Celebrity Makeup Artist:

By Virginia Nam, NYC Contributor

NYC makeup artist, Keira Karlin, is known for her artistry and flawless makeup application.  Her celebrity clientele list is as impressive as her work – it includes the likes of Debra Messing and Lucy Liu, just to name a few.

As she shares her beauty essentials, makeup tips, and names her go-to products below…Keira offers solutions to some of the most challenging beauty issues.

Keira’s Essentials:

Exfoliate weekly: The most important thing for women to concern themselves with is their canvas or skin. Tone and texture are extremely important and the first place to start.  Exfoliating will clear off dry patches and even out skin tone. Some of my favorites are Donell Super Skin Mini Microderm abrasion Scrub and Yonka Gommage 305.

Makeup primer: Use a primer before using foundation or concealer to smooth texture.  Primer also helps makeup go on evenly and keeps it lasting longer.  A few I like are Laura Mercier Primer, Makeup Forever UV Prime and Nars Primer with SPF.

Neutral lipstick: Every woman should also own one neutral lipstick that is compatible with her natural skin tone.  Bobbi Brown is a master of neutral tones and matching sticks with gloss and liners.

Black mascara: Favorites are Lash Blast, Voluminous Carbon and Dior Show.

A great eye lash curler: The best are Shu Umera and Kevin Aucoin.

A pink blush: Almost everyone can use a pinky blush that matches their skin tone.  Ideally, a blush should match what your skin naturally does when you blush.

A great concealer: Finally, but ultimately important, a great concealer.  My favorites are Eve Pearl Trios, Amazing Cosmetics Amazing Concealer, Cle de Peau concealer and Kanebo concealer.

Keira’s Makeup Tips:

To add a little something special: I always set my clients and myself with the Caudalie Beauty Elixir.  It’s fantastically fresh sprays that sets makeup and give a subtle glow.

How to tell when one has too much makeup: Makeup should only enhance a woman’s natural beauty.  A dead give away to a bad makeup job is when the face and neck do not match.   Another tell-tale sign is too much makeup on the nose.

To maintain healthy lips: Take a soft tooth brush, put a small amount of Vaseline on the lips and gently rub the brush on lips to remove dead chapped skin.  Drink lots of water and moisturize.  Have a great lip balm close by at all times.

Underrated products that deserve more attention: Lancome’s Maquicomplet Eclat concealer in medium warm.  Not many people, outside of makeup artists – and even some of them – don’t know about this product.   It’s absolutely fantastic to cover otherwise hard-to-cover dark under-eyes, the area around the nose…pretty much anywhere.  It’s to be worn under concealer or foundation due to its very yellow tone.  It’s a very light weight product that doesn’t get at all cakey.

Another fantastic product is Makeup Forever’s Star Powder.  This is a highlight/shimmer powder with just the right amount of shimmer, a very fine powder which adds the right sheen for a healthy glow.  Pearl Gold color is my favorite find, but there are lots to choose from.

Have more questions for Keira or interested in her work? Visit her website at keirakarlin.com.

Virginia Nam is a fashion blogger from the NYC metro area. She blogs at Lovely20s.com where she covers the tumultuous but incredibly fun lifestyle of the NYC 20-something.

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