow and World Duty Free that celebrates beauty and travel. Running across all four terminals until 5 October, the campaign includes immersive experiences, exclusive retail offers and masterclasses from leading beauty brands.

On Thursday 18 September, to mark the start of London Fashion Week, passengers travelling through Heathrow will be able to have Garland’s signature look applied by professional make-up artists. For those at home, Garland has also released a step-by-step tutorial on Instagram.

Heathrow expects 1.3 million passengers to travel through its terminals during Fashion Week, making it the airport’s busiest ever. This is an 8 per cent increase on 2024, with higher numbers of travellers arriving from fashion capitals such as New York, Milan and Madrid. The influx will include industry executives, brands, designers and models, all contributing to Heathrow’s role as a global hub for both travel and beauty.

London Fashion Week makeup artist Val Garland. Photos by Daniel Lewis/Heathrow.

Val Garland, Make-up Artist, said:

“I loved getting my teeth into this challenge, to create the definitive make-up look for air travel – The Heathrow Look. I wanted to create a look that withstands the cabin air yet feels at home on the runway.

“It begins with the skin – hydrated, radiant, alive. A polished, luminous base that feels fresh even after a red eye flight. It’s minimalism with a moment of drama, like spotting couture in a sky of suitcases.

“The Heathrow Look is about stepping off the plane with the same confidence you’d take to the front row. It’s chic, resilient and ready for wherever your journey takes you.”

Nancy Stewart, Head of Duty Free, Luxury, Fashion and Shopping Services at Heathrow, said:

“Heathrow is proud to offer one of the most extensive beauty selections in the world, giving passengers access to exclusive products and expert advice. Working with Val Garland to create a look that is both travel smart and fashion-forward showcases how Heathrow is not only a gateway to destinations worldwide, but also a beauty destination in itself.”

The initiative was inspired by the growth of ‘Get Ready With Me’ airport videos on TikTok, where travellers share their favourite looks for flying. Garland’s Heathrow Look aims to become the definitive version of the trend, combining durability with runway-ready style.

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