This look… To say that it’s one of my favorites is an understatement. I’ve been wearing it FOR YEARS, and it has shown up many times on MBB in different iterations (most recently in the MAC Hyper Real Palette post), but I don’t know (or at least I can’t remember) if I’ve ever really broken it down before.
I don’t know why, but whenever someone asks me about it, I’m always surprised — maybe because it doesn’t seem like anything special — but now that I think about it, there must be a reason I rely on it so much.
I’ve done this look in moving cars, office cubicles, on public transpo, cramped airplane bathrooms (during turbulence), and lately with a wiggly toddler in my lap!
The eyes are lightly defined with shimmery bronze, plum and brown, and they’re paired with a soft coral-peach on the cheeks and lips. The skin is just shy of medium coverage and has some sheen to it.
It’s not an advanced or complicated look, but who cares? That makes it practical and realistically doable, and I like how I feel when I wear it. I can wear it pretty much anywhere and feel like the best version of K-$ is in the house. 🙂
I’ve listed the steps and products I use down below, but as usual, the brow gel, mascara, eyeliner, highlighter, bronzer, and even the foundation and lipstick, are easily substitutable.
That said, I do think that two of the products I use are “musts” (in makeup land, I use that term loosely) because they make the look what it is.
The first is the NARS Cordura eyeshadow duo, which I’ve talked about in detail before, but basically it’s a duo with a satiny plum on one side and a bronze on the other, and IMO it’s THE BEST bronze/plum eyeshadow combo around. The shadows shimmer but aren’t hardcore glittery, and they both add color and definition without being…basic.
Sometimes when I do this look, I’ll do it with just the bronze on the lids…
And sometimes I’ll mix the bronze with purple.
Either way creates softly defined eyes that work well with almost any lip color.
The second “must” product for me with this look is MAC Melba Blush, which is quite possibly my favorite MAC blush of all time.
It’s a buttery, blend-able, long-lasting “just right” blush that doesn’t go over the top.
TOOLS (products I used are in italic):
- Something to blend with — a blending brush, beautyblender or your fingers
- Brow gel (I’m obsessed with Hourglass Arch Brow Gel in Warm Brunette at the moment)
- Brown pencil eyeliner (MAC Coffee, which, unfortunately, is discontinued. Ideally, you want something brownish black like Bobbi Brown Mahogany that doesn’t have a lot of red in it.)
- Mascara (Benefit BADGal Bang)
- Matte bronzer (Guerlain 4 Seasons Brunettes. Also discontinued, I’m afraid. Try MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in MAC Give Me Sun.)
- Under-eye concealer (MAC Matchmaster in 4)
- Liquid foundation (MAC Studio Fix Fluid in NC42)
- Pearly liquid highlighter (My fave is MAC Strobe Cream in Pink Lite)
- Powder (MAC Mineralize Skinfinish Natural in Medium Golden)
- Highlighter (Get It Glowing, from the MAC Hyper Real Glow Palette)
- Peachy coral powder blush (MAC Melba)
- Creamy peachy coral lipstick (NUDESTIX Lip + Cheek Balm in Ally; from Nude(art)ist: Love Me Nudes Natural Edition)
STEPS:
- Blend a few drops of the pearly liquid highlighter into the liquid foundation, and apply wherever you want some coverage.
- If you want, conceal your under-eye circles with the concealer.
- Build out brows with brow gel.
- Line lash lines, and, if you want, the inner rims.
- Fill in the area from your lash line to your crease with the same liner (it doesn’t have to be neat), and then buff the liner with a blending brush to create an eyeshadow base, feathering it as you move toward your brows to create a gradient.
- Pat the bronze plum, or a mix of the bronze and plum eyeshadows, directly on top of the liner on your lids, and blend the edges.
- Sweep bronzer into your crease and along the lower lash line.
- Coat lashes with mascara.
- Apply bronzer, blush and highlighter to cheeks.
- Finish with lipstick and smiles! 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Yay! Thank you for this post Karen. You have no idea but this is makeup look is the dream! I basically wish every morning to look like some version of this and then end up skipping on eyeshadow all together because I just cannot. You make it look and sound so effortless but I am absolutely incapable of blending lol!
I am gutted they discontinued Coffee. That was the perfect brown eyeliner and I have used it for years! Chanel’s espresso comes close but more expensive.
Hi Divya,
It’s really that easy. What is it about blending that you find difficult? Let me know what’s about it is hard, and perhaps I can whip something up with some solutions to try!
Divya I second everything you said! I totally agree about the blending shadows. I look like a hot mess when I try.
Karen… Maybe show the best brushes and method for blending, say, 2 shadows? I know its remedial but teach me, please!!! ??
This is the ultimate “Karen at MBB” face I have been acquainted with online for almost ten years!!!
LOL, it’s true! I love trying new looks but I could happily wear this one from now until the end of time.
I just realized the blog’s birthday is coming up… 11 years on Feb. 20th. I also realized that a while back you asked me about a Real Techniques brush that I used to apply a lipstick as cream blush. It’s the buffing brush. 🙂 Sorry for taking so long to get that info to you.
I hope you’re having a wonderful Thursday so far. What are you up to today?
Thank you for getting back to me on that; I was curious about that brush head!
You’ve been doing a lot more how-to/look breakdown posts and you look as lovely as ever, Karen. It’s interesting that Connor Claire is featured in this very MBB post because you and your blog have grown with so much grace these eleven years. (Imagine TEEN Connor Claire in the blog’s next eleven years!)
That’s awesome you can bust that out in ten minutes! I’m in a time crunch every morning during the week to get my makeup done before I need to drop off Colin at pre-k, but I never seem to be able to get it down below 20 minutes. I’m not sure where the time goes! Brows and mascara are two things I know I’m pretty slow with. All things, probably. Ha. I need to try the Strobe Cream and Studio Fix Fluid combo again, I think I might have done the Becca liquid before when I asked you about it and that broke down on my face fairly early in the day.
Honestly, what really helps me is setting a timer. That and having everything in one see-through bag so I don’t have to dig. But the biggest time save for me is accepting that it’s OK for it to look less than perfect on any given day. Giving yourself room to make mistakes is the most liberating thing!
Re: Strobe Cream and Studio Fix. Try playing with your ratios. Do less of the primer and more of the illuminating cream and see if that helps.
I purchased NARS Cordura because of how much everyone raves about…it’s a classic. While I find it pretty, I struggle with it. It always either creases like a mother or doesn’t blend well. It’s kind of intense for an everyday look on me too. Sigh….I need to whip it out and try it tomorrow!
Ps. I love using bronzer to carve out my crease in a pinch!
Hi Bree,
I can see how it could be intense on some skin tones. Do you have a favorite crease color? You could always try mixing a little bit in with it (like a 50/50 mix) to tone down the color a little bit. Or you could try something with a similar vibe but less dark. MAC Satin Taupe and Mulch come to mind. Not exact dupes but a similar feel!
I am still weeping that MAC discontinued the Coffee liner. Why would they do that? It is my deserted island product. I could go on and on about how much I loved that liner. But I digress…I think I need Melba. Mocha is my current favorite blush that I wear almost daily. I love this look and for the past 10 years that I’ve been following you, it is my favorite look on you. It’s a great signature look!
I heard through the grapevine that it’s still available overseas. Next time I take a trip (whenever that is, le sigh!), if there’s a Estee Lauder travel retail store I’ll see if I can grab a few sticks for me and for you!
You’re the bestest!
No prob, homie! It’s SUCH a good pencil and I’m actually really shocked that it got discontinued!
Hey girls, I wanted to tell that you can actually buy Coffee liner here in Mexico and I don’t have any trouble to buy them for you; so just ask.
Love the look, but OMG! The first thing I noticed was how cute and big Connor is getting! What a gorgeous little beauty!
Hi Georgia,
I know! She’s not my little tiny peanut anymore. It’s like I blinked and bam, two years went by in a flash.
How are things out your way across the Bridge? It’s a gorgeous day here in Northern Marin County, not a cloud in the sky.
I bought NARS Cordura years ago. It became my “polished look” eyeshadow duo for the longest time. I wore it everywhere. I need to go dig it out now 🙂
This is such a classic, timeless look. That last photograph of Little Connor Claire and You? Frame it, please! It’s adorable.
Hi Fieran,
Yes ma’am! 🙂
BTW, do you have MAC Constructivist? It looks very pretty under Cordura.
Warms my heart the beautiful Connor Claire with mom ! Omg that last pic is precious. Blending eyeshadow is still my challenge, I wind up just patting on bronzer lol Do you find the brushes you use make a difference? I have a few It Cosmetics brushes but all I’m reading lately is about how good the Wayne Goss type brushes are with hooded eyes.
Hi Diana!
I have a few It Cosmetics brushes and they’re OK. They do seem to get stiffer as I use them more and I have had a few fall apart on me (literally! Like the brush fell apart), but that happened after a year or two of heavy use.
Generally I do find that the brush does make a difference, but you know, you could get similar look with most any brush if you just know some tricks. I can totally teach you some! What is it about blending that you find difficult? I’m thinking of doing a “Blending Boot Camp” series or something as you’re the second person who’s mentioned it today.
Everything! I need your tricks! I just cant make it look polished with more than one color i pat on the lid only. Yes omg Blending Boot camp with Karen….that would be sooo great thank you ?
This is one of your go to looks- a look that you can put together without much effort and it still looks like you put in a lot of time. So natural looking and beautiful…
Who’s that gorgeous little girl helping you out? I can’t believe that Miss Connor Claire has gotten so big already! I like seeing pictures of her alone but I love the pictures of the two of you together. You share a special bond that’s beautiful to see.
Hi Annie,
I know, how did our Coywolf get SO big, SO fast?! Would you believe her second birthday is next month? Everyone says it goes by in the blink of an eye and it’s so very true.
How have you been? Did you ever end up getting the MAC To Luck lipstick?
i love this and would follow these steps . maybe i could substitute some of the colors.
You totally could! Do you have MAC Mulch or Satin Taupe or even Woodwinked? You could use any of those (or a combo) to get something similar. If you end up trying it let me know, I’d love to see it on you!
Classic Karen!
3rd request for blending boot camp. The struggle is real. Connor has that flawless baby skin. It makes me regret all those years I spent in the sun.
Love this look! I need to try it myself!
Have you tried the newish Mac Watwerweight Concealer yet? I’m curious about it.
I love this look. It’s so fresh, healthy and glowing. And what a cutie Connor is becoming! Love the elephants on her shirt.
Can’t remember off the top of my head if I own Cordura. Need to check out my stash.
I was in Sephora Tuesday and saw the Hourglass Arch Brow Gel. I thought to myself Karen likes this, I’m gonna get one and give it a try. Darn if I don’t love it! I daresay I like it more than any of the other brow gels I’ve tried. Sigh.
I love this look! so polished and elegant. I definitely want to get Cordura eyeshadow and melba blush. I would love it if you did a “remedial” blending video on how to blend the eyeliner that you use as the base for your shadow, as I tried playing with this, and I couldn’t get it to blend evenly. Do you use primer under the eyeliner before you buff it out? Maybe my eyeliner was too stiff. Is the Coffee eyeliner really soft?
First of all: Karen you look amazing both with and without makeup, I want to be like you when I’m older.
Second: Miss Connor Claire is so beautiful, she has your eyes, nose and lips doesn’t she?
Third: I’ll try yo do this look, today I discover the fact that if I color correct (orange an yellow correctors) my dark circles I can skip concealer if I powder immediately, since my allergies went bonkers I wanted to looked alive but with minimum effort, and it did the trick. So I think I’ll stick to that for everyday; also I have found another winning combination: UD Jawbone bronzer (it’s labeled as a bronzer but it’s way too rosy to be one for me and look nice as a neutral blush) topped with NYX HD blush in Electro (any hot pink with blue undertones will work); it’s a tip Bobbi Brown says on her book and it’s true, the colors have more dimension.
Looks like that are what keeps me going in the mornings. Looking like the best version of myself, but possible to do while still half asleep and preparing breakfast!
Awww! Look at that baby! I love that she’s clutching the brush and helping. 🙂 I think everyone loves this look because it’s so pretty and wearable. Your diagramming is great, btw. And, blending bootcamp would be awesome.
Karen, thank you for your tutorials! I NEED tutorials. I love makeup and of course, buying it, but I’ll get home and not know what to do with it! For example, I’ll buy a palette and get home and have no idea what eyeshadow goes where. So THANK YOU! I’m going to try this look.