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Insider interview
Finding it hard to get a handle on fall’s bold makeup? CoverGirl makeup artist Molly R. Stern’s got us covered. In demand in Hollywood and beyond, Molly has prettified Reese Witherspoon, Kirsten Dunst, Renee Zellweger and many more wonderfully natural-looking celebs. This artist puts her own spin on the trends, and now you can, too…
What’s on your makeup mind for fall?
I can’t seem to get eyebrows off my brain! The look of a sleek, beautiful eye and cheek and lip is big…but a stronger brow than I usually go for. It goes with a strong beautiful lip. I like how sharp everything is this season—it’s crisp!
How can we achieve the boldly lined eye without feeling overdone?
A lot of women might be afraid of crazy winged-out eyeliner to their temple. I’d stop the line more toward the outer corner of the eye. If you want a wing, keep it subtle. It doesn’t take much liner to get that dramatic kick. CoverGirl Line Exact is an awesome tool. It comes in a bullet pen with a sharp felt tip and eliminates a lot of the mess of having a brush. The best tip I can give for applying eyeliner is to take a hand mirror and hold it at chin level, tilted out so you have to look down. If it’s dead on, you have to stretch your eye. This way your eye is naturally flat—the line won’t change.
Should we aspire toward the bold eyebrow?
I’m feeling more that 40s rounded brow. Sort of Lucille Ball inspired… I don’t believe in over-tweezing. If you need help with a brow, seek it, that’s my advice. Most people benefit from someone else’s perspective—it’s worth splurging twenty to seventy dollars. Where makeup’s concerned, I lean toward a harder pencil. Shu Uemura makes a retractable pencil that stays put. And Cle De Peau makes a nice one as well.
Beyond liner application, what’s pretty on the lid?
With a bold liner or brow, it’s nice to keep the eye clean—opt for a subtle color, something that’s got a fleck to it, taupe-y, earthy shimmers, sheer and natural. It’s sexy to make the lid look wet. Try CoverGirl’s Eye Enhancers 4 Kit Shadows in Urban Basics and Sheerly Nude.
How can we pull off the bold lip at the office party or even the gourmet grocery?
I think a bold lip is great—you just have to make sure you’re applying it evenly so you don’t look like crazy clown lady. CoverGirl’s TruShine Lipcolor is my favorite because the tones are so amazing and have a nice texture. Try CoverGirl Fruit Spritzer on top for a beautiful sheen and delicious flavor. By using the two products, you achieve a wearable look—they don’t cover your lip; they color your lip. You want to be professional but still on trend. The TruShine line is so modern in shade selection—my favorite is Cranberry Shine.
Any blush tips for the new season?
I’m never afraid of blush; I love all different kinds of blush! I base my cheeks with a cream blush—it looks like it’s coming from the inside rather than sitting on the surface. Vincent Longo makes beautiful cream blushes, and so does Chantecaille. CoverGirl makes TruBlend Luminous loose powder blush, with minerals, in rosy and bronze shades that are great to dust over the cheek up to the cheekbone. I usually keep the blush on the apples of the cheek. You can spread it out with luminous powder.
Have a secret-weapon tip for looking more rested?
For any season, use a lot of blush—rosy cheeks are great. To look rested, really try to get rest. Makeup can only enhance things. If we’re really tired or feeling dragged down, we need to heal ourselves. Drink more water, do the old-fashioned cucumbers on the eyes, and pamper yourself more!
What’s a makeup tip that never goes out of style?
Volume Exact Mascara! It plumps the lashes, builds the lashes, and keeps them looking separated—the brush is amazing. That will add to your eyeliner. It’s a no-brainer.