Elevated Presence: The Quiet Power of Men's Makeup at Bonobos

**Behind the Scenes - Bonobos Campaign**

There’s something uniquely satisfying about men’s grooming done right—especially when it doesn’t announce itself. For Bonobos SS25, the brief was simple: fresh, real, and camera-ready. Not Instagram-filtered, not overly editorial. Just confident, controlled, and light-handed.

We focused on skin-first techniques: smoothing texture, canceling fatigue, adding radiance where it mattered. Concealer was placed strategically—under eyes, around the nose, along the jawline—to sharpen and refresh without reading as "makeup." A matte balm controlled shine without killing dimension. Brows were brushed up, lips hydrated, and complexions left intact.

It’s easy to overdo men’s makeup in campaign work. But this shoot was all about restraint—a refined edit of the face rather than a transformation. The camera caught the light exactly where we wanted it to, and nothing looked forced under studio heat.

Grooming in 2025 isn’t about flash. It’s about intentionality. And when done right, it’s invisible—but unmistakable.

xx Remi O.