Girls, you are in for a treat!!!! Savannah (political science graduate turned MAC make up artist) has graciously agreed to give us 30 and 40 somethings some tips. I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of that magical make-up brush of hers, and though there’s probably nothing on the market (short of a scalpel) to make me look 25 again, I am completely in awe of her knowledge base and skill level with a wide variety of ages, colors, face and eye shapes, etc.
I’ve asked her a zillion questions since she’s been here and now I am thrilled to pass the ‘must have’ tips on to you all! (Any male readers still with me at this point should probably see if there are any good football games on. There’s nothing for you here. You have entered the sacred life of women’s beauty and trust me, you don’t want to know what goes on here. Do me this favor though, tell your wife she looks beautiful today!)
Beware of this ghetto video and don’t scramble to write stuff down because I list everything you need below. This video is proof that I love you. Amen.
Beware of this ghetto video and don’t scramble to write stuff down because I list everything you need below. This video is proof that I love you. Amen.
Steps to a flawless face and the Audrey Hepburn (or Marilyn Monroe) look:
1. Start with your normal foundation and preferably a tinted moisturizer. Then apply Mineralize Skin Finish liberally all over the face. (I just bought one and it is WONDERFUL stuff—-and not that expensive compared to other department store brands)
2. Eye primer—Use the tip of your finger to apply painterly (from a paint pot) all over the eye from lid to brow. This functions like double stick tape for your eye shadow and gives much more even coverage. (I’ve been using this product or one like it for 3-4 years and I love it.)
3. Apply brule’ eye color over the whole eye. Then use a light brown like wedge for the crease. To apply the crease color, use a blending brush (MAC brush number 217) and apply the color at the lateral edge of the crease and then do a windshield wiper motion just under the brow bone in the crease. It’s better to start with less color and then build it; you can’t easily remove the color. Of course, if you’re Tammy Faye like me, then more is better.
4. A good way to brighten the eyes is to add a light color like brule’ to the tear duct. You can apply it with your finger or with the same blending brush.
5. The Audrey Hepburn eye is heavy on the black eyeliner. And it’s not rocket science, but it’s not that easy to do either. To make it easier, Savannah used a small angled brush (MAC #266) to apply a brown eye shadow (Handwritten) in exactly the place where the black eye liner is to go. It serves as a template for where to place the liner. Start by lining the lower lash line as close to the base of the lash as possible. Then extend the line past the corner about 1/4th an inch following the natural line of the lower lid. It’s a common mistake to just free hand the top liner without paying attention to the actual shape of the eye. (This usually results in having it curved upwards in an unnatural way).
6. Then fill in the template with the black liner. The one from MAC is called Boot Black liquid liner and it is fantabulous. After Savannah did my left eye, I practiced on my right eye. Not too bad, huh? Then finish the look with the brow groomer. It is applied with a wand (like a mascara) and makes a huge difference in the overall look. I used to never leave the house without lip gloss and mascara. Now, I never leave without brow groomer heavily applied. It would be one of the ten items I’d take if I were stranded on a deserted island.
2. Eye primer—Use the tip of your finger to apply painterly (from a paint pot) all over the eye from lid to brow. This functions like double stick tape for your eye shadow and gives much more even coverage. (I’ve been using this product or one like it for 3-4 years and I love it.)
3. Apply brule’ eye color over the whole eye. Then use a light brown like wedge for the crease. To apply the crease color, use a blending brush (MAC brush number 217) and apply the color at the lateral edge of the crease and then do a windshield wiper motion just under the brow bone in the crease. It’s better to start with less color and then build it; you can’t easily remove the color. Of course, if you’re Tammy Faye like me, then more is better.
4. A good way to brighten the eyes is to add a light color like brule’ to the tear duct. You can apply it with your finger or with the same blending brush.
5. The Audrey Hepburn eye is heavy on the black eyeliner. And it’s not rocket science, but it’s not that easy to do either. To make it easier, Savannah used a small angled brush (MAC #266) to apply a brown eye shadow (Handwritten) in exactly the place where the black eye liner is to go. It serves as a template for where to place the liner. Start by lining the lower lash line as close to the base of the lash as possible. Then extend the line past the corner about 1/4th an inch following the natural line of the lower lid. It’s a common mistake to just free hand the top liner without paying attention to the actual shape of the eye. (This usually results in having it curved upwards in an unnatural way).
6. Then fill in the template with the black liner. The one from MAC is called Boot Black liquid liner and it is fantabulous. After Savannah did my left eye, I practiced on my right eye. Not too bad, huh? Then finish the look with the brow groomer. It is applied with a wand (like a mascara) and makes a huge difference in the overall look. I used to never leave the house without lip gloss and mascara. Now, I never leave without brow groomer heavily applied. It would be one of the ten items I’d take if I were stranded on a deserted island.
7. Apply blush (Dainty) with a good brush (MAC #168) on the apples of your cheeks. A peachy pink blush (or as close to the same color as you would naturally blush) works best. I love dainty. DO NOT UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE apply blush in a stripe on your cheekbone. (Savannah’s emphasis) You apply blush where you would naturally blush.
Go ahead and confess it, ’cause we both know good and well that you’ve been guilty of the striped cheek.
Quick tips: what you must have
1. Mineralize Skin Finish powder
2. Brow Groomer
3. Painterly paint pot (to use for eye primer)
4. Boot Black Liquid liner
5. Dainty blush
6. Hue lipstick (for me) but Savannah says the lip color is not limited with this eye look because it’s so basic and pared down.
Big round of applause for Savannah!!! Thank you for taking the time to teach us. Being around you makes me FEEL 25 again—-that counts for something!
Disclaimers:
This is NOT, unfortunately, a paid advertisement for MAC. I’ve been using their products for 7-8 years and love them. I’m doubly blessed that our wonderful Savannah works for them. This would have been way more fun if they would have sent me $200 in free products to sing their praises. But they didn’t.
I’ve written a much more important post on beauty that I highly recommend you read. A woman who is at rest— comfortable in her own skin—accepting of her own flawed body—is a beautiful woman to me. But, hey, we’ve got to take help where we can get it. And make-up, to a southern women, is serious business. I’m still working through Kubler-Ross Stage 2 over all the MAC lip gloss I had stolen last year. It is not safe to come between a woman and her beauty products.
Post Edit: I re-read this post this morning and I’m not sure I made it sufficiently clear about the power of the brow groomer.
I need you to be on the same ‘brow-groomer’ page as me. There’s power in the brow.
So, I snapped another little pic for you this morning.
Go to MAC. Go directly to MAC. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Get some brow groomer—which is officially called brow set. Mmmkay?
I need you to be on the same ‘brow-groomer’ page as me. There’s power in the brow.
So, I snapped another little pic for you this morning.
Go to MAC. Go directly to MAC. Do not pass go. Do not collect $200. Get some brow groomer—which is officially called brow set. Mmmkay?
Oh Edie, you look gorgeous. (But you do so all the time.) How fun to have your own personal MAC Artist in your own home!!!
I'm off to get some brow groomer, I think I own or have tried all of the other products.
Thanks for the tutorial.
Wow – did I need that ! Thanks for the demo! I take so little time to myself. I really need to go to the MAC counter!
Have a great weekend!
oh those baby blues! thanks to savannah for the tips… just in time for bike week! 😉
LOVE those tips!! I'm so guilty of the eye shadow and blush thing! Good thing we've got Savannah to help us out! 😉
You know what…it is a real treat to hear your ACCENT! How cool! I love eye makeup, and what a beautiful job Savannah has done on your eyes! I am going to print this post somehow! Thank you so much for sharing this, it is just lovely! xxx
that is awesome! you are so cute. i love tinted moisturizer. but i have never tired mac makeup. i need a personal shopper (or a teen daughter).
OH Thank you Thank you!!!
So I had an epiphany–not only do I not know much about makeup but what I DO know I learned in the 1980's. What a double edged sword. This post (and video) was so so helpful!!
Love Love Love this tutorial! Your video was my favorite part. I love the circle, circle, windshield wiper. I'm gonna try that this morning! Have a great weekend, and you look fantastic by the way!
oh girl – that was great. It's so funny that you posted this because I just was starting a "how to do your eye make up" frugal style post. 🙂 You look gorgeous, as always.
Thanks a ton! I am confessing my cheek striping past, as in yesterday past. But no more! I am free from this faux pas!
Seriously, I love girlie things like this and am so glad you and your beautiful stepdaughter shared these tips. I also promise to never cheek stripe again.
Such good information but I have to tell you – I'd be much more impressed if she wasn't working with such a beautiful model in the first place.
Great post! I love makeup and always enjoy learning more. The eye makeup is beautiful as are you!
I’m having a GIVEAWAY over at my site. Stop by and check it out.
http://domesticprincessintraining.blogspot.com
Oh Edie what a GREAT post!! I have eye primer and LOVE it!! now I'm going to look for the brow groomer! AWESOME tips and I loved your video!! You're beautiful!♥
~TidyMom
Me again……LOL I can't find the brow groomer on MAC's site – when I search brow groomer, I just get brushes
Thanks so much for the tutorial, it's just what I needed! 🙂 Can't swing the MAC now so I'm off to try to match something similar.
I am so confused by what Ms Sarah's comment could mean about your "accent"- what accent? 🙂
I am a big fan of Mac products although I have been converted to Bare Escentuals (aka Bare Minerals) for foundation. Gotta love a foundation that's even good for your skin if you forget to wash it off an sleep in it which I have done from time to time.
One way to prevent the stripey blush effect is to bend at the waist and hold for 30 seconds. You can add in a nice stretch of your hip flexors during this time if you are so inclined. Then flip your head back up. Your cheeks should be rosy red with your natural blush and that's where to add your blush makeup.
I am rearranging our Saturday so that I can make a pit stop by the mall and the angels at the MAC counter.
Thank you for sharing all the tips. I have had a crush on the muted-eye-with-strong-liner look, but wasn't sure how to do it.
I'm almost on the flip side of 40 and want to still look trendy–but tasteful at the same time. Wish me luck!
On a side note, I've been reading your blog for a while and love all the beautiful and creative touches–and color–you surround yourself with. Thanks for the inspriration!
Ami,
You crack me up. I love the idea of a little stretching, a little warm up—if you will–before the makeup routine. A few side bends, a runner's stretch, a good pop of the fingers. And then it's on!!
And touche' to the Bare Escentuals (I know it's a funky French spelling but I can't be sure)!
And yeah, I know, what accent?
Beautiful! Love what gorgeous Savannah did for you! I've always wanted to go to the Mac Counter, and have accompanied my 20 and 30 year old daughters. But every time I go alone, I feel rather ignored and out of place. After all, I'm not 25, I'm not even 35 or 45! I'm a MiMi (aka grandmother) in her mid-50s. I guess the Mac folks don't think there's hope for us? So I trot on over to Chanel or Armani. Still, I'd love to try some kind of eyes again. Would you please ask your beautiful resident Mac pros what Mac can do for us ageless women who have lived longer than most the rest of you? I would be ever so grateful!
Blessings!
Victoria in Texas
Victoria in Texas!
Girl!! Did you know that MAC's mantra is All Ages All Races All Sexes?! Well! It is. And we are trained to apply makeup to all skin tones and textures of people from every ethnicity and demographic! That means you should hurry your cute self into your closest counter and find a MAC artist to LOVE on! He or she would be SO delighted to help you figure out what makes YOU feel beautiful! After all…the best part of being a makeup artist is helping anyone who trusts us to, to find a way to look on the outside the way they feel on the inside and to feel oh so pretty!!!
Love from the land of the corn!
Savannah.
Love this post, and will be back to write stuff down-
THANK YOU!
oh, c'mon, Ami and Edie…I'm an Aussie remember??? I'll say it again…love the accent 🙂 xxx
Ok Sarah-
I do understand about the accent now that I know you are from Aus.
Had a friend there who used to make me say "iced tea" over and over and crack up every time.
Gotta love that southern drawl!
Thanks for the video, that was so much fun. I love MAC, but haven't tried most of those products, so will need to check it out next time. 🙂
Awesome video, awesome tips.
I love MAC.
This was a good reminder for me that its time to go buy more MAC!
PS
What a great voice you have!
I'm so glad you did this post!! I LOVE MAC makeup, but here in South Dakota no one sells it, so new fun tips directly from the MAC pros are always welcome!! (makes my trip to mac.com a little easier) 🙂 You look 25 again!! 🙂
Beautiful! Your eyes look amazing. Thanks for all of the great tips.
Discovered the wonders of MAC this past year. With the exception of Bare Minerals foundation, I've converted!!
Haven't tried the brow groomer…but I am in desperate need & will definitely be making a special trip to pick some up!
You may already know about it, but their "Prep and Prime" is pretty amazing. Takes at least a few years off the face 🙂
OH, after that post, I am so wishing I was in the good Ole' U S of A to hit a MAC counter today!
OH, after that post, I am so wishing I was in the good Ole' U S of A to hit a MAC counter today!
oh wow! I love thispost and goodnessjknows, I love me some makeup! Must get some brow groomer!:)
Ok, so I've been fascinated lately with the "smokey eyes"….but feeling way too uncool (and old) to pull these off. I'm SO now gonna do (feebly attempt) this!
You look gorgeous by the way!
Don't think I've commented before but I just wanted to tell you how much you encourage and inspire me as a fellow homeschooling mom here in the grand ole Volunteer State. 🙂
looks beautiful! I would love a makeup makeover. I have no idea how to do makeup. I just pick all browns and that is it. Just think I could be beautiful and not know it! ha
Oh my gosh I love this! LOVE LOVE makeup! Now I need to go replenish my stash and pick me up some Brow Set. heeeee!
That was great fun! So when are we going to MAC? Come on girl you have to take us!
Oh girl you don't know how much I needed that tutorial, haha. I am in need of total make-up make over. I am running this weekend to the MAC counter and getting some of these items. You look beautiful and I loved hearing your voice. I love hearing what my blog friends sound like, is that corny? Have a happy week!!
~Molly P
Thank you, Savannah, for your sweet and very informative info on answering my Mac question. I do have a couple of lipsticks by Mac, but have never had my whole face done. I'm now armed with this great info and will be thrilled to go in to the Mac counter next time to see how they can bring out my eyes! So glad to know that Mac is for all of us! You and Edie are wonderful advertisements for them! Good luck on your career with them!
I gotta get that brow groomer. From a natural blonde, my eyebrows & eyelashes look non-existant!
THANKS!
Putting these products on my MAC wishlist.
Which color brow set did you use? I'm thinking Beguile.
Thanks so much for your tips. I have been without decent foundation and powder for a while and have been trying to get away with just mascara and lip gloss lately. But at 38, I think I need a little more! So the other day I went to a MAC beauty counter and got the tinted moisturizer and the mineralize powder. What a difference! I'll go back in the near future for a nice blush to replace my cheap stuff as well as some eye makeup. Thanks!
I broke down & went to MAC today – with iphone in hand clicked to your makeup tips . . . I told the makeup artist that a friend sent me 🙂
I got everything on the list + some & left totally broke, but so excited! THANK YOU!!
Edie,
I LOVE LOVE LOVE this post. I came across it on Pinterest. I am 37 and was feeling like I was looking old and just did not know how to do my makeup. I don’t live anywhere near a MAC counter and I have 3 small kids so don’t have time to travel to one. I decided to go online and order all of the colors you recommended and proceeded to use YOUR tutorial to apply my makeup. EVERY SINGLE one of my friends have complimented me on my makeup and asked me what I use. They even said I look younger! So I have to give credit where credit is due, thank you so much. If you ever discover any new colors that you just love, please share. It has been such an awesome blessing. I have very dark brown hair and green eyes but all of the colors and lipstick worked. The only thing that didn’t work was the eyebrow stuff for brunettes. I looked like a monster, so I am sticking with my brow pencil. I just felt like you deserved a HUGE thank you! Your post was excellent.
I am a MAC girl too – but have not tried the mineralize powder yet! Sounds awesome! Love your tips!
I will have to try out a MAC makeover….I love their Twig lipstick a girlfriend turned me on to….but unto a recent Sephora makeover I was jsut so in the dark. THE TIP ABOUT THE LOWER LASHLINE FOR THE SLIGHT CAT EYE IS AMAZING: OMGLORIOUSLORDTHANKYOUFORSAVANNAH! (and you, and Stacy who linked to you) For about thirty years I have tried to get a cat eye going and it ALWAYS goes WRONG. I have thought about getting a liquid or felt tip liner to try, try again…now I know what to do. I have never heard that tip and I have almond shaped eyes….AHA!!!!
Annnd you are now my Bodacious Blog of the week this coming Monday. YEAH!
Oh thank you so much! That Savannah is the BEST:) I’ll love to read the post if you don’t mind to send a link! xoxo,
edie
okay girl! ordering online today!
What color mineralize and what color brow set?
TELL ME YOUR SECRETS…….
mwah!
Love it all, except maybe the word “retarded”… You are beautiful and I love reading your blog!
Hey Edie, I’ve loved popping in your blog for a long time now and came across this on Pinterest (love me some fun with makeup!!) and was excited to take a look. Since its often hard to tell tone/sarcasm and all that stuff from a comment I want you to know that Im not in any way being hateful…just want to make you aware of something from #4. As the proud momma of an angel girl who God created SO perfectly…it makes my heart bleed to see someone I respect use the word retarded to describe themselves (usually in the act of looking “dumb” or acting as such). That is brutal to a mother’s heart and theres just never a time when that’s okay. I hope you understand my heart. Thanks.