No Matter What You’re Wearing,
This Laid-Back Makeup Look Is Perfect
Even at the fanciest party, makeup need not be full-on sparkly, smoky, or attention-grabbing to read as celebratory. “You might think a more natural-looking face needs at least a default red lip—but it does not necessarily,” says LA makeup artist Mia Yang, who created the easy look above with a striking plummy lip color. Clean-looking, super hydrated skin, full brows, lush lashes, and a bit of glow are all you need to look polished and ready for anything.
Yang likes to focus on the lips for a clean, dressed-up look. “I want it to feel sexy and not look too young or playful,” she says. “When you bring in too many elements—lips, cheeks, brows, and eyes—it’s easy to overdo it.” Yang showed us a great trick, dabbing the same lipstick shade onto both lips and cheeks: “This is intentional—you notice color, but it doesn’t come off as a full-on look.”
Hydrated Skin and Minimal Coverage
Glowy, clean skin is the most flattering way to balance a stronger lip color. “Now that it’s winter, our skin needs a little extra love,” says Yang. An intense moisturizer helps foundation and concealer go on more evenly. Yang smooths on a little Weleda Skin Food and lets it sink in for a few minutes. We also love the gleamy hydration we get from May Lindstrom’s Blue Cocoon, particularly around the eyes.
The hydration step helps skin maintain its glow, as does the creamy stick foundation from Gucci Westman (apply it with a brush). Similarly, our favorite Rituel de Fille concealer is best dabbed on with a brush—that way, you put coverage only where you need it.
Creamy, Monochrome Lips and Cheeks
“A favorite trick of mine is using lipstick on cheeks,” says Yang. “I don’t use powder blush if I can avoid it, and I like lipstick even better than cream blush.” Lipstick as cheek color is actually a lot more subtle than it sounds. “When you use the same shade on lips and cheeks, it looks more natural,” Yang says. As for the specific plummy-red shade she used here: “I think it looks expensive.”
Clean Lashes and Full Brows
In an effort to not pull too much attention away from the lips, Yang likes to leave the eyes more natural than you might expect for a night out. She concentrates mascara at the roots of the lashes for an almost-eyeliner effect, and she shapes the brows, tinting them with subtle color if need be or simply finishing with clear pomade. “Brush the color mostly under the arches,” says Yang.
A Final Touch of Gleam
“One of my last moves—no matter the makeup look—is always a touch of clear balm from Olio E Osso,” says Yang. She uses it as a highlighter at the tops of the cheekbones and dabs a bit on the upper lip. “It gives your whole face an immediate vibrancy,” she says.
Subtle Body Highlighter
For the décolletage, collarbones, arms, legs, anywhere that you might show skin, smooth on the GOOPGLOW luminizing lotion right before you go out for the sexiest candlelit gleam and a gorgeous, subtle scent, too. With this minimal slip dress, the look is pure magic
