Michelle Obama is hitting the talk-show circuit to promote her new book, The Look, a vivid exploration of the former First Lady’s style and beauty evolution, from a girl growing up in Chicago to a working mom assuming the office of FLOTUS and beyond.
Obama dedicated The Look "to all of the people behind the scenes of fashion and beauty." Featured heavily in it is Obama’s longtime makeup artist Carl Ray, who began doing her makeup in 2010 and continues to work with the former First Lady as his primary client.
Ray is one of the key style and beauty professionals Obama worked with throughout her White House years and affectionately called “The Trifecta" — her go-to experts in hair, makeup, and fashion.
Ray’s makeup inspo for book tour appearances by the former FLOTUS is “fresh and effortless beauty,” he says. “Radiant skin, soft tones, pop of color on her lips, and that signature warmth that always shines through.”
Here is the breakdown of Obama's makeup, created to complement her hot pink Prada dress, for a recent appearance on "The Sherri Shepherd Show."
Step-by-Step: Michelle Obama’s Book Tour Makeup
Start with clean and moisturized skin.
Complexion
- Start with clean and moisturized skin
- Apply foundation & concealer
- Set with loose powder
- Do some light powder baking: under eyes, ridge of nose, forehead, and chin
- Lightly contour: cheeks, forehead, temples, nose, jawline
Brows
- Fill in brows with pencil and powder
Eyes
- Apply a rose gold cream eyeshadow to lids
- Apply dark brown eyeshadow in crease
- Apply Danessa Myricks Colorfix Nude 7 to lid using finger or synthetic brush
- Apply eyeshadow highlight to the center of the lid using your finger: Danessa Myricks Beauty Colorfix Stix in Duo 5 shade Cassiopeia
- Followed by black gel eyeliner: on top lash line, tightline, and lightly on water line
- Apply liquid black eyeliner: full cat eye
- Apply mascara
- Follow with full glam strip lashes
Blush
- Apply to cheeks
Blend
- Apply highlighter to: cheeks, forehead, small amount down ridge of nose, inner eye, chin
Lips
- Line lips with a dark brown nude lip liner
- Apply Danessa Myricks Yummy Skin Blurring Balm Powder Flushed; Shade: It Girl and Spiced Latte, followed with a clear gloss
Finish with makeup setting spray.