I’ll admit, sheepishly, that one calendar year ago, I was not exceptional at doing my own makeup. I’d improved since college when I colored my brows daily with generous scribbles of off-black eyeliner pencil, and September 2023, when I attended a lavish destination wedding armed with just four products. Through it all, I knew there was room to grow. So when my boyfriend was nominated for a Grammy in the best musical theater album category, I knew it was time to put my year-and-a-half of gratis makeup-receiving, expert-insight-gathering, product-scouring, and colleague-inspired beauty know-how to work.
Kat DenningsGetty Images
The thing is—since junior year prom, I’ve been showing makeup artists this image of Kat Dennings on the red carpet at the 2013 Television Critic Association’s Summer Press Tour (an event that I’m totally familiar with and definitely know anything about at all) for beauty inspo. Her dark nude lip, soft orangey-brown eyeshadow, peachy blush, and smoky, burnt umber bottom liner? Influencer-chef’s kiss.
So, as I unzipped my cosmetics bag, I thought of the blush era ushered in by Sabrina Carpenter, and the understated glowiness of Gracie Abrams’s glam. My predecessors. My foremothers, from whom I was soon to be feet away (a lot of feet away) at the Crypto.com Arena. I may not have been allowed on the red carpet (cause I looked too good?), but I was allowed in front of the mirror at the Courtyard Marriott, and, dammit, was I about to do some makeup—even if I forgot my primer, setting spray, and brow pencil in Brooklyn.
Here’s my Grammys GWRM, step-by-step:
Benefit’s Boi-ing Bright On Brightening Undereye Concealer
I started by applying Benefit’s Boi-ing Bright On Brightening Undereye Concealer in the shade Lychee. I read that undereye concealer is dead, but on Sunday night, she was exhumed. I blended by tapping with a barely damp beauty sponge.
Tarte Creaseless Setting and Brightening Powder
Next, I locked things in with the Tarte Creaseless Setting and Brightening Powder in Cool Pink. Amazonian clay helps it stay put for up to 16 hours. It’s for the undereyes, but I dusted a little across my whole face once I wrapped up the rest of my look.
Beaubble Berry Freckle Pen
I’ll admit it, I love a faux-freckle, and the Beaubble Berry Freckle Pen does a great job mimicking the real thing. I like that the felt tip is a bit wider than some of the more popular options, so it ends up looking more natural—especially after I tapped at them a bit with my finger to soften the pigment. Psst: Hailey Bieber uses this, too.
Kosas Air Brow Clear
Onto brows, my favorite part. I reached for my Kosas Air Brow in Clear and brushed out each tiny hairlette (new word just dropped). This stuff never gets crusty, which is huge. I also put some in my BF’s brows because brow gel is for everyone.
Kulfi Beauty Zari Eyes Eyeshadow
I applied Kulfi’s Zari Eyes in the shade Auburn Aura. It’s a subtly glittery, cream-to-powder situation that seriously stays put. In fact, it ended up being the longest-lasting part of the whole operation.
Clinique The Best Of Black Honey All About Shadow Palette
I used Clinique’s The Best Of Black Honey All About Shadow Palette for a soft eyeliner look. I used the accompanying, dual-ended, spongy brush to apply the brownish-purple shadow, which I thought complimented my lids nicely.
Tarte Tartelette Tubing Mascara
To accentuate my lashes, I used the Tartelette Tubing Mascara, another Tarte favorite. I only do brown mascara, and this is a good one. Never, ever, ever smudgy.
Saie Dew Blush
Saie’s Dew Blush in Rosy, a muted peachy pink, was next, which I blended in with a blush brush. I also used the discontinued Saie Dew Balm (still sad about it) for highlighter. The next best thing is Saie’s Glowy Super Gel (which won a 2024 Best of Beauty Award).
Ilia Lip Sketch Hydrating Crayon
I went in with Ilia’s Lip Sketch in Mauve Brown to line my lips. Sooo creamy and hydrating. Thank you, hyaluronic acid.
Ilia Balmy Tint Hydrating Lip Balm
Then I went with another Ilia fave—Balmy Tint in Faded—which I’ll venture to say is much more lipstick than balm because it packs a punch. Still, it’s super comfortable to wear because it’s hydrating. Last but not least, I reached for the Clinique Black Honey Lip + Cheek Oil, which looks as good as it feels and features conditioning safflower oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil, and castor oil. I may have just discovered my new signature lip combo,
In 25 minutes, I’d achieved my glam. And you know what? I think it looked pretty darn good. The soft, rosy-orangey aesthetic I’ve eyed on Miss Dennings since 2013 was finally mine, by my hand. I weirdly didn’t listen to a lick of music while I did it (I was nervous), but my focus was unparalleled. And after a year-and-a-half of click-clacking my keyboard at Allure, it felt excellent to see what I’d learned since the days of my four-product routine. I texted a picture of my results to fellow commerce team member Sarah Hoffmann, who emphatically approved—and that woman can do a face of makeup if I’ve ever seen one.
I slipped into my dress and heels, admired my hot, talented boyfriend (of whom I am enormously proud), and trotted over to the Crypto.com Arena, where we got to watch incredible performances by Doechii, Chappell Roan, Charli XCX, and so many more. My makeup didn’t budge, and I’m pretty sure my memory of the night won’t either. See what I did there? Cute.