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How to Nail Issa’s No-Makeup Makeup Beauty Look

All the products, tips, and tricks makeup artist Joanna Simkin used in order to achieve a glowing finish.

Beauty
issa rae
Production Director:
Jess Sisco
Hair:
Makeup:

Can we have a moment of silence for Issa Rae's skin on the cover of our latest digital issue, Class of '21? While genetics and wellness habits—like minding your own business—definitely play a role in her glowing complexion, she has another tool in her arsenal: makeup artist Joanna Simkin. Ahead, Simkin breaks down the products and techniques she relies on to ensure a photo-ready finish every single time.

Brow Flick

"Before I prep the skin, I always do eyebrows first. I don't want them to look heavy or overdrawn, and I find that if there's any product on the skin or on the brows—including moisturizer—I have to apply a lot more pressure with the pen. Then, it can start looking really heavy whereas if I just go in on the brows when the skin is completely dry, the strokes stick to the skin better.

"I find that brow pens really mimic the hair strokes best. I just run through it—I'm not precious about it at all. And then, I go in under the brow with concealer on a very straight brush. It almost gives it the look of a waxed or threaded brow rather than a thick, solid line."

Glossier
$18

Magic Cream Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid

"Once I start prepping the skin, I usually reach for Charlotte Tilbury's Magic Cream. I love it; I just feel like it basically tightens your face up."

Charlotte Tilbury
$100

Skinglass Bronze

"Then, I use this illuminator from Noorface. It comes in several shades and it's an oil with a gold shimmer infused in the formula. I literally dab it onto the places on the highpoints of her face. It's a nice undercoat that illuminates the skin before I apply foundation."

Noorface
$38

The Lip Balm

"We always let the lip balm soak in while I'm doing the rest of her face. I love this one, it's my favorite. Everyone always loves how it feels, they love how it tastes. And then once we're done with makeup and ready to apply a lip, they're perfectly soft and hydrated. It's amazing."

La Mer
$75

Matte Fluid Eye Paint

"The About-Face eye paints come in so many pretty colors and they have incredible staying power."

About-Face
$24

Long-wear Cream Eyeshadow Stick

"I also love Bobbi Brown's eyeshadow sticks for a subtle shimmer. I've been pretty low-maintenance on eyeshadow lately, so it's usually one color all over and then defining the lid with a transition shade. So, I'll use a cream eyeshadow as the base and apply that all over the lid. Then, I'll take a fluffy blending brush and buff out the edges. Next, I like to use her bronzer to define the crease; using bronzer on the lid is great because it creates a perfect hollow that'll match the hollow of your cheekbones. You get an overall tonal look which is great."

Bobbi Brown
$30

Dew Wet Hydrating and Highlighting Balm

"Sometimes, when I want a pop of shimmer, I'll tap the Danessa Myricks highlighting balm onto the lid. It adds just the right amount of reflection, so it still feels like skin. I also love to use it on the cheekbones and under the brow. I feel like we went through a phase where everyone went OD with highlighter—this is so much better. It makes your skin look a bit dewy and so fresh."

Danessa Myricks Beauty
$22

Kush High Volumizing Mascara

"This mascara is incredible. The pigment is perfect; a lot of other black mascaras work on lighter-haired people, but they're not a true black and they can almost look more like a charcoal on deeper skin tones. This one is actually black and the finish is so shiny."

Milk Makeup
$25

Eye Balm

"Once I'm done with the eyes, I'll take a wipe or dab some micellar water on a cotton pad and swipe away any fallout and then I'll add an eye cream. I really like this one because makeup glides onto it so well, so there's no chance of clumps on the skin."

Dr. Hauschka
$55

Forever Matte Foundation SPF 35

"I start with a foundation that matches the middle of her face—I love the Dior Forever Matte Foundation. It applies perfectly onto the skin."

Dior
$52

Synchro Skin Self-refreshing Foundation SPF 30

"Then, on the outside of her face, I'll use the Shiseido Synchro Skin foundation for a seamless, skin-like finish that melts right into her skin. 530 Henna is her shade and it's a perfect match."

Shiseido
$47

Bounce Airbrush Liquid Whip Concealer

"And then I'll go in under the eye with Beautyblender's Bounce concealer. It has a great shade range and it'll give you really great coverage."

Beautyblender
$26

Balm Contour

"I love the sheer balm feel of this product. I apply it atop the cheekbones and along the hairline, the bridge of the nose, and the jaw; just anywhere that we want to add back in any dimension that was lost when we applied the foundation."

Danessa Myricks Beauty
$26

Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Setting Powder

"This powder's formula is so finely milled, it almost feels moist. So, I do what I call a 'fake bake' where I pack the powder onto a wet beauty blender, place it under the eyes, and then I immediately wipe it away. I just want it to absorb the extra reflection from the wet products we used earlier, but I don't want it to sit there because then it starts to look flat and dry, and that's when you start getting flashbacks."

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
$32

Bronzeville

"This brand makes three shades of bronzer and they're all amazing. I use the medium shade called Bronzeville and it's so perfect. I tap it onto the cheekbones, temples, and her hairline to bring some warmth back into the skin."

Prime Beauty
$21

Blush

"Sometimes, if I feel like the cheeks need a little more warmth, I'll use this orange-hued blush and swirl it on. It gives her that look you get when the sun first hits your skin. It also photographs perfectly every time."

Cargo Cosmetics
$26

Lip Pencil

"We usually finish off with a deep brown lip pencil and then, for her, I love going over the pencil with a mauve-toned nude."

Mac
$19

Gloss Bomb Cream Color Drip Lip Cream

"The Fenty lip cream is amazing. I think because she has warm undertones, we tend to stay away from beige nudes and go for a more purple or mauve-toned nude."

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna
$19

Lust: Gloss

"I also love the Pat McGrath glosses—the shade Flesh 4 is gorgeous."

Pat McGrath Labs
$28
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