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Em’s “Enhanced Natural” Makeup Look As Told By Her Makeup Artist (With Exact Products)

After almost 15 years of being on camera, I know how I like my face to look and I’m pretty darn assertive about it (which is much preferred by hair and makeup artists – no one wants someone who doesn’t communicate clearly). So when I’m working with a new hair/makeup artist I usually show photos of me that I like and then give the following descriptors: 

  • I like to look clean, natural, bright and glowy (I also likely say the word ‘youthful’, too, LOL).
  • I want my eyes and cheeks and lips to pop (I joke, like a porcelain baby doll).
  • I don’t want to look tanner or bronzed (so no contouring) I understand this is ironic what with my self-tanning side profession, but on my face? NOPE. An unnaturally tan face looks cheesy and older IMHO. 
  • I don’t like eye shadow (and will likely take it off). Reflective is fine or very soft/neutral can be ok but I find that I very much don’t like the look of eye shadow on me.
  • I like a clean line (not smudgy) of eyeliner on the top lash line but not the bottom (same with mascara but I’ve had lash extensions forever so I don’t wear mascara).

Danielle Walch did my makeup in LA for over 10 years (I love her so much) so we didn’t even have to think about it. I’m so happy to have found Alyssa Fitchie up here in Portland who is my go-to hire for HMU (which is usually three times a month). I find that I’m WAY more excited to be on camera if I’m feeling good about how I look (shocking) and so I’ll stack all my ad campaigns into one day a week and get HMU so I look/feel my best (and yes, I change clothes for every job). She usually comes 7-8 am or 8-9 am depending on how much we have to shoot (she doesn’t stay all day so is able to take other jobs during the day) and we bang out shoot after shoot (some for reveals, some videos, others for just social campaigns). I honestly wish I could have her come every day. So today we are showing you what she does and what products she uses on me (which are different than the seven things I’ve used for 15 years). 

photo by mark weinberg | makeup by alyssa fitchie | from: it’s here! our first ehd collection with rugs usa (+ why now? and why this?)

Ok, here we go!

1. Moisturize!

Before we start, Alyssa makes sure I’m moisturized. I feel like it’s pretty much common knowledge that skin prep is crucial for your makeup to look good and stay looking good on your skin. So don’t forget that face lotion.

2. Primer (Face And Eyes)

It’s so easy to want to skip this step but don’t. This is going to make your makeup stay on throughout the day (or night) and is really going to help avoid any creasing. Alyssa uses Smashbox Photo Finish Smooth & Blur Oil-Free Foundation Primer for my face and Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer Potion (Anti-Aging) on my lids. Oh, and she said to make sure to get the anti-aging one because the other version dries and flakes which is clearly not what we want:) The under-eye primer she typically uses is now discontinued (RUDE). She’s still on the hunt for her new favorite but in the meantime, she recommends Bobbi Brown Vitamin Enriched Eye Base.

3. Color Corrector

Alyssa then uses a color corrector under my eyes. This prevents concealer from going gray. Alyssa uses the Bobbi Brown Under Eye Corrector. So you want to choose a contrasting color to your undereye color. This is how to find your shade: “Take a look at the discoloration under the eye. If it’s bluish-purple, choose a bisque shade. If it’s greenish-brown, choose a peach shade. If it’s a mix of both, choose a peach-bisque shade.”

PRO TIP: Add some corrector where the lid meets the nose for added brightness:)

4. Under Eye Concealer

This is the one I always use for shoots: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye Full Coverage Anti-Aging Waterproof Concealer. I really love how it looks and feels.

5. Eyeshadow

As I said, I really hate wearing eyeshadow so Alyssa doesn’t put any on me. The eyeshadow primer she uses helps avoid “oily” eyelids (which I don’t really have) and helps the eyeliner grip. I did ask her what she would use if I did want wear eyeshadow and she recommended this matte Makeup By Mario palette because it’s neutral and really buildable.

6. Eyeliner

To keep a more natural, enhanced look, we go very minimal on the eyeliner. She tight lines (meaning she goes inner waterline of my eyes) with MAC’s Pro Longwear Fluidline in Blacktrack which is a soft black and this small angled brush.

7. Foundation

As all of you know I’m a die-hard Armani Luminous Silk foundation gal so that’s what Alyssa uses on me but I asked her what some of her other favorites were and she loves MAC’s Studio Radiance Face & Body Radiant Sheer Foundation for everyday and Lancôme Teint Idole Ultra 24H Long Wear Matte Foundationfor events. Her biggest reminder for a more “natural look” is to go for light to medium coverage. You still want to be able to see your beautiful skin:)

8. Highlighter

I don’t really use highlighters but I asked Alyssa about it in case you love it! She said, “The one that really rocks the show is the Hourglass Ambient® Lighting Finishing Powder. “It’s not “technically” a highlighter, but it’s a very glowy setting powder and it makes skin look amazing!” For the everyday, Alyssa uses Rare Beauty.

PRO TIP (for liquid highlighters): It looks really beautiful UNDER foundation:)

9. Blush

It’s a classic for a reason – NARS Orgasm. Apply with a flat round stipple brush. That brush will help build the blush so it goes on nicely:) 

PRO TIP: For a more youthful look, apply to the apples of your cheeks or C shape around the eye for a more adult look. Just don’t go below where your cheek crests to avoid aging yourself.

10. Eyebrows!

If you’ve been around for a while then you know I basically don’t have eyebrows. It’s super cool. To fill them in, Alyssa uses Benefit’s Precisely, My Brow Pencil Waterproof Eyebrow Definer to give little hair details and then Benefit’s Goof Proof Waterproof Easy Shape & Fill Eyebrow Pencil in 3.75 to fill in.

PRO TIP: For blondes go one shade darker than your hair color and for brunettes go one shade side lighter.

11. Mascara

Since I have lashes I don’t use mascara but if you do she recommends LancômeMonsieur Big Waterproof Mascara.

12. Lips

What can I say I love a drugstore lipstick. This Wet n Wild one (Bare It All) is my favorite.

13. Setting Spray

The last crucial step in long-lasting makeup! Alyssa uses MAC’s Prep + Prime FIX+ for a satin finish. This can bring makeup back to life after applying matte makeup. Alyssa also REALLY loves this setting spray by Urban Decay.

Hope this helped if you’ve been hoping for some guidance on “natural” looking makeup:)

*Makeup by Alyssa Fitchie
**Photos by Kaitlin Green

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KD
9 months ago

This is so timely…I’ve been thinking it’s time for a makeup refresh. Thank you!

Sarah
9 months ago

This was fun!!! We have similar coloring and are a similar age and both wfh. I also have kiddos to juggle too. I do makeup a few times a week for an event or meeting but my day to day natural look is a lot like yours. This was refreshing to read.

Kate
9 months ago

Ooh, I love seeing what people use for makeup! Totally agree that a natural look is the best look. The under eye primer from Bobbi Brown is something I will look into. I’m always on the hunt for something to help with that area.

Even though you aren’t into eyeshadow, for bright, youthful eyes, I have found Thrive Causemetics Brilliant Eye Brightener to be a game changer. It goes on so easily, and the shimmer will truly brighten instead of looking sparkly/costume-y. It comes in so many natural shades, too, that I feel like there’s something for everyone.

Bridget
9 months ago
Reply to  Kate

I rarely wore eye shadow as well until I found Thrive’s Brilliant Eye Brightener. Now I wear it everyday almost.

giovan
9 months ago

Absolutely loving Em’s enhanced natural makeup look! Thanks for sharing the magic behind it.

Roberta Davis
9 months ago

thank you!

Stephanie
9 months ago

I’ve been using the Bobbi Brown under eye corrector for years. I love it. I don’t wear foundation, so I needed a concealer that wasn’t too heavy (like Shape Tape–because I’d look like a reverse racoon) but did a good job canceling blue because I have daaaaark circles. This stuff does the trick. It comes in a stick now, so you just swipe under your eyes and press in with your fingers to warm the product a bit. You can also buff it with a high-packed brush to sheer it out a bit, if you like. Then set with an HD translucent powder so it stays put. It’s a miracle product. Love the bright, natural look Emily! You always look great.

Hilary
9 months ago

So fun! I love getting reminders about easy things like the upper eyelash waterline, which is new to me and OMG so good. Does anyone have any pointers about a) how to keep your eyes from getting watery from the eyeliner getting in your eyes and b) getting the eyeliner to stay on for more than two minutes as result of the aforementioned eye watering?

Lia
9 months ago
Reply to  Hilary

Can someone explain this waterline thing to me? I didn’t understand it in Emily’s post and I still don’t. I feel like I missed a memo (probably several, tbh).

Kirsten
9 months ago

I LOVE Armani Luminous Silk foundation, it has such great coverage and adds to the youthful-ness, but when I moved to a higher humidity area it started to read shiny. I just recently took a chance on Haus Labs foundation, and it is slightly more matte and still has great coverage… yay for a FL win. I love how you embrace what you love about yourself with your make up routine.

LKB
9 months ago

So many products listed–do I need ALL of them for a simple every-day look? Primer, color corrector, concealer, and setting spray? (I just can’t do foundation; I’ve accepted this about myself.)

I’ve never really worn makeup, and maybe every 10 years I rush to a store and say “give me all of the things!” but I still don’t have a good sense for how to do eyes especially. I feel like eyeshadow could help “pop” and counteract the “my-4-year-old-slept-with-me” look. But I’m too afraid to actually try very much for fear of looking silly. Sigh.

Also, I tried concealer under my eyes once, but after like 30 min, it collected in my 43-year-old creases and made me look worse. Is there a solution to this?

Kathleen
9 months ago
Reply to  LKB

One of the best things I did for myself was to get a makeup session with a makeup artist whose work I admired (she knew how to make clients look like the best version of themselves, not too heavy-handed). She went through everything step-by-step, she did one side, I did the other. And she gave me the list of products and brushes used along with a sheet describing everything we had done. If you can find an artist who offers this service, I highly recommend.

Lynn
9 months ago
Reply to  LKB

My simple everyday look is tinted sunscreen (I use Clinique) with or without mascara and/or lipstick/gloss. No, you don’t need a lot!

SARAH
9 months ago

omg is this overwhelming for anyone else?? I do mascara and chapstick and call it a day, but sigh all this would probably be nice.. #innerbeauty for now

Erin
9 months ago

I hate to be the loudmouth here so don’t publish if you can just receive this message, but do you guys know your homepage is down? stylebyemilyhenderson.com has a message that says the site is down for maintenance until 3 a.m., and it has been for 3 days. Finally today I googled Emily Henderson and was able to get around it and get to the blog through the stylebyemilyhenderson.com/blog.

Admin
9 months ago
Reply to  Erin

we were hacked last week and the hackers put up that message, but that shouldn’t still be happening! let me flag for our tech team.

E.W.
9 months ago

How did you find her? I’m so curious because I use a makeup person when I get headshots done every other year but it’s usually just the person the photographer usually works with. Next year I’m hoping to take book jacket/author photos (I’m co-writing my first book!) and I’d love someone to work with more consistently.

Katie
9 months ago

hi – what does HMU stand for?

Admin
9 months ago
Reply to  Katie

hair and make up! now realizing that this might just be an LA/film set acronym hah

SR
9 months ago
Reply to  Katie

hair makeup

Lydia
9 months ago

Any advice for makeup that takes less than five minutes for a quick run to the grocery store? I don’t need to be ready for a photoshoot, I just want to look a little more awake and even out my skin tone.

9 months ago

I adore Em’s improved natural makeup look! I appreciate you sharing the secret behind it.