Pat McGrath launches the "glass skin" mask inspired by the Maison Margiela Artisanal 2024 fashion show

Sometimes, makeup steals the spotlight from the outfits on the runway. This was the case at the Maison Margiela Artisanal 2024 show. What caught everyone’s attention wasn’t just the show itself—a decadent cabaret inspired by the paintings of Kees van Dongen and the twilight photography of Brassaï—but also the makeup by Pat McGrath, who transformed the faces of Gwendoline Christie and other models into haunting porcelain dolls. Everyone wondered how the legendary makeup artist achieved that hyper-real glass skin effect.

Theories abounded, and creators tried to recreate the effect by experimenting with everything in their beauty arsenals. Shortly after, McGrath revealed she had used a mix of distilled water and peel-off face masks, including cucumber masks by Freeman Beauty, Proot, and Que Bella. The mixture was layered multiple times using an airbrush, taking 45 minutes to 2 hours per model. The meticulous process was deemed far too complicated to replicate at home, discouraging even casual beauty enthusiasts from achieving that otherworldly glow. One year after Margiela's show, McGrath offered a solution for anyone wanting to channel the iconic runway look: she launched the Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask.

Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask, Pat McGrath’s product for glass skin

Pat McGrath describes Glass Skin 001 as "my love letter to the Maison Margiela runway" and adds, "this formula captures the brilliance of that iconic moment, delivering a hyper-lustrous, lacquered glow and ethereal radiance in minutes. It’s beauty reimagined for makeup lovers everywhere. Wear it, love it, make it your own". In essence, it’s a peel-off mask infused with glycerin, rose flower water, and allantoin to refresh, smooth, and plump the skin. The promised result is “a hyper-lustrous, lacquered finish, transforming every complexion into a vision of ethereal radiance.” To find out if the product lives up to its promises, beauty enthusiasts will have to wait until January 30, when the mask will be available on the Pat McGrath Labs website for €38.

How to use the Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask

The process doesn’t require an airbrush or many steps. Using Pat McGrat Labs Skin Fetish: Glass 001 Artistry Mask is much simpler and similar to applying a regular peel-off mask. It can be applied on bare skin or over makeup for a surreal, plastic shine. All you need is a brush—Pat McGrath recommends the Sublime Perfection Blurring Brush—and a cup of water to dampen it. Scoop a small amount of the product, use the dampened brush, and gently apply in small strokes across the face, letting each layer dry fully before adding the next. To remove it, the brand suggests opening your mouth wide and carefully peeling off the mask in one motion. "It’s versatile: one layer gives you spa-like skin, two layers give you a luminous glow, and three layers achieve true glass skin," McGrath explains, adding: "There are so many fun ways to use this product. Highlight features by applying it to the high points of your face—cheekbones, bridge of the nose, and chin—for radiant, plastic shine. Pair it with a touch of highlighter or luminous moisturizer to enhance the glass-skin effect without overdoing it. Customize your application: less is more if you’re looking for a soft, natural glow, or apply it under makeup for a smooth, radiant base without the ultra-glassy finish." Curious to try it?