Carrie Underwood Inspired Prom Look

I love when clients have an idea of what they want done. Something as simple as colors they know that they would like on their eyes, or even photos. My client had saved a few photos of Carrie Underwood to show me. Carrie is known for having that beautiful, blown out smoky eye look. That is exactly what we were going for with this look, but suited to a prom style. I wouldn't say this is an EXACT recreation of a Carrie Underwood look, but definitely an inspired Carrie look!

How gorgeous is the highlight?! Seriously!! Let's break this look down...

1. When using darker colors on the lids I always prefer to start with the eye makeup. I primed the eyes with Tarte Creaseless eye primer, followed by MAC "Painterly" paint pot. For shadows, I created this entire look with just three eyeshadows. However, I layered these shadows on one another to get this very smoky look. To start the eyeshadows I grabbed a mid toned gray from the MAC RiRi Smoked Cocoa quad on a Sigma F40 brush. I worked this all in the crease. Following that, I grabbed the darkest gray color, almost black, but not quite, on a Sigma E25 and worked that continuously into the crease. I did not push this color up or down, I wanted it to stay in the crease. I used windshield wiper motions to really keep this color in it's place, but blend it out. As for the lid color, I grabbed the shade "WOS" from Urban Decay Naked Basics palette. I love this shade of cream. It packed onto the lid very nicely with a Sigma E55. I also used this same shade to highlight the brow bone. To build the color and smokiness even more, I kept picking up the darkest shade and placing it in the outer V, but using a Sigma E30. This gave a very precise shape.

2. I lined the eyes using Maybelline Linestilleto liquid eyeliner in black. To tight line, I used L'oreal kohl eyeliner in black as well. Carrie is known for having a lot of black eyeliner. I thought it was very necessary for this look! To finish off the eye makeup, I applied Ardell eyelashes in "Demi 120". 

3. Moving onto the face, I first cleaned up any shadow fall out with a Neutrogena makeup removing wipe. This is why I prefer to do the eyes first, so I have the ability to start with a clean slate on the face.

4. To prime the face, I used Korre's Greek Yogurt Primer. This will ensure long lasting makeup. As for foundation, I used YSL foundation. To apply the foundation I used a Sigma F80 brush. I pressed the foundation into the skin at first, and then buffed it out. This gives the skin the most coverage possible. 

5. To highlight the face, I used MAC Prep and Prime pens in "Light boost" and "Radiant" under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, the chin, the cupid's bow, the corners of the mouth, the jawline, and the forehead. With darker, smoky looks all of the attention can tend to go straight to the eyes. Attention to other points of the face can be lost, if the makeup isn't balanced correctly. To blend this highlight out, I used a Sigma F84. I wanted to add another touch of highlight under the eyes, since the eye makeup was so dark, so I went in with a few dabs of MAC Prolongwear concealer in "NW20", and blended that out with the same brush.

6. To set all of this liquid highlighting in place, I used the Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour kit. I used the shade "Banana" on a Sigma F35, and placed this under the eyes, on the bridge of the nose, on the forehead, on the chin, the sides of the mouth, and the jawline. To contour the face, I used the shade "Havanna" on a Sigma F05. I placed the contour along the hairline, temples, hollows of the cheeks, jawline, and down the neck. As for blush, I wanted something more natural. In most of Carrie's looks she uses a very natural cheek color. I used Clinque's blush in "Peach pop" applied with a Sigma F40. Kristen was concerned of a rounded looking face with all of the highlighting/contouring/blush, but by applying this from the temple and downward, it gave a natural flush to the cheekbone, and less emphasis on the actual cheeks. As a highlighter on top of all this, I used MAC Mineralize Skinfinish in "Soft and Gentle".

7. I felt I lost some of her natural brows between all of the foundation and powders, so I lightly went over the brows with a powder and sealed them with Benefit Give Me Brow in the shade "Light/medium". This brought the brows back to life.

8. As for a lip color, Carrie is very well known for her nude lips. I applied MAC lipstick in "Hue" with MAC lip glass in "Patience Please" on top of it. This is the perfect pinky-nude combination for this look. It doesn't mute out the lips, but doesn't take attention away from the face.

9. To set the entire look in place, I sprayed Kristen with Model in a Bottle Setting Spray. This will ensure the makeup will last the entire night.

Pictures just don't do this look justice!! This highlight was sooooo gorgeous in person, along with the eye makeup. Kristen was so much fun to work with, and such a beautiful girl inside and out! 

Carrie Underwood inspired prom look- XO!