Carolyn Bessette's Lipstick and Other Behind-the-Scenes Details From "Love Story" ...Middle East

There was a lot of pressure on the hair and makeup teams behind FX's "Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette." CBK's look was rooted in simplicity, yet she was incredibly refined. Transforming star Sarah Pidgeon into the '90s beauty icon took a lot of research and a skilled eye - but the team was up for it. Which was good because, as goes the story with almost all biographical dramas, the public had a lot of feelings. Luckily, makeup department head Milagros Cerdeira, hairstylist for Pidgeon Barry Lee Moe, and hair colorist for Pidgeon Kari Hill are experts in their fields.

Ahead, they each share where they looked for inspiration, the exact products they used on Pidgeon, and more.

Milagros Cerdeira, "Love Story" Makeup Department Head

Popsugar: What were your biggest sources of inspiration when building Carolyn's beauty look and transforming Sarah?

Milagros Cerdeira: Archival photography of Carolyn from the '90s - especially candid street photos and images from the Calvin Klein era - was my biggest reference. I wanted to capture that minimalist, effortless aesthetic and translate it onto Sarah with modern formulas that create beautiful skin on camera.

PS: What's the single most important beauty detail you had to get right to truly capture Carolyn's essence?

MC: The skin. [She had] luminous, almost bare skin, soft neutral eyes, natural but thin brows, and a restrained palette. Carolyn's complexion always looked fresh and hydrated rather than made-up. I focused on sheer complexion products like the Chanel N°1 De Chanel Skin Enhancer Boosts Radiance ($68), Ogee Complexion Serum Foundation ($49), and Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer ($39), subtle sculpting with Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Contour ($30), and Merit Flush Balm Cheek Color in Soft Pink ($30) for an effortless, polished feel.

PS: Can you tell me about her signature red lip? What product did she use then, and what product did you use on the show to recreate it?

MC: Carolyn's red lip was very classic – elegant but never overly dramatic. Two lipsticks she was known to wear were Face Stockholm Cranberry Veil Lipstick ($30), which is still available today, and the original Bobbi Brown Ruby Lipstick ($35). For the show, I used Cranberry Veil and adjusted the tone with different lip pencils so the color complemented Sarah's complexion while still staying true to Carolyn's signature shade.

Barry Lee Moe, "Love Story" Hairstylist For Sarah Pidgeon

Popsugar: What were your biggest sources of inspiration when building Carolyn's beauty look and transforming Sarah?

Barry Lee Moe: There are two photos that gave me a lot of inspiration when I started to create the look. One, a shot of Carolyn at Indochine, and the second, a Polaroid from the Calvin Klein office. In both photos, her eyes pull you in immediately; there's so much energy there. Sarah has a similar quality in her eyes, and I saw that as a big connector. I wanted her color and styling to enhance and showcase her eyes as much as possible.

PS: What would you say are the hallmarks of CBK's look that you felt were important to nail?

BLM: The effortless, lived-in nature of her hair. I think it was crucial to the success of this entire look. I primarily used Unite Products to create and maintain these looks. It's such a well-rounded product line, with something for everyone. The 7 Second Leave-In Detangler ($40), the Texturiza Spray ($45), and the Blonda Hair Oil ($55) are my favorites.

PS: Her hair always looked polished but never over-styled. What techniques helped you achieve that effortless finish on Sarah?

BLM: Carolyn's hair always looked so beautifully lived in, and I really wanted to recreate that energy with Sarah. I made sure Sarah was part of every look, that she really got her hands in her hair for a while before she went on camera. When you have a good foundational set and a lot of texturizing spray, the hair continues to build into something more beautiful as the day goes on. Sarah is a dream actress to work with and really understands how to make an impact with her hair on camera.

PS: Any fun facts or hidden details you think we should know?

BLM: Over the course of two days, it took approximately 24 Hours (20 for color and four for extensions) and 400 Individual extensions to achieve this look.

Kari Hill, "Love Story" Hair Colorist For Sarah Pidgeon

Popsugar: How did you research and approach recreating Carolyn's specific shade and tone of blond?

Kari Hill: I approached Sarah Pidgeon's color as a timeline, not a single moment. Carolyn's blond wasn't static - it evolved with her, and that evolution was incredibly intentional. I studied imagery across multiple years, paying close attention to how her color shifted depending on her lifestyle, lighting, and overall aesthetic. Early on, her hair had more depth and felt understated, almost like a natural dark blond. As time progressed, it became brighter and more refined, but never overworked.

What I created on Sarah was a very real, warm, high-contrast blond shade that Carolyn was known for. It wasn't icy, and it wasn't overly golden. It sat right in the middle, with softness and depth. That balance is what makes the color feel authentic. The hair was also highlighted meticulously so that it could be easily tossed and moved by Sarah on camera. The dimension was crucial to ensure that from any angle, the color reflected her authentic shade of blond.

To lift her color, I used Schwarzkopf Professional BlondMe Premium Lightener 9+.

PS: For someone who doesn't know, how would you describe "Bessette Blond?"

KH: "Bessette Blond" is a warm, dimensional blond that feels polished but never overdone. The shade is very buttery, golden, and glossy, with visible highlights rather than a flat, single-process blond. What makes it special is the balance: you still see depth at the base of the head with stronger, deliberate pieces of blond running through it, often lifted right up to the root. The highlights are noticeable and strategically placed, giving it a bold yet effortless feel. It's the kind of blond that looks expensive and intentional, but still natural.

PS: Any fun facts or hidden details you think we should know about the color?

KH: Hair color in the '90s typically leaned more buttery or golden vs. the platinum or ash shades we see today, largely because the technology simply wasn't there to safely lift hair to the ultra-light shades we see today.

'90s bleaches did not include bonding ingredients, which lifted hair inconsistently, and hair was often too compromised to hold hair color tone. Lightening hair with bleach is one of the most aggressive chemical services we can put our hair through and it's important for consumers to know what they are putting on their hair. These 90s looks are far more achievable now. What I love is that this color is a return to that highly intentional color that foils made popular and a departure from the "lived in" color & techniques like balayage or hair painting that have dominated our culture today.

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