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What else would have me at Saks Fifth Avenue with a makeup-free face?

When Trish McEvoy artist Kimberly Black-Crawford offered to give me a fresh face before The Birmingham Chapter of The Links, Inc. gala fundraiser last Saturday, I was a little nervous (although she’d previously gotten me to try the lippie seen HERE). Confession: I haven’t had a makeover since I first bought makeup with my mom, at Gayfer’s Fashion Fair in Cordova Mall! Now, I’ve definitely had my makeup professionally applied since then, but I hadn’t had a custom makeup session.

After trading some messages and a picture of my chosen outfit for the evening  – and with a little trepidation, a freshly washed face and a big pair of sunglasses – I headed to Saks. Kimberly immediately put me at ease and gave me a look that literally made me teary-eyed! I didn’t realize I could look so…glow-y! You know how you have an image of you’d like to look in your mind? For me it’s dewy skin and dramatic eyes, and Kimberly brought that to life.

She also skillfully introduced me to products I’d never considered by Estee Lauder, Chanel and Yves St. Laurent (I’d gotten into a product rut.). Kimberly used the following to craft my look:

To prep my moisturized face, she applied Trish McEvoy Beauty Booster Cream ($90) as a primer on my cheeks and Laura Mercier Secret Finish Mattifying ($27) on my nose to eliminate shine. Then for sheer coverage she used  Estee Lauder Double Wear Light Stay in Place Makeup ($37), Estee Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Powder Makeup SPF10 in “Rich Caramel”($36) to absorb any oil, Yves St. Laurent Radiant Touch Highlighter to brighten my eyes and lightly contour my cheekbones, ($41) and CHANEL Joues Contraste Powder Blush ($45) in 89/Canaille to highlight my (newly-contoured) cheeks. She used Estee Lauder’s Bronze Goddess eye palette for shadowing(for a similar look, try Estee Lauder Pure Color Intense Eye Shadow Trio in “Amber Alloy,” $36), and applied lashes I’d chosen. Kimberly’s tip for applying them? DO NOT use hair glue! If you’re doing that, STOP! Use Duo lash adhesive instead! I finished with my own MAC lipstick in Freckletone later.

Three peole stopped toask me where/who I’d gotten my makeup from that evening, which NEVER happens. And yes, the look lasted all night long! I was sad to wash it off at the end of the evening. What I loved most was I still felt like myself, not like an overly-contoured caricature. As Kimberly says “Blend, never beat!”

She is available to do your makeup too (seriously, go check her out!), either at Saks or at your home. To schedule your session, email her at kimcrawford88@gmail.com or call (205) 612-9788.

(Wondering what I’m wearing? Remember THIS dress?)