Let's take a second to talk about looking "polished," that adjective that fashion magazine copywriters and reality TV stylists seem to love. It's a dubious claim that, with the strategic placement of a high heel or a statement anything, any casual look can be elevated into evening territory. But in beauty, it works. Put on a bold lip and a pajama set, and you're just about ready for dinner at the Princeton Tuxedo Club. Magic!
ITG's polishing technique is slightly different—and, full disclosure, secondhand. The source is Suzy Gerstein, a makeup artist whose client roster reads like the Met Gala's guest list. She's schooled us on proper blush placement before and now she's back with a different prompt—summer makeup that's polished, but not suffocating. You know, when you have to meet your friends for dinner at a nice place, but the humidity is 90% and you'd rather die than cake anything on your face? This is for those dire times.
Suzy's solution begins with a strong, easy eye, demonstrated on the lovely Bhumika Arora. The technique is to rim and waterline around the whole eye with a pencil that's super pigmented (choose wisely—some suggestions below), using a detailing brush or handy Q-tip to smudge it up. For a little more dimension, trace a smoky eyeshadow along the bottom line and blend it into the pencil.
Mascara is a hearty helping of Kevyn Aucoin The Volume Mascara in Rich Pitch Black and a little eyelid glow is care of Glossier Haloscope in Topaz. Charlotte Tilbury's The Retoucher, Mini-Miracle Eye Wand, and Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder on the undereyes are to thank for the flawless skin you see above. Effective brightening and concealing also eliminates any sullen, goth-y undereyes that may result from playing with heavy liner.
The lips were nude and glossy, a pared-down take on what Bhumika wore for the Fendi anniversary show a couple weeks back. "I dotted a bit of red Rituel de Fille Viscera Ash and Ember Eye Soot in the center of lips, topping with more of the neutral rose colored Louboutin Loubilaque. I love this trick of applying red in the center of neutral lips... It's a great way to bring life and dimension back to nude lip colors that can otherwise wash you out." Also a great way to make yourself up without weighing yourself down.
Bhumika Arora (The Society) photographed by Tom Newton.
Bhumika wears a Tessa Matthias tank and pants.
Next up in models and their eyeliner: Jing Wen advises on a simple, dramatic cat eye over here.
