There’s no hiding flaws on the runway
Models walk under brutal overhead lighting, in front of photographers shooting at 20 frames per second, wearing looks that have to be identical face after face, hour after hour. Every pore, every uneven patch, every breakdown shows. And backstage, there's no time—there's never time.
That's the world Cristina Cuéllar commands.
Entrepreneur, internationally recognized makeup artist and educator, Key Makeup Artist at fashion backstages across Mexico and the U.S., national image director for Miss México, and the founder of Grupo Cristina Cuéllar—one of Mexico's most respected beauty institutions, with over 18,000 graduates. As TEMPTU PRO's distributor and educator across Mexico and the greater Latin community, Cristina doesn't just set the standard for runway-ready skin. She teaches it.
This season, she's leading a team of artists at New York Fashion Week. Her non-negotiable? TEMPTU PRO airbrush, every single time.
The Products Behind Cristina's Runway Kit
When you're backstage at NYFW with a rotation of models, a full team, and zero margin for error, every product has to earn its place.
Here's what never leaves her kit:
TEMPTU Air: The device that changed everything for her in 2009—and still does. Cordless, precise, and fast enough to keep pace with the most demanding backstage schedule.
Brilliant Glow — both shades: Her go-to for the ultra-luminous, translucent skin finish dominating the spring/summer 2026 runways. Skin that looks alive, not made-up.
Perfect Canvas Airbrush Blush Pods: Pigmented enough to register under runway lighting, soft enough to melt seamlessly into skin. No patchiness, no fallout, no stopping to blend.
SB 53 Highlighter: Precision glow for cheekbones, brow bones, and inner corners—the details that make a look photograph like a full retouch.
Foundation Range — PC and SB formulas, light through dark: Cristina keeps both formulas on hand in a full shade range. Runway calls for consistency across every skin tone walking. There's no substitute for having the right match ready.
Want to work the world's biggest runways? Here's Cristina's advice.
Q: What first sparked your love for makeup?
A: The nobility of the profession. I could serve others through my work, help someone feel better about themselves, and build a real career from it. That combination was everything from the beginning.
Q: You've built one of Latin America's most respected makeup institutions. What do you love about teaching?
A: The possibility of transformation—not just for the student, but for their whole life. The quality of their work, their income, and their family's stability. I love knowing that the artists I train will be able to provide a home and education for their children, and eventually create jobs for other artists. That ripple effect is why I teach.
Q: How would you describe your signature style?
A: A healthy, elegant look where clients still look like themselves. I'm loyal to whoever's in my chair—whether it's a bride, a pageant contestant, or a model on a NYFW runway. My job is to give them the best possible skin, and then get out of the way.
Q: What beauty trends are you seeing on the runway this season?
A: Two strong directions running at the same time: ultra-healthy, luminous, translucent skin that reads almost like a second skin—and bold, textured eyes with a lot of color and dimension. The contrast is intentional. The skin has to be impeccable for the eyes to land.
Q: Best advice for an aspiring makeup artist?
A: Think like a businessperson. Be organized. Seek to expand your services by offering what few others do—that's where the real differentiation happens. Airbrush makeup is what separated me from the competition in 2009, before it was mainstream. It turned me into an artist with a sales-oriented mindset, dedicated to service and excellence. Find the tool that sets you apart. Then build everything around it.
Ready to build a runway-ready kit—and the career that comes with it? Shop Cristina's TEMPTU essentials below.
Shop Cristina's Kit Now