Although there was no live studio audience for Sunday night’s show, O’Neill tells me they created their own energy backstage. “We played the Lovers Rock soundtrack by Steve McQueen, which is great and so chilled. I also rub invigorating essential oils onto my wrists before I do the make-up, so Holly gets whiffs of the scent while I’m doing her make-up.” O’Neill favours oils by Neal’s Yard Remedies and Aromatherapy Associates.
For the make-up, O’Neill used a Inika Radiant Glow Primer, £38, to begin with, crediting a primer as a ‘must’ for any woman over 30 to even out the complexion (even if just with a concealer). On Holly she used a £48 foundation by the Japanese beauty brand Suqqu, known best for its skin-like, refined bases. She used the Nude Wear Foundation buffed in with a foundation brush to blend seamlessly.