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Three Tips I Learned from Makeup Legend Pat McGrath

Posted 11/15/11 at 05:47AM by Rebekah George

Pat McGrath -- the makeup artist behind many of the looks on the runway in New York, Paris, and Milan -- is a hero to those of us who eat, sleep, breathe, and live makeup.

What's mind-boggling is that this influential superstar has zero formal training. She was just a girl (like me) who spent her childhood rummaging through her mother's vanity table, but (unlike me) had a chance encounter with a fashion stylist who got her started on a career in makeup artistry. From there her innate talent took over and got her where she is today -- at the top of her game.

Last week, I got the chance to sit down with McGrath and chat about some of the looks that came straight from the spring 2012 runways. Here's a peek at my notes so you can learn how to work them into your own routine.

Big, bold lashes: McGrath says that spring is going to be all about lashes -- big, bold ones. Her trick for getting the most oomph? Use two different shades of mascara. Apply brown mascara from the root to the middle of your lashes, then use a black one just on the tips. This method helps to frame your lashes and make your eyes look bigger.

Skin is in: McGrath is a big advocate of caring for your skin with proper cleansing and exfoliating. She says that this allows you to wear less makeup and lets your natural beauty show through.

If you're compelled to wear a base, McGrath suggests using a foundation that contains antioxidants and vitamins to help your skin stay healthy and looking its best.

COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Silk Foundation, $10.49, can help give you that fresh-skin look that McGrath created on runway shows like Roberto Cavalli.

A vitamin-rich foundation also helps bring out your skin's natural tone. Stick with a nude lip, soft pink blush, and brown shadow to complete the look. McGrath says you can also paint on a touch of a sparkly gold shadow in the center of lips to play up the natural effect.

Sculpted Cheeks: Most models walking the runway were born with super sculpted cheeks but, this season, McGrath played them up even more by creating soft, ultra-defined cheeks that screamed femininity.

You can do this by applying COVERGIRL & Olay Simply Ageless Sculpting Blush, $8, to the upper apples of the cheeks. Just smile to find your cheek's "meatiest" part and use soft circular motions to apply the blush up and outwards towards your cheekbone.

Those are the tips I got from Pat McGrath (gosh I love my job). Do you have any you'd like to share? Here's an oldie-but-goodie ... How to Fake Bright Eyes.
And the survey says...
1-6 of 10 Comments

  • Posted by GigiSD on 05/07/13 at 07:03pm

    I love wearing two shades of mascara--just tipping the ends with a shade like deep amethyst, inky blue, whatever. It really works.

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  • Posted by EricaC123 on 12/29/12 at 05:10pm

    Thanks

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  • Posted by beautybody on 03/25/12 at 09:46pm

    I have never heard the tip of wearing brown mascara and black on the ends. That is why she is a pro.

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  • Posted by beautybody on 03/25/12 at 09:46pm

    I have never heard the tip of wearing brown mascara and black on the ends. That is why she is a pro.

    Report Abuse

  • Posted by powerwoman033 on 03/15/12 at 09:38am

    3 more tips to add to my beauty arsenal! The mascara tip is fabulous and 1 I've never heard before. The skin is in look is my favorite of all of the makeup looks from all time. No more pancake face! My absolute favorite new item out there is the cheek contour duos and trios. They make contouring a perfect cheek dummy proof! I also, like you, have never been professionally trained in cosmetics or beauty, but it has been my passion for 30 years! I wish I could run into a fashion stylist or pro. makeup artist too! :)

    Report Abuse

  • Posted by Nicole2814 on 12/17/11 at 09:22am

    very helpful

    Report Abuse

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