Actress Nia Long served face Sunday night at the BET Awards giving a glow even Bruce Leroy would bow down to. If you loved her look, I’ve got some steps on how to copy it that works on all skin tones. Check it out:
1. As always, beautiful makeup stars with beautiful skin. Be sure to cleanse, tone, and moisturize your skin according to your skin type.
2. Next, we’re going to apply a stick foundation (try Iman Stick Foundation) only where you need it. Stick foundations give excellent coverage and a little goes a long way (besides, who wants to have cakey face in the summer?). Set with loose powder like Make Up For Ever Super Matte Loose Powder.
For tips on applying foundation, check out Beauty 101: How to Apply Streak Free Foundation.
3. To get a killer eye look that will last all day without creasing, start by applying an eyeshadow base like Urban Decay Primer Potion all over the lid. Next, take a shimmery eyeshadow that’s about the same color as your skin and sweep it along the bottom lid. Add a highlight to the brow bone about 1-2 shades lighter than your skin tone. An eyeshadow brush like MAC #224 makes blending a soft look like this super easy.
To smoke the eye out, grab a shimmery black shadow like Urban Decay Eyeshadow in Oil Slick. Apply the black shadow on the lower lid starting from the middle of the lid and gently let it extend a bit outside the outer corner. Use a heavy blending brush like MAC #217 to apply. Then use a smudging brush like MAC #214 to smooth out the edges. You don’t want the look to be too perfect but also not messy either. Find a happy medium.
Line the inner rim of your bottom lash line and your upper lash line with a black eye pencil like Make Up For Ever Aqua Eye in 01 Mat Black. Then using a gold green pencil, line underneath your bottom waterline. Try Sephora Nano Pencil in Kaki Green. Dot the inner corners of the eyes with a golden bronze liner like Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye Pencil in Underground. (Psst–if you really wanna thrill ‘em, use Underground to highlight your brow bone area, too. Sheer it out with your fingers).
Apply 2-3 coats of mascara and if you want the pretty doe-eyed look, apply some lashes. Try Ardell Demi Fashion Lashes and keep them on with Duo Lash Adhesive in Dark.
4. For glowing cheeks like Nia’s, let’s layer blushes. First apply a rosy blush like NARS Blush in Taos (deeper skin tones try NARS Blush in Exhibit A–looks scary in the pan but looks delicious on) to the cheeks. Then apply a shimmery peach blush like NARS Blush in Orgasm to the tops of the cheekbones. An angled blush brush like MAC #168 makes applying blush cinch.
If you overdo the blush, apply a light layer of loose powder to tone it down.
5. Apply a sheer nude gloss to the lips. For your perfect nude, check out Nude Lips for Skin of Color.
6. Last take a tissue and gently blot your face to remove any excess oils and set your makeup with a setting spray like Urban Decay De Slick Makeup Setting Spray.
And you’re done!
Tools of the Trade:
Have any application questions? Leave them in the comments or contact me.
Will you be trying this look?
~Danielle
