Gorgeous, healthy hair is a key component to feeling your best. When our Founder Rachel Katzman wants to amp up the glam for a fun night out, she turns to makeup artist Brittany Whitfield (Instagram: @brittywhitfield). Get all the steps on how to achieve this edgy look and recreate it yourself!
[1] Skin
The first step to a flawless makeup application: prepping your skin with primer. This helps your makeup last longer and fills in imperfections like large pores and fine lines. Brittany uses CoverFX Illuminating Primer on Rachel’s skin and 24 Hour Photo Finish Shadow Primer on her eyelids, allowing it to absorb for a few minutes before applying makeup.
[2] Eyes
>Eyeshadow
Brittany starts with the eyes first, explaining that it’s easy to clean up any eyeshadow that falls on the under-eye without messing up the rest of your makeup. “Use moisturizer or primer to remove makeup under your eyes. Never use makeup remover because they have a lot of oil that breaks up everything,” Brittany says. Brittany uses neutral eyeshadows NARS Bengali (a warm shade), NARS Bali (a cool shade) and MAC Soft Brown to build up Rachel’s smokey eye before adding darker browns. After blending the lighter shades, she uses a dense brush to pack on a darker brown, like espresso.
>Eyeliner
Brittany uses Maybelline Eyestudio Lasting Drama Gel Pencil, her favorite drugstore buy, on Rachel’s top lashes and NARS Velvet Shadow Stick in Flibuste on her bottom. “If you’re not good with eyeliner, blend your dark brown shadows very close to your lash line, then take a brown pencil and smudge with your pinky finger.” When doing a smokey eye, remember that makeup travels, and should be blended upwards and outwards. Start very close to the lash line with a little bit of shadow (it’s easier to build than takeaway).
>Eyebrows
For the brows, use a lighter shade so you can build up the color. Brittany applies Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo in soft, short strokes, then bends her eyebrow brush to comb the color through.
>Lashes
While a lot of mascaras can get chunky, Brittany says the skinny wand of the MAC Cosmetics Extended Play Lash Mascara acts like a comb and picks up every lash. “In a perfect world, they would make a skinny version of a mascara wand for every mascara, even the ones that have fat brushes.”
[3] Complexion
>Foundation
Since Rachel gets regular spray tans from the neck down, Brittany uses Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Foundation in one shade warmer than her natural skin tone to match. She avoids the eye area (“you don’t need to be darker there”) and uses a concealer brush to apply the foundation to control how much is used. “When using a warmer foundation, make sure to apply from the jawline up so it’s not splotchy. And don’t forget the ears,” Brittany says.>Concealer
Brittany customizes Rachel’s under-eye concealer by mixing SMASHBOX Studio Skin 24 Hour Waterproof Concealer in Light Neutral with NARS Concealer in Mustard on her hand. She emphasizes the importance of where you first place your brush, explaining that’s where you deposit the most color. Start near the inner corner of the eye and blend out. “Those lines you see people do with concealer, you don’t need to do that. Your under-eye is so delicate you don’t need to bombard it with concealer.”
>Bronzer & Blush
Take your NARS Cappadoce Matte Multiple (an easy, multi-purpose stick for eyes, cheeks, lips and body) and draw downwards from where the ear lines up with the cheek, following your bone structure. Always start with a cream bronzer, than dust over it with a powder bronzer. Since your forehead receives the most sun, you only need to add a light sweep of bronzer on the hairline. Brittany’s bronzer tip: “start with a little product and build up, blending in circular motions.” A small dusting of Too Faced Peach My Cheeks in Pinch My Peach adds an extra touch of rosiness, while a dab of highlighter emphasizes Rachel’s cheekbones.
[4] Final Touches
To ensure all night staying power, lightly dust Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder all over your face to absorb oil. Complete your look by spritzing our Cuvée Beauty Protective Treatment on strands, then using the T3 SinglePass LUXE straightening iron to create sleek and shiny hair!
What do you add to your makeup routine for a special night out? Is it a megawatt highlighter? Bold red lip? Comment your favorite products below!