with Mari Shten

Mari is the make-up artist to watch these days as her star is quickly rising.
Her brushes regularly grace the faces of socialites and celebrities and can be found at every fashion week, both in the US and Europe.
She has garnered a reputation for making her subjects look their “natural best”.

I recently sat down with Mari on a warm spring night to discuss the latest makeup trends for summer and get the scoop on how to achieve her praise worthy looks at home.

Another option is to go for a statement lip in red lipstick. All shades of red, from orange-red to deep berry-red are in this summer.

BWB: Mari, as we transition into the warmer seasons, what are some of the summer beauty trends to look forward to and what are some tips to achieve the looks?

This season there are 3 different looks that are trending.
One option is all about bare face and natural hair. We have been seeing bare face for the past few seasons and this summer it is definitely a main stay.
However, the minimal, natural make-up and air-dried hair look still needs some work.
Make sure to cover the redness and blemishes with a light concealer.
Curl your lashes and groom the eyebrows and don’t forget a lip balm. Take note that there is no need for powder – go ahead and rock your dewy skin!

Another option is to go for a statement lip in red lipstick. All shades of red, from orange-red to deep berry-red are in this summer.
However ditch the shiny, sparkly lip gloss in favor of light lip stains or matte finish lipsticks.

Lastly, eyeliner never goes out of style!  This summer we see it not only on the top lid but also on the bottom. Apply it mostly on the outer corner of the eye and keep the shape straight and graphic but soft on the bottom. If you feel adventurous you can play with colors such as blue and red.

Taking care of your skin is the number one makeup skill you need to learn.

BWB: You see all skin types and the problems that come with them. In your experience, what practices result in the healthiest (and unhealthiest!) looking skin?

Skin is the most important element of any makeup.  Healthy skin will make any makeup look great. Taking care of your skin is the number one makeup skill you need to learn.
Cleansing and moisturizing every morning and night, and making sure you take off your makeup before bed.
In the summer the sun is especially strong so make sure to apply at least SPF20 every morning. Luckily a lot of moisturizers and foundations (bb/cc creams) already have SPF, just make sure you get the right one. Apply SPF to the neck, chest, and hands as well – the areas most exposed to the sun and most likely to show signs of aging.

Unhealthy skin can be a result of a lot of factors: smoking, unhealthy diet, not cleaning/moisturizing, not removing makeup, lack of sleep, stress, dehydration, and sun damage.

BWB: Name one makeup trend that should never have existed!!

Just one? Haha, how about a few? I’d say pencil thin eyebrows, dark lipliner and light lipstick combo, frosty lipsticks, too much and/or shimmery bronzer, heavy false eye lashes (I’m all about the false lashes, but they should blend in or enhance your natural ones), and heavy contouring…..just to name a few.

BWB: As a makeup professional, what are you thoughts on the new crop of in-home beauty and touch-up services? What can a client do to guarantee a good result every time?

That’s a great question! I like the idea of this service because now many more people can access the luxury of having a personal makeup artist and hair stylist coming directly to you!  Who doesn’t want to look their best for an important event or night on the town? The only thing I would caution is that one should keep in mind that these services typically cost a premium for good reason.
Do a bit of preparation for the visit:

• Make sure you know ahead of time what look you want.
• Have some images of the makeup look you would like handy and go ahead and choose your color palette.
• Tell the makeup artist what you feel comfortable with and how you usually wear your makeup.
• A quick trip to Sephora can provide clarity.
• Be sure to pay attention to the cleanliness of their brushes; a makeup artist’s brushes are their hands, they should always be clean.
• Lastly, if you don’t like something, simply let them know. It is just makeup and you can always remove and fix it. If you are happy with the result, be sure to rate your artists and get their name so you can request them the next time.

The golden rule in makeup is less is more.  Find one feature and play it up rather then trying to accentuate everything!

BWB: If you have one message that you wish to impart on our readers what would it be?

My message would be to please take care your skin! If the skin doesn’t look good, wash it, remove your makeup and moisturize….A LOT!
This includes wearing a sunscreen, even in the winter.  The golden rule in makeup is less is more.  Find one feature and play it up rather then trying to accentuate everything!
Most importantly, be happy!! Nothing looks better than the inner glow of health and happiness.

For our BWB readers. Here are Mari’s Summer Trends suggestions.

For Bare Face
I like Laura Mercier Secret Concealer or Smooth Finish Flawless Fluid for very light coverage. Curl your lashes and groom the eyebrows. Don’t forget a lip balm. No powder needed – rock your dewy skin this summer. Buy it HERE!

Lipsticks
All shades of red from orange-red to deep berry-red are in this summer. Choose light lip stains like Sugar Rose Extreme Tinted Lip Treatment by Fresh or satin/matte lipsticks – I love Bite Beauty natural and rich colors. Take a break from the lip-gloss. Buy it HERE!

Eyeliner
It never goes out of style, but this summer we see it not only on the top lid but also on the bottom. Apply it mostly on outer corner of the eye. Keep the shape straight and graphic but soft on the bottom. If you feel adventurous you can play with colors: blues and reds are very in. To create a perfect line I use Vincent Longo Creme Gel Liner. For a smudgy look that will last all day I use Rock’n’Khol Eyeliner Pencil by Charlotte Tilbury.

For Skin Care
Dr.Haushka has amazing Soothing Cleansing Milk that gently removes dirt and makeup, and moisturize with Revitalizing Day Cream. Buy it HERE!

For SPF
Fresh makes amazing Peony Brightening UV Shield Sunscreen SPF50 that will protect your skin from the strongest sun. Also try Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Broad Spectrum SPF20 Sunscreen. Buy it HERE!