Beauty Secrets From FX’s “Love Story.”

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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 based on simplicity, yet it was incredibly refined. Transforming star Sarah Pidgeon into a ’90s beauty icon took a lot of research and a skilled eye – but the team was ready for it. Which was good because, as the story goes in almost all biographical games, the public had a lot of emotions. Fortunately, makeup department head Milagros Cerdeira, Pidgeon hairstylist Barry Lee Moe, and Pidgeon hairstylist Kari Hill are experts in their fields.

Ahead, they each share where they look for inspiration, the specific products they used at Pidgeon, and more.

Milagros Cerdeira, “Love Story” Head of Makeup Department

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

Milagros Cerdeira: Carolyn’s archival photography from the ’90s – mostly obscure street photos and Calvin Klein-era photos – was my main reference. I wanted to capture that understated, understated beauty and translate it to Sarah with modern formulas that create beautiful skin on camera.

PS: What was the most important aesthetic detail you had to find to really capture the essence of Carolyn?

MC: Skin. [She had] light, 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 focus on complexion products like 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 Pink Soft Colors for Merit Cheek $30 for an effortless, polished feel.

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

MC: Carolyn’s red lip was perfect – pretty but not overpowering. The two lipsticks she is known to have worn were the Face Stockholm Cranberry Veil Lipstick ($30), which is still around 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 that the color matched Sarah’s complexion while still sticking to Carolyn’s signature shade.

Barry Lee Moe, “Love Story” Hairstylist for Sarah Pidgeon

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

Barry Lee Moe: There are two images that gave me a lot of inspiration when I started creating the look. One, a shot of Carolyn in Indochine, and the second, a Polaroid from Calvin Klein’s office. In both pictures, his eyes are drawn to you immediately; there is a lot of energy there. Sarah has the same quality in her eyes, and I see that as a great connector. I wanted her color and style to enhance and show off her eyes as much as possible.

PS: Can you tell what are the CBK looks that you feel are important for dating?

BLM: The impotence, life-natural of his hair. I think it was essential to the success of all these looks. I primarily used Unite Products to create and maintain this look. A well-rounded product line, with something for everyone. The 7 Second Leave-In Detangler ($40), Texturiza Spray ($45), and Blonda Hair Oil ($55) are my favorites.

PS: Her hair always looked polished but never overdone. What strategies to help you reach that easy ending for Sarah?

BLM: Carolyn’s hair always looked so good, and I really wanted to recreate that energy with Sarah. I made sure that Sarah was part of the whole look, that she ran her hands through her hair for a moment before she took the camera. When you have a good base set and plenty 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: What fun facts or hidden details do you think we should know?

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

Kari Hill, “Love Story” Sarah Pidgeon’s Hair Color

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 didn’t stop — it evolved with her, and that evolution was incredibly intentional. I’ve studied photography over the years, paying close attention to how her color changes with her lifestyle, lighting, and overall beauty. At first, her hair had more depth and felt understated, almost like a dark natural blond. As time went on, it became brighter and more refined, but never overworked.

Sarah’s classic was a true, warm shade of white, very different from what Carolyn is known for. There was no snow, and it wasn’t overly golden. It stayed in the middle, with softness and depth. That balance is what makes a color feel true. The hair was also carefully highlighted so that it could be easily tossed and moved by Sarah on camera. The size was important to ensure that from any angle, the color reflects her true shade of blond.

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

PS: To someone who doesn’t know, how would you describe “Bssette Blond?”

KH: “Bestette Blond” is a warm, sided blonde that feels polished but never overdone. The shade is more buttery, golden, and shiny, with more visible highlights than a flat, one-process blond. What makes it special is the balance: you still see the depth at the bottom of the head with strong, deliberately decorated pieces running through it, which are often lifted up to the root. Highlights are visible and strategically placed, creating a bold yet sophisticated feel. It is a type of blond that looks expensive and purposeful, but still natural.

PS: What fun facts or hidden details do you think we should know about color?

KH: Hair color in the ’90s tended to lean more like butter or golden compared to the platinum or ash shades we see today, mostly because the technology didn’t exist to safely lift hair to the lighter shades we see today.

The ’90’s bleach did not contain binding ingredients, which lifted the hair permanently, and the hair was often too vulnerable to hold the tone of the hair color. Bleach is one of the harshest chemical treatments we can put our hair through and it is important for consumers to know what they are putting into their hair. This 90s look is very accessible now. What I love is that this color is a return to that more on purpose color foils have been popularized and a departure from the “live in” color and techniques such as balayage or hair painting that dominate our culture today.

Jessica Harrington (her) is the Beauty Category Leader at Popsugar, where she oversees all direct coverage across the website, social media, and newsletter. With over nine years of experience in the industry, she has interviewed many celebrities, reported on hundreds of beauty trends, and changed more lipsticks than she can count. Prior to PS, Jessica worked for publications such as Makeup.com, Skincare.com, and Zoe Report. He is based in New York City and holds a journalism degree from Hofstra University. Outside of work, she enjoys reading, traveling with her husband, saving and cooking.