The Look: Samantha by Katey Denno

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For the past couple of weeks—since we met makeup artist Katey Denno—we’ve changed our tune on all-natural makeup. Namely, we’re making a concerted effort to call it “non-toxic' makeup instead. “The word ‘natural’ can be misleading,” she told us. “Some brands use synthetic pigments to get these amazing colors, but it’s tough because ‘non-toxic’ makes you think, ‘Oh my gosh! Are the other ones toxic?' I don't use exclusively natural or organic products, but I keep my personal routine about 95 percent non-toxic. It's just always a good thing to think about,” And, really, who doesn't want to reduce their toxic load, even if they're not completely committed to the go-organic cause?

'I remember once,” Katey continued, “Mindy Kaling said to me, 'When you say all-natural, I immediately think, that’s not for me.' I think a lot of people feel that way, which is why I think a lot of these products need a rebrand. You’re not going to be smearing dirt on your face—except maybe to contour. You can contour using dirt,” Also noted.

Perhaps the niftiest thing about the non-toxic bandwagon is that it gives you the chance to play around with the latest and greatest in organic skincare as a primer. Notably, Katey prepped Samantha's face with Lina Hanson's Global Face Serum. “This is phenomenal,” Katey said. (She's not kidding, because we snagged it from her kit and are now oiling up with it religiously.) It's got a laundry list of non-GMO and organic oils from all over the world, hence the name. Then she soothed Samantha's lips and eyelids with R.L. Linden & Co. La Balmba Rosa, which is like the hippie-dippie version of ChapStick that smells like a very excellent pink bouquet.

Forgoing foundation—save for a bit of spot concealing with wonder-brand Ilia's Vivid Concealer—Katey moved straight onto highlighting (with Ilia Illuminator in Sway). She hit all the usual areas and a few extras—specifically in the corners of the eyes and below the lash line, or as she put it, “mostly in the center—right below the iris,”

Moving on to color now: Brows were fixed with Ecobrow Defining Wax in Penelope, lashes were coated in Juice Beauty Lash Defining Mascara, lids swiped with Kjaer Weis Eye Shadow Compact in Wisdom, and lips and cheeks were colored with Ilia Lipstick in Femme Fatale. Overall the result was a very natural, all-natural look— ahem, we mean non-toxic.

Samantha Archibald (Major Models) photographed by Tom Newton. Makeup by Katey Denno (The Wall Group).