Emily Maynard | People Magazine Makeup How To

It’s always a pleasure when I have the opportunity to do hair and make up for this amazing momma and style icon, my friend Emily Maynard Johnson.

Emily’s stunning beauty, warm personality and genuine kindness combine to make her any artists’ dream client.  She is truly one of the best!  From the moment we met, she made me feel like I had known her for years.  I’ll never forget the nerves I felt the first time I asked her what she would like done with her hair and make up.  She responded with her soft and carefree southern draw. “Do whatever you think is best. I trust you.”  Her quiet confidence in me started a wonderful friendship that I truly cherish.  I am honored to be a small part of her life and to be able to share this guest post with you all.

Below is the look we created for Emily and her family on her recent People Magazine shoot. I hope you enjoy reading about it as much as I enjoyed being part of such a special day with them.

Photography by: Allison Kuhn Photography | Instagram

Nursery Design by: Oilo Studio

STEP BY STEP + PRODUCTS USED 

1 | EYE PRIMER: apply MAC Paint Pot Primer – color: Painterly all across lid.  From lash line to under the brow line. Brush: MAC Concealer 

WHY: The best primer for eyes that I’ve ever used.  It’s honestly a long-wearing shadow that goes on creamy and dries into a perfect water-resistant base that you can apply shadows and liner over.  It does not crease or become cakey!  Truly a seamless, buildable product.

2 |  SHADOW: Apply a “highlight” shadow below the brow line MAC Shadow – color:Brule.  Brush: MAC Shaper 

HOW:  This simply just highlights below the brow.  I apply this from the brow to where the natural arch of the eye starts.  So basically, cover the top half of your eye in this color. 

3 | SHADOW: Cover the majority of the lid in MAC Shadow – color: Naked Lunch.  Beautiful all over color, fleshy-nude-pink color with a bit of a shimmer.  A go-to!  Brush: MAC Shaper 

HOW:  This shadow goes from the lash line and stops right at the natural arch line against the shadow from above.  If you split your eye in half, this color is the bottom half. 

4 | SHADOW: Start to shade + contour with a darker shadow to create definition.  MAC Shadow – color: Antiqued is a gorgeous brown with a hint of plum (barely).  Brush: MAC Tapered Blending Brush

HOW:  You’ll want to take this shadow from the outside corner and follow that natural arch line (curvature) of your eye.  Stop it half way over – don’t go all the way to the inner corner as you’re only highlighting the outer crease. 

5 | SHADOW: Follow the same technique as step number #4 (above), but don’t go as far over as you took the color from above.  Brush: MAC Small Angle + MAC Tapered Blending Brush

HOW:  You’ll want to start at the outside cover with BRUSH: Small Angle which is a precision angel brush and you’ll want to draw a sharp line up (refer to the colored drawing – you can really see the angle) and then you’ll want to use the BRUSH: Tapered Blending to blend the color.  Small circular motions work great!

6 | BROWS:  Fill in brows using Anastasia Dipbrow Pomade – color: Blonde.  Brush: Anastasia Brush #12

HOW:  Follow the natural curvature of the brows.  I’m one that loves a bushy brow, but hates when they look ‘plastic’.  I tend to follow the natural curve of the arch, instead of mapping out the perfect artificial looking brow.  I’m more of a natural brow girl.

7 | EYELINER:  Line the entire top lid using MAC Fluidline – color: Blacktrack.  BRUSH: MAC Small Angle

HOW:  Starting in the inside corner use the angled brush and barely dip the brush into the eyeliner.  Using soft-short strokes, begin lining the eye.  I dip my brush into the eyeliner several times, between each dip, I’ll use a tissue and pull the bristles.  Basically pull the bristles from the base of the brush, removing the old eyeliner and creating a defined (sharp!) brush.  This will help the eyeliner go on a lot more precise. 

8 | EYELASHES + MASCARA:  Next up, adhere Ardell Demi Wispies to the lash line + use (my favorite) Benefit Rollerlash Mascara.

HOW:  Don’t close your eyes as you apply the lashes, just look straight down.  This will allow you to glue the false-lash closer to the natural lash line – which will make it appear more natural.  Only apply a small amount of glue and allow it to dry for about 40 seconds before applying to skin.  

9 | FOUNDATION + CONCEALER:  Skip the primer, you don’t need it with this foundation!  I’m loving BECCA Ultimate Coverage Complexion Creme Foundation – color: Shell right now.  I used 1 pump of the BECCA foundation + 1 pump of Benefit Hoola Liquid Bronzer – this really dilutes and creates a dewy-fullcoverage-natural finish!  Brush: Sigma Tapered Kabuki Brush (best foundation brush and only $25!).

CONCEALER:  For under-eye concealer, I always rely on NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer – color: Vanilla (I only own two concealer colors in my kit, the Vanilla is a go-to).  Brush: Sigma Precision Brush (the best for blending concealer into the under-eye area).

10 | POWDER:  I used my new favorite powder by Bobbi Brown Nude Finish Illuminating Powder – color: Nude.  Brush: Laura Mercier Blending Brush.

11 | CONTOURING:  I contour with powder instead of foundation – to me, it’s more natural and not as many oils come out as the day goes on.  My go-to bronzing powder is NARS – color: Laguna.  Brush: Sephora Shape & Highlight Brush.

HOW:  Use the angled side of the brush and sculpt out the cheeks.  I’ll use a small amount of powder on the angled side and literally sculpted out the perfect defined cheek.  If you split your cheek in half, I’ll use the bronzer on the bottom half and the blush on the upper half. 

12 | BLUSH:  This is another must have for every makeup kit.  I used MAC Mineralize Blush – color: Gentle on Emily.  It has a pearlized shimmer that really defines and lifts the top of the cheekbone. Brush: Sephora Shape & Highlight Brush.

HOW:  Apply this color on the upper section of the cheek, right above the bronzer.  

13 | HIGHLIGHTER:  My favorite part to finish off any face – the highlighter.  I’ve blogged about this item many of times.  I love MAC Mineralize Skinfinish – color: Lightscape.  Brush: Sigma High Cheekbone Highlighter.

HOW:  Apply this color about 4″ below the lower lash line or right on top of your natural cheek bone. This will really lift those cheeks and finish off a beautiful, natural sculpted cheek.  I love applying a little bit down the center of the nose and above the cupids bow at the lip-line.  

14 | LIPSTICK:  I used a natural nude-pink on Emily, MAC Lipstick – color: Hot Gossip (online it looks more pink, in person, it’s very soft).  AFTER I applied the lipstick, I gently added a soft touch of liner, MAC Lipliner – color: Whirl.