How Reese Witherspoon Gets That Lit-From-Within Glow: The Makeup Artist’s Pro Secrets You Can Actually Try

Jordan Collins here, your indispensable guide who assumes you probably still need a little handholding, even while you scroll for glow secrets. If you caught Reese Witherspoon on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, you likely noticed that unmistakable, lit-from-within radiance on her skin. Now, the makeup artist behind the Oscar winner is spilling the exact methods that create that polished yet effortless look. The key, says Kelsey Deenihan, is a lighter hand and a deliberate pairing of lightweight products from Naked Sundays to engineer a skin appearance that feels like skin, not makeup smeared across the face.

Deenihan describes a two-step approach designed to keep Reese’s complexion buoyant and believable under late-night studio lights. First, she builds a radiant base with Naked Sundays BeautyScreen Peptide Tint in Shade 3. The technique favors pressing the product into the skin with a sponge rather than swiping or layering heavy foundations, which helps preserve that glassy, natural finish without the mask of makeup. The choice of a peptide tint signals a focus on skin texture and a hydrating feel, so the finish reads as lit from within rather than caked with product. This method aligns with a broader trend in contemporary celebrity makeup, where glow is achieved by lightweight formulas that adapt to the wearer’s natural undertones.

For color and life, the artist moves to the cheeks with Naked Sundays SPF50 Blush Balm in Pink Pop. The process involves warming the balm on the back of the hand and tapping it onto the apples of the cheeks. The result is a flushed, sun-kissed look that fans often associate with healthy radiance rather than obvious makeup. The balm’s formulation also implies sun protection and a dewy texture, important for an on-camera presence that needs to appear fresh across multiple takes and segments.

The article emphasizes that the goal of this routine is “glow without looking like makeup.” The combination of a light tint foundation and a sheer blush creates a complexion that feels luminous but still natural. The narrative positions Naked Sundays as a kit essential for achieving this specific aesthetic, highlighting the foundation’s lightweight gel-like texture and the blush balm’s blendable pigment. The overall vibe is effortless sophistication: makeup that lifts the face rather than covering it, designed for late-night television where lighting can be unforgiving.

Readers are reminded that the exact products used by Deenihan—specifically the Naked Sundays BeautyScreen Peptide Tint in Shade 3 and the Naked Sundays SPF50 Blush Balm in Pink Pop—are available for purchase, enabling fans to replicate Reese’s glow at home. The coverage also nods to Naked Sundays as a cult favorite for sunscreen with a lightweight finish, underscoring the dual benefits of coverage and protection in one breeze-friendly routine. While the article foregrounds these items, it keeps a professional frame, noting that the choice of materials is deliberate for a signature look that remains natural on camera.

If you’re chasing a similar late-night glow, the takeaways are straightforward: start light, press in with a sponge, avoid piling on foundation, and add a touch of color that can be warmed on the back of the hand for a tailored flush. The broader lesson here is that glow is less about heavy product and more about precise application, texture compatibility, and the strategic selection of ingredients that hydrate while protecting the skin.

What you should watch next is whether this approach evolves as lighting tech and on-screen standards shift, or if other celebrities begin to imitate this seemingly effortless, camera-ready radiance. The ongoing conversation about skin-first makeup and SPF-inclusive products makes this a trend worth following as we head deeper into award season. Who will adopt the same technique next, and will we see more “glow from within” looks commandeer late-night TV appearances?

Sources: Celebrity Storm and E! Online (Celebrity makeup artist insights on Reese Witherspoon’s glow), Naked Sundays product descriptions, The Tonight Show appearance coverage.
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed (GO)