Perfectly chiseled Instagram eyebrows? They have their time and place but usually not on the runway and very rarely on the real-world sidewalk. At Jeremy Scott, key makeup artist for M.A.C. Cosmetics, Kabuki, talked us through how to get "Brigitte Bardot" brows that are full but natural.
"You want to brush your eyebrows up first — I'm using M.A.C. False Lash Primer which works well for brows, too — and then you just use an eyebrow pen to fill in any sparse areas. Make sure you're starting the strokes at the bottom of the brow and then whisking it up," he says. "[With this technique], you don't need that much powder to fill in — only to soften the brow a little bit. Also, it's good to use two different colors because then it just reads a little more natural."
In addition to the lash primer, he used M.A.C's Shape + Shade Brow Tint.
Image via Imaxtree
"You want to brush your eyebrows up first — I'm using M.A.C. False Lash Primer which works well for brows, too — and then you just use an eyebrow pen to fill in any sparse areas. Make sure you're starting the strokes at the bottom of the brow and then whisking it up," he says. "[With this technique], you don't need that much powder to fill in — only to soften the brow a little bit. Also, it's good to use two different colors because then it just reads a little more natural."
In addition to the lash primer, he used M.A.C's Shape + Shade Brow Tint.
Image via Imaxtree
Ah... that age-old question of how to pick the perfect nude nail polish. Miss Pop had some great advice for this backstage at Jeremy Scott where she served as the lead manicurist for Essie.
"I say, don't just pick with the back of your hand. For example, my fingertips are a totally different color from the back of my hand and that's where the polish is going to be closest. You want to make sure that the color matches the tips of your fingers and not just your arm or the back of your hand," she says. "Also, if you're having a hard time picking, a little sparkle in the polish is forgiving of the shade that you pick. The other thing I would do is if you have long nails, I think an opaque nude works best, and if you have short nails then a sheer because the line won't show through."
Image via Imaxtree
"I say, don't just pick with the back of your hand. For example, my fingertips are a totally different color from the back of my hand and that's where the polish is going to be closest. You want to make sure that the color matches the tips of your fingers and not just your arm or the back of your hand," she says. "Also, if you're having a hard time picking, a little sparkle in the polish is forgiving of the shade that you pick. The other thing I would do is if you have long nails, I think an opaque nude works best, and if you have short nails then a sheer because the line won't show through."
Image via Imaxtree
Stick straight hair isn't a bad thing, but we all crave a little volume. For shiny, straight locks that still have lift and body, heed the advice of hairstylist Andrew Palmer, who was backstage for Drybar at Pamela Rolland. First, he says to reach for a tool you may not have in your arsenal: a flattening paddle brush.
"Make sure you use the straightening brush from underneath the hair shaft rather than running it on top, which will remove the body. If you use it on top, you remove volume, if you use it underneath, you maintain volume. Same thing when you blow dry your hair," he says.
Image via Imaxtree
"Make sure you use the straightening brush from underneath the hair shaft rather than running it on top, which will remove the body. If you use it on top, you remove volume, if you use it underneath, you maintain volume. Same thing when you blow dry your hair," he says.
Image via Imaxtree
Glitter adds a little whimsy to your look, but it can be pretty tricky to work with if you haven't mastered the craft. Lead makeup artist Pep Gay, who was on deck for Inika Organic at Tadashi Shoji applying loads of biodegradable glitter to models' eyes, had a brilliant hack.
"Inika Cosmetics has this amazing lip serum that we are dabbing onto the eyelids first. I know you probably think that's crazy since it's made for the lips, but it's a natural and organic oil, so it can go on the lips, skin or eyelids," he says. "The oil produces a tackiness and we just press the glitter against the skin and it won't move. You also don't need anything to set the glitter, it just stays put and it's going to stay like that until it's removed."
Image via Imaxtree
"Inika Cosmetics has this amazing lip serum that we are dabbing onto the eyelids first. I know you probably think that's crazy since it's made for the lips, but it's a natural and organic oil, so it can go on the lips, skin or eyelids," he says. "The oil produces a tackiness and we just press the glitter against the skin and it won't move. You also don't need anything to set the glitter, it just stays put and it's going to stay like that until it's removed."
Image via Imaxtree
Raise your hand if you've ever applied undereye concealer only to realize a short hour later that you're dealing with crease city. It happens to everyone, but there are a couple of ways to prevent it.
"The biggest key is to not use too much concealer. Start with a little less because when you start to build on top that's when the makeup begins to crease and cake," says Carly Giglio, who served as the lead makeup artist for Stila Cosmetics at Badgley Mischka. "Also, you need to make sure you've got the right texture for your skin type. For example, if you're dry you're not going to want to go with anything too sticky or dry. If you're oily, that sort of texture would actually be more ideal."
She added that applying the product with your ring finger is also helpful since the natural oil and warmth will help melt the product into the skin versus letting it set on top. Also, and this is key, don't be afraid to set with a little bit of powder.
Image via Wendy Gould
"The biggest key is to not use too much concealer. Start with a little less because when you start to build on top that's when the makeup begins to crease and cake," says Carly Giglio, who served as the lead makeup artist for Stila Cosmetics at Badgley Mischka. "Also, you need to make sure you've got the right texture for your skin type. For example, if you're dry you're not going to want to go with anything too sticky or dry. If you're oily, that sort of texture would actually be more ideal."
She added that applying the product with your ring finger is also helpful since the natural oil and warmth will help melt the product into the skin versus letting it set on top. Also, and this is key, don't be afraid to set with a little bit of powder.
Image via Wendy Gould