Get national wardrobe consultant & stylist, Alison Bruhn’s, makeup routine

Quite frequently these days, I am asked about which makeup brands I like. I decided to create a shoppable list of what I am currently using, in hopes that it might help you in your quest for the perfect look too! This is a bit difficult for obvious reasons. We are all different! I have warm undertones in my skin, so those of you with cool undertones won’t wear the same shades. Anything with a slight yellow tint looks horrible on me, but might be just the thing for your skin’s coloring.

Tips for eyes?

A few beginning thoughts-you don’t have to “match” your eyeshadow to your outfit! Rather, choose a color that brings out your eyes. If you have hazel eyes, you probably know by now that shades of purple make your eyes pop. I have two palettes; one that has brown/purple tones, and one that is more dramatic-navy and charcoal grey.

As for lips, I like a strong eye and a less bold lip, because as you age, gravity causes the chin area to be less attractive than in the past (at least for me)! If you love a bold lip, and are over 45, keep in mind that dark colors on thin lips make them look even more thin and severe, and accentuating any lines and wrinkles around them.

Lip liner?

Use a lip liner always. It can be the same shade as your lip, basically invisible; the purpose is to keep the lip color from bleeding into any fine lines around the mouth. Also, if you love a bold lip, go light on the eye makeup, or you will end up looking like a clown. That being said, here’s my list! Hope it helps!

Note: These products were recommended to me by makeup artists in the beauty industry for whom I have much admiration. I would be happy to set up an appointment and come with you to have a “Makeup Makeover” the next time you are in either NYC or B’ham, AL. Contact me at thestylethatbindsus@gmail.com to set that up!

Below are shoppable links to all my favorites! I also walk you through my look below them, so keep scrolling!!!

EYES: Every day look-

EYESHADOW: (You can use a little of the Kevin Aucoin concealer on your eyelids to help the shadow last and not crease during the day). I have included several different eye palettes that I use and love. You can also watch this YouTube video with the makeup artist, Lori Young, at Violet Grey in L.A. showing me how to create a smoky eye, with links to those products.

EYELINER: Chanel waterproof in Cassis is a favorite

More dramatic look:

EYESHADOW: Sisley palette called “Mystery” and Sisley chubby stick in “Marine”

MASCARA: Armani Black Ecstasy (still searching for a drug store equivalent!)

EYELASH CURLER: Tweezerman or Shisedo -don’t skip this step!

EYEBROW PENCIL: Hourglass in Warm Brunette (will be a little too dark unless you have dark eyebrows!)-use it sparingly to fill in, you want it to look natural. Be careful with this step!

PRIMER/FOUNDATION/CONCEALER:

PRIMER: Mac Prep+Prime Natural Radiance

FOUNDATION: Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk 5.25

CONCEALER: 1.Kevin Aucoin The Etherealist Super Natural Concealer in medium 03 (this product is light and stays put) 2. Cle de Peau concealer in Almond (cult product and award winner-expensive but you only need a little)

HIGHLIGHTER: I apply a tiny amount to top of cheekbones-Becca in Gold Opal

CREAM BLUSH/POWDER BLUSH/ BRONZER: I use RMS Beauty in Demure to add natural color on apples of cheeks, then use powder blush by Tom Ford in 05 Ravish or 02 Love Lust, or Nars Orgasm (works on everyone), ending with a light dusting of bronzer if I need a little more color, also using the bronzer where the face meets the neck to blur any difference in color.

CONTOUR: If you want to go glam, you can use the contour stick to enhance cheekbones and on the sides of the nose to narrow and sculpt.

LAST STEPS: Ultra HD Microfinishing Loose Powder by Makeup Forever -lightly dust over the face with a large, soft brush for a photo finish, then use Supergoop’s setting spray with SPF. Saving the lips for last….

LIPS

I have two mainstays, both are natural; one is more peachy and one more rosy for wearing with fuchsia, etc. -colors that wouldn’t go with a warm lip.

Charlotte Tilbury -warm color palette (the Pillow Talk series is hugely popular, but a little too soft for me, it barely shows up at all on my lips, may work for you though!) My choices are lip pencil in Seduction, lipstick in Sexy Sienna, Lipgloss in Supersize Me

Cool palette for lips: Kevin Aucoin Fleshtone lip liner in Minimal, Stila lipstick in Emma (you can line and also add a few strokes of the liner across the lips themselves before adding the lipstick to help it stay longer), then add the Kevin Aucoin lipgloss in Dahliana

Voila! You are done!

Note: If possible, you should have mini sizes of the above in a small makeup bag that fits in your purse, so you can reapply your makeup mid afternoon, especially if you are going day to night without going home! Also, check your makeup in a different, brighter light as you head out…a car rearview mirror, a compact in your purse as you step into the daylight, a mirror held near a window-natural light is best! Get the scoop on what to keep in your makeup bag here.