MADE UP FOR MONUMENT VALLEY

Earthiness was an important aspect of Monument Valley – admiring it, appreciating it, immersing in it. Color was a key component of translating that to design, and so the same was true for creating the cosmetic look. Our go-to guru Lisa Martensen shares her products and pro tips for perfecting the earthy aesthetic.

“Natural, obviously, is important,” Lisa said. “I wanted to play up the colors of the canyon, but being subtle is so important with hues like that, for two reasons: one, it can quickly take a turn toward looking dirty, and two, you want to belong in the surroundings but not blend in the surroundings, if that makes sense. The inspiration was earthy, warm browns, and sienna, like the clay. We were fortunate on this shoot to be working with two Native American models who have stunning skin tones, so this look was a fun one to create, and really more about highlighting natural beauty.”

PRO TIP: Bronzer > blush.

PRODUCTS: RMS Magic Luminizer, Tom Ford Soleil Glow Bronzer (color 02 Terra)

“You want to look sun-KISSED, not sunburnt. Pink is perfect when you’re wanting a demure, coquette, glam look, but with an outdoor shoot like this, it’s out of place. The luminizer will give you a hint of glow and then bronzer gives you a warmer definition and contour.”

PRO TIP: Imperfect is perfect.

PRODUCTS: MAC Fluidline Eyeliner & Brow Gel (in Dipdown), NARS Duo Eyeshadow (Cordura)

“Soft and smudged. This MAC eyeliner is a favorite of mine, I’ve recommended it in tutorials several times before; it has the potential to be really precise and bold, like a winged eye, when you want it, but it can also be manipulated, like in this instance, to give definition that is saturated but softer. Line the lid, upper and lower, with it and then just kind of smudge it with a Q-tip. Then I swept some NARS shadow over the lid and blended it into the crease.”

PRO TIP: Cream is supreme.

PRODUCT: RMS Beauty Liplights (in Crush)

“You’ll hear me preach ‘cream’ a lot – cream blush, cream shadow, et cetera – because it goes on smoothly and it has staying power. Well, this is another kind of unexpected application of cream, in that it’s cream but also a gloss, and usually you get one or the other in a lip. This one is smooth and hydrating but with a dewy gloss, too. You’ll love it.”