Luar’s Postcard From The Met Gala

Expensive ITG,

I went to my second Met Gala! It’s so thrilling and enjoyable to go as a result of the night time is at all times surprising. You don’t know who’s going as a result of nobody needs to let you know who they’re taking. However it’s thrilling to see my friends and what they’ve labored on. It’s type of like a reunion in a approach. We get to hang around and snicker and spill some tea. Nonetheless, it’s so scary strolling up the Met steps. It’s such an extended stroll, and I’m at all times anxious I’m going to journey or the photographers will get a loopy shot of me.

After I learn that the theme and costume code this yr was ‘Backyard of Time,’ I thought of how the Costume Institute is bringing out these beautiful clothes which are so fragile they will break, and naturally, I thought of flowers. I dressed Lil Nas X this yr, and he was type of like my flower. He had a peplum second encrusted in 56,000 Swarovski crystals and three,000 coated buttons on his swimsuit, pants, and high. It was very tailor-made, very polished, and really stylish. It took a minute to make. My look was just a little bit extra demure. It had loads of coated buttons, too, with an extended sash.

I labored for MAC for years; she was a counter lady as soon as upon a time. However I’ve at all times been a magnificence lady. My mother has at all times been a giant inspo. I imply, she’s very Latina. She takes care of her pores and skin, and I’ve at all times wished to emulate that. I’m like, ‘Woman, I’m not attempting to age both. I’m attempting to be Benjamin Button.’ That’s all to say I used rather a lot to prep for the Met, however first, I received a facial with Jordan Esposito from Barbara Sturm.

I nonetheless use MAC Prep + Prime Repair+—I hold it within the fridge. I sprayed that on at first. Then I went in with my serums. The Dr. Barbara Sturm Exoso-Metic face serum is basically cute. It’s a very intense face serum that helps rejuvenate the pores and skin and offers you a very lovely glow. I additionally love the iS Medical Professional-Heal serum, Dr. Barbara Sturm eye cream, Marco Castro Amazonicoil hybrid serum, and Peter Thomas Roth Water moisturizer. As I went in, I had the MAC Squirt Plumping Gloss Stick in Simulation, a nude, on my lips.

After skincare, I went in with my make-up. I don’t prefer to look too finished up; I prefer to appear to be I didn’t put something on. I like to combine the Glossier Stretch Concealer with Glossier’s Futuredew so it appears to be like actually pure, and yo, that shit appears to be like good. I don’t prefer to look matte, and the combo is basically dewy. Then I put the Glossier Haloscope in Quartz on my cheekbones. It makes you tremendous glowy however not in a foul approach. Loads of highlighters make me look nuts. I put just a little little bit of the JLo Magnificence That Star Filter Complexion Booster on high of my cheekbones, too, proper over the Haloscope. I set my face with the MAC Repair+ Keep Over Setting Spray.

For my brows and mustache, I used the MAC Definer forehead pencil in Spiked. Giselle B. at Humorous Faces in Williamsburg laminates my brows each 5 weeks, in order that they don’t want a lot, however I really need them to stay down. I really like Göt2b Glued for them as an alternative of a forehead gel. I comb it by way of with just a little child hair comb. To form my beard, I like RED by Kiss Tintation non permanent hair coloration spray in Medium Brown.

I combined Dr. Barbara Sturm’s Tremendous anti-aging physique serum with the Glossier Physique Hero oil mist. I don’t need my face to look tremendous cute and glowy after which have my physique look dry, so I added within the Dr. Barbara Sturm Glow Cream. It moisturizes you want loopy.

I’m very Dominican, so I want a contemporary fade earlier than I step out wherever. It’s a really basic type of Latino-ism. [Laughs] I received one finished early within the morning by Ariel Rodriguez, who additionally reduce my hair for the Met final yr. He’s wonderful. And Naomi Yasuda did my nails. I went for a basic clear polish as a result of I like my nails to appear to be glass.

I received L’Artisan Parfumeur Contes du Levant in Marrakesh some time in the past. It has pink pepper, rose, and patchouli. I put on this fragrance for particular events as a result of it’s just a little robust and I prefer to make individuals really feel disturbed, like I need individuals to say, ‘Oh, there she goes’ once I stroll by and so they can scent me. They usually did.

Love,
Raul

—As instructed to Daise Bedolla

Photographed by Alexandra Genova on the Soho Home New York on Might 6, 2024. Embedded photograph by way of Getty.