Making up Madonna
Gina Brooke, artistic director for Shu Uemura, carefully preps Madonna before each performance. Here’s the routine:
Skin: A threefold complexion boost starts with a spritz of Depsea Facial Mist with a rose scent. Next Brooke applies a five-minute moisturizing eye mask and applies Phyto Black Lift Firming Anti-Wrinkle Cream, a rich moisturizer. (“It includes black tea, which is great for skin that has been exposed to lights and harsh weather,” Brooke says.)
Face: Face Architect Remodeling Cream Foundation “gives the illusion of glowing, dewy skin, but she has beautiful skin anyway,” Brooke says. Next, Base Control is applied to the bridge of her nose and cheek plane to brighten and highlight.
Eyes: Brooke uses Shu Uemura’s Liquid Eyeliner Pen, applied in a thin line at the inner corner and thicker as it extends beyond the eye. The lower lid is also lined.
Eye shadow application starts with M800, a matte beige applied at the base of the lid. Over it goes IR900, a dark metallic shadow; and then ME900, a black shadow. All of it is blended to create a gunmetal metallic effect.
After brushing on mascara, Brooke applies false lashes — her choice for Madonna is a set called Smoky Layers (below). “By putting mascara on first, you have the length and thickness, then you add the lashes to get a furry, soft, doe-eyed look,” shes says.
Brows get an application of powder to intensify but not overdramatize them. (They’re held in place with a spritz of hair spray.)
Blush: Powder in the shade MPink 31 is brushed on the apples of the cheeks.
Lips: Nude 908 lip liner is followed by Rouge Unlimited BG 949, “a beautiful creamy lip color that goes on matte but feels creamy, especially in the wintertime,” Brooke says.
