As Nordstrom’s beauty stylist (at the Saint Louis Galleria), Megan Dugan knows a thing or two about beauty and trends. She’s worked on everything from music videos to photo shoots, but gets the most satisfaction doing makeup for the everyday woman. We talked fall trends with Megan, who was happy to share her tips and tricks for making the most of your trend-inspired makeup regime.
For The Gold Trend:
When “glamming-it-up” in metallics, its best to ensure that your makeup doesn’t compete with your ensemble—complementing your look is key. Go for a neutral-based smokey eye starting with a black shadow blended above the lash line. Then, blend the color out with a medium brown tone up to the crease. Follow up with a matte, bone-colored shadow on the brow bone and use to also camouflage any harsh lines. Next, use a black pencil to line the eye—one that won’t smudge. Finish the look with either a nude lipstick for a 60's vibe such as Yves St. Laurent Rouge Volupte #2, or a bold merlot like MAC Darkside for a vampier look.
Fall Makeup Must-Have:
NARS Larger Than Life Eyeliner in “Via Veneto.” There’s a reason this self-sharpening, blacker-than-black liner was sold out company-wide for months after its release. It doesn't budge, even on the waterline. For defined eyes that really last all day, this is a must-have for everyone.
For The Military Trend:
Military-inspired fashion is always going to be on-trend, and one thing designers know is how to make something masculine still look flattering—even on the girliest of girls. The same holds true with makeup. When wearing something that’s as bold and structured as the military look, it’s best to follow suit with a complementary look for your face. Start with a brow pencil and liberally fill in your brows. An easy way to achieve amazing brow volume is to start right below where the hair naturally grows and flick your brow pencil upwards in the direction the hair grows, but most importantly, have fun experimenting with your brows—they can transform your entire look—and for fall, the bolder the better! In addition to a full brow, ridiculously chiseled cheek bones also add a nice edge to the military look. For ultimate impact, I like to use a matte foundation for shine control and then contour with a matte bronzer.
Fall Makeup Must-Have:
Diorshow Brow Styler by Dior in “Universal Brown.” This brow pencil is one universal color that works for almost everyone. Each layer gets darker so you control the intensity of the color. Makeup junkies take note—this is like 4 brow pencils in one!
For The Red Trend:
From a makeup artist’s prospective, red is the most fun to work with. Some may say it's cliché, but nothing beats a good "cateye" paired with a daring red ensemble. Winged liner—a natural partner for red garments—is so romantic that it will always be in demand, and its simplicity can be worn with nearly every style of clothing, even the most complex red ensembles. Using this type of liner can be daunting at first, but the challenge is made easier by splurging on a great liquid liner—drug stores need not apply! For the best look, draw your line going from very thin above the lashes from the inner corner of the eye to gradually thicker to the outer, and finish with a dramatic, lengthening mascara, and remember—practice makes perfect. For newbies it’s best to experiment with this look when you have plenty of time for a do-over.
Fall Makeup Must Have:
Giorgio Armani Liquid Eyeliner. Because of its accuracy, this is a great liner for beginners and pro’s alike.
All beauty products are available at Nordstrom at the Saint Louis Galleria
For more great makeup tips, follow Megan on at facebook.com/makeupishaute.