That May-Britt gave me Zygia's number was a lucky moment. Yes, of course I wanted to ask her some beauty questions. She has been in the business for 27 years and is the regular makeup artist for Linda de Mol. So I was very curious about how she manages to look so radiant every day, what her essentials are, and what secret tricks she whispers to me.

Morning ritual

“Actually, I have quite a short morning routine. I brush my teeth. And if I have a pimple, I put a little liquid Advil on it, as it works anti-inflammatory. Furthermore, I use mascara, eyeliner, and touch up my eyebrows a bit. I don't use much in terms of creams and other products. I have a very complicated skin, and as soon as I apply something, blackheads and clogged pores appear. The less I do with my skin, the better it actually goes.”

Red carpet essential

“When I appear on the red carpet, I'm more like a kind of Cinderella running after everyone for a touch-up. I walk behind on the red carpet in my Uggs and then put on a nice shoe. I make sure I look good, a nice base and just a little extra, but I don't have time to look in the mirror, so I do the makeup nicely, but not too obvious. For the people I do makeup for, eyelashes are important. I'm a huge fan of small pieces, long lashes, and volume, because this really completes the makeup. I always find Bambi eyes very nice. Additionally, highlighting is great. For television and photography, that's tricky, but on the red carpet, a highlight on the cheekbones and lower lip gives just that little extra.”

Beauty confessions

“I have very thick hair, without curls, but with a strange wave. It's quite a job to make it look good; sometimes I spend an hour blow-drying it. People say my hair looks great, but I reply that I've just washed and blow-dried it. No one sees how much work goes into it. If I just let it air dry, I put it in a bun. At least you don't see that strange wave then.”

Eyebrows or lashes

“I find eyebrows very important. My quirk is that my eye always first falls on someone's eyebrows. Can they be shaped better, do some hairs need to be removed? It's such an important feature. My mother is Indian, and because of that, my eyebrow hair is very black, which is quite a strange sight with blue eyes. I maintain my eyebrows myself and walk around all day with the Tweezerman and a little mirror to pluck. You can see those black hairs immediately.”

Unexpected beauty tool

“Cotton swabs. You really need to have them with you at all times. Eyeshadow, for example, quickly settles in the creases of your eyelid, and if you dab it with a cotton swab, it looks good again. It's a golden accessory. Because they always fluff, I cut them in half and put them in a small tube. They fit well in your clutch or small bag.”

Favorite perfume

“Santal 33 by Le Labo Fragrances. I always bathed in a bath of Opium, from deep in the 80s until about five years ago. When I discovered this scent, I ruthlessly pushed the others aside. It's a strong scent, a bit sandalwood and musk-like. I don't really like floral scents, and when I spray this, everyone asks what I'm wearing because I smell so good. Look, you want to hear that every day, right?”

Never leave home without

“YSL Touche Éclat. A classic. The very best. Makeup artists use it a lot, but if you use it yourself occasionally, a tip is to cut off the brush. Just apply a little on the back of your hand and apply it with your finger. This way, the brush stays nice and fresh smelling.”

Nice beauty purchase

“I am very addicted to the One by One Volum’Express mascara by Maybelline. After one application, you already have a lot of volume in your lashes, but after three applications, you are really happy. I also use it for my clients. Actually, I use makeup that I personally like for others as well, then you know how it works and what it does.”

Don't tell anyone but…

“You now see so many BB and CC creams from brands, but they are not always used correctly. Sometimes I see a huge line on people because they haven't blended it well. Such a shame. Choose the right color, don't apply too much. Less is more. And always take a look in the rearview mirror of the car. You see yourself in harsh daylight then, those little mirrors don't hide anything. And if you look good in that mirror, you can confidently go through the whole day.”