From Winona in the '90s to the iconic artwork of Toulouse-Lautrec—Carey Mulligan's beauty inspiration for April…

      Explore Carey Mulligan's April cover for Who What Wear, where a vibrant array of beauty styles instantly captivates. The vintage atmosphere, largely due to the shoot's setting in a quaint old English home, is complemented by fashion highlights such as a periwinkle Prada jumpsuit, a whimsical white dress by Erdem, and a striking oversized leather jacket from Yves Saint Laurent, among others. The beauty inspiration spans from the 1990s looks of Winona Ryder and Gwyneth Paltrow to the punk style of 1970s England and even iconic 19th-century French art. Since every Who What Wear Cover features an in-depth look at hair and makeup, we've uncovered the impressive five hair transformations Mulligan experienced and the various makeup looks crafted by her talented glam squad. Plus, if you want more from our cover star, check out what her Beef co-star Oscar Isaac smells like and revisit one of our favorite Oscar red carpet moments. Enjoy!

      "Skincare prep is a crucial part of the makeup process, whether for a cover shoot like this or a major red carpet event," says Mulligan's makeup artist, Valeria Ferreira. While the right combination of quality products and advanced tools is essential, Ferreira highlights the notable benefits of microcurrent or similar devices. She favors the PureLift Pro model from FaceGym and loves Medicube's PDNR Pink Collagen Mask ($20), which she applied to Mulligan, regarding it as an ideal companion. Following that, she used Augustinus Bader's The Cream ($195) and her go-to skin-plumping eye cream from Bobbi Brown (a cult favorite for good reason!).

      Creating five distinct hair styles for our April cover, Mulligan's hairstylist Shon Ju alternated between using wigs and the actress's natural blonde hair. For the Yves Saint Laurent look featured above, Mulligan wore a wig that Ju had prepped prior to the shoot using a blend of L'Oréal Paris haircare products and GHD's ultra-fast Helios Hair Dryer ($247). The result was a voluminous, bouncy blowout reminiscent of the '90s. A crucial styling choice was a powerful mousse like L'Oréal's volume-boosting formula. "For inspiration, I focused on the clothing Carey would wear and based the hair on that," he explains. "Afterward, it was about collaborating with the other artists on set to develop the various characters for Carey to portray."

      Ferreira shares that the team drew from a range of inspirations for Mulligan's makeup, including the women depicted by artist Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in his Demimonde, the punk era of the 1970s, English singer Siouxsie Sioux, and 1990s actresses Winona Ryder and Gwyneth Paltrow. "We felt unrestricted in creating interpretations of these looks as we progressed," she reflects. "It was fantastic!"

      Ju aimed to craft an elegant and effortless updo for Mulligan’s look above while ensuring it retained shape and structure. He applied a couple of drops of L’Oréal's Elvive Extraordinary Oil Miracle Hair Serum ($20) for shine and separation and used his hands along with strategically placed hairpins to finalize the style, resulting in a romantic, airy appearance paired with a sunlit Erdem dress.

      When asked about specific products, Ferreira reveals that Mulligan's diverse makeup looks incorporated a variety of "random" formulas and application techniques. For example, Isamaya Lip Liner ($28) was used on her eyes, while the now-discontinued Anastasia Beverly Hills Norvina Eye Shadow Palettes provided the color for Mulligan's lips and cheeks. "One product I always use on Carey is Chanel's Les Beiges Water Fresh Tint ($72)—I love the velvety finish it offers as a foundation."

      "This Prada moment marked Carey's second wig look," Ju explains. "To prepare the strands, I utilized L'Oréal Paris shampoo, conditioner, and mousse, along with the brand's EverPure Sleek Coat ($13) to eliminate any frizz." After blow-drying, he used GHD's Original Flat Iron Hair Styler ($179) to achieve what he describes as an "unusual" and "choppy" hair effect.

      "I admire Carey’s artistic sensitivity and her approach to editorial projects," Ferreira concludes our discussion. "She is fully engaged and collaborates by allowing the hair and makeup team the freedom to create and experiment. It's a true pleasure, and I appreciate her versatility. She serves as the ultimate blank canvas."