Photos by Marquel Patton of Marque Makes.

It has always been my greatest joy to have a woman sit in my makeup chair. The moment is intimate, even with a stranger, because we are eye to eye, and she is often bare-faced when we begin. Much more than just talking about the makeup, we connect on deeper topics such as insecurities, aging, lifestyle choices, health challenges, and hopes or dreams. Makeup is a tool we can use to enhance our natural beauty, and it starts with first and foremost recognizing our God-given beauty. Rather than using makeup to alter our face or even re-create it, we can use it to highlight our natural features and add a little polish to our day to day. It is my hope that in teaching makeup techniques and sharing products that perform well, without potentially harmful ingredients, I can empower women to find something that makes them feel refreshed and confident in who God made her to be.

When I planned the photo shoots for the Worthy of Wearing book, I knew I wanted to have both raw and real street style photography, and studio shots that looked more polished. For the studio shoot, I was able to do the makeup for each of our models. It was such a treat!

Every model had different skin types and tones, but there were products I used on every single woman because they are so versatile, and truly enhance, rather than alter a woman’s natural beauty. I chose safer products that are made with less questionable ingredients that also photograph well— how lucky we are that products like these exist in the market today!

Any of the products I used at our shoot would be perfect to use for wedding or event makeup because they look as good in person as they do on camera! They are tried and tested from the humidity of Washington DC on dry skin, aging skin, oily skin, and acne-prone skin.

Here are a few of the favorites from that day:

Saie Glowy Super Gel in Starglow — this is a water-based glowy primer that hydrates the skin without silicones or fragrance. After it dries, you can apply foundation on top for a smooth base with a bit of light reflecting super fine mica. It never looks or feels oily, but does add freshness to the skin without balling up under concealer or foundation.
Beautycounter Skin Twin Foundation — this is my favorite liquid foundation because it has hyaluronic acid, which is a humectant that draws moisture from the air. It hydrates the skin without added oils that clog pores, and never looks dry or patchy. I loved having the entire color range to match the models skin tones, so it disappeared into their complexion as I blended in.
Beautycounter eyeshadow palettes (since discontinued) — these eyeshadows were one of the reasons I switched to clean beauty products. They had incredible pigment, blended in effortlessly without any fallout on the face, and came in the most gorgeous, wearable colors. They have been discontinued for talc-free reformulation, but I loved mixing and matching shades to give each model a distinct look. Some brands I would now recommend for eyeshadow in safer formulas are: PYT Day to Night palette, Ilia Necessary Eyeshadow Palette, Johnny Concert Sundance Amplified palette, or W3ll People Nudist eyeshadow palette.
Beautycounter Mattifying Powder — with any kind of event or photography session, a little mattifying powder goes a long way. This silky formula tones down shine without making the skin look dull or flat. It feels lightweight, and can be layered or lightly dusted.
Saie Mascara 101 — we wanted the lashes to look defined and thick, so this was the perfect formula. This mascara is jet black, slightly glossy, and doesn’t flake. I could layer it on for a more dramatic look, or lightly brush it through the lashes for a more fluttery effect.
Bdellium Tools brushes — these brushes are super affordable, and artist quality. Good tools make all the difference in how makeup applies and lasts throughout the day, and these are incredible! I especially love the 948 concealer brush, 945 setting powder brush, 957 foundation brush, and 785 eyeshadow blending brush.

What a joy it is to see this photoshoot forever captivated in print in my book Worthy of Wearing. Thank you again to our gorgeous models who livened up the message of my book with tangible, magnetic joy.

The Makeup I Used for the Worthy of Wearing Book Shoot