The New Southern | Beauty Tips, Part II: MAKEUP

Recently, I shared with you that my favorite accessory is a healthy dose of humble confidence (HERE). Believing in yourself and what you stand for is a sure-fire way toward a happier outlook, a positive essence, and productive a workflow. In the most non-superficial way, I ultimately feel my best when I’m working hard, I’m taking care of my body and mind, and when I feel, well, put together.

All illustrations by the talented and fabulous Hayley Mitchell

We all get so busy and it’s easy to lose track of those priorities. But I often joke that caffeine, some positivity, and a lot of concealer get me through the day, and I know many of you are in the same boat! Because so many of you asked, I’m excited to share my tried and true beauty routine for a look that will last and let my focus be on the task at hand while tackling a full and rewarding day... from meetings, to cross-continent flights, to 15-hour shoots and throwing in the occasional speaking engagement.... this is a clean look that will be the constant through all of our shifts and turns... and I am happy to share one of my constants with you!

I’ve partnered with the the oh-so-talented Hayley Mitchell, the Austin-based artist known for her graphic, punchy portraits, to help illustrate my step-by-step beauty routine. I hope you’ll check out her work and give her a follow; her aesthetic and creative drive so represents The New Southern, and I’m so fortunate to have connected with her on this journey. I also hope you’ll give my tricks a try and share the look with me on Instagram! I can't wait to hear your thoughts and please feel free to comment below. Sending you all LOVE this week. Xx

MOISTURIZER

To prep, I apply NeoStrata Bionic Face Cream 12 Bionic PHA everywhere except my eyes. A little goes a long way, and a tiny dollop provides complete coverage, so it’s good to be conservative.

TINTED MOISTURIZER + SPF

Next I use Revisions Intellishade Original tinted moisturizer SPF 45, again all over my face with the exception of my eyes. I love this product because it gives me a subtle dewy look with some coverage, but be careful, as applying too much will make you look pretty greasy. 

CONCEALER

Using a damp Beauty Blender, I apply Mac’s Studio Finish Concealer in NW 20 SPF 35 very liberally under my eyes. Genetically I have dark undereye circles, and this concealer is the absolute best for all-day wear, especially on shoot days when I’m constantly moving between inside and the outdoors and then off to client dinners when I wrap on set. 

SETTING POWDER

I then take a small brush to Laura Mercier’s Translucent Loose Setting Powder in Natural Finish and conservatively set the concealer underneath my eyes. You can also use it to set the tinted Revisions Intellishade moisturizer around your nose, as necessary. I recently discovered the major benefits of setting powder. I’m all about a quick morning makeup routine, and although it adds an extra step, this stuff ensures the look stays all day long. It saves me so much time at the end of the day if I’m finishing up a shoot and going straight into a dinner meeting or to an event.

POWDER

To even everything out, I apply Bobbi Brown’s Skin Weightless Powder Foundation in Warm Ivory 1 with a large brush. Because I don’t wear foundation, this is a perfect weightless alternative to give my face a smooth texture and healthy glow. Throughout the day, I’ll reapply this to touch up or eliminate shininess between meetings.

BRONZER + BLUSH

I have a little confession--I have never taken the time to learn to contour! Instead, I have a go-to bronzer and blush, which I sometimes wear separately and other times, together. You must try NARS Laguna and Bare Minerals Sunkissed, which I apply liberally with a blush brush under my cheekbones, on the bridge of my nose, on my forehead, and sometimes in the crease of my eyes. Naturally I’m very fair (like a translucent baby fish that you can see their heart beating), so both of these shades offer a subtle, not-too-pink glow without having to sit there and chisel my face with 6 different contouring shades. When you’re a busy gal like me, you have to color outside the lines when you contour!

EYESHADOW

I usually choose to wear a single eyeshadow shade to avoid all the time and precision a heavy-duty look requires. My all time favorite shadow is Urban Decay’s Toasted, which is perfect to transition from day to night. I apply my eyeshadow conservatively in the crease of my eye and leave my eyelid pretty bare. 

EYELINER

Because my complexion is so fair, I had trouble finding an eyeliner that wasn’t too harsh for a long time. That is, until recently when I discovered NARS Larger Than Life Long Wear Eyeliner in “Via De’Martelli.” I use just a touch, only applying on the outer top corner of my lid.

MASCARA

I swear by Benefit’s They’re Real mascara—it’s one of the best mascaras I’ve ever used and I wear this daily. Apply two coats pretty liberally in order to fully coat your lashes and achieve maximum volume. But beware, at the end of the day, gently and very patiently remove it from your lashes with warm water and face soap. If you’re in a hurry, you may miss a few lashes and wake up with mascara….everywhere.

LIPS

Figuratively and literally, I like to keep my lip color pretty simple and light. These days, I’ve reached for NARS Turkish Delight Lip gloss, which has great lasting coverage and is both conditioning and moisturizing. If I want a little bit more definition, I’ll apply MAC Pro Longwear Lip Pencil in Cultured and top it off with a dab of Mac Lustre Lipstick in Pretty Please.

The New Southern | Fall Color Round Up

The transition to fall carries a fullness and welcoming, yielding cool, crisp air, the crunch of leaves beneath our feet, and the setting of  casual comforts amongst friends and loved ones. This is a season filled with connection ... returning back to basics with our fireplaces burning and our homes filled with love and warmth. We feel these sentimental moments  as the sun sets earlier and the moon shines longer, as we begin to seek light in darker spaces. Essentially the neutrals of this season, the colors that surround us - cool navies, forest greens, muddy taupes, warm camels, and striking blacks - provide a stunning contrast to light-filled spaces, acting as neutrals themselves when reflected in the home. When these colors touch the walls, trim and ceiling... enveloping a space, highlights the homeowners’ found and sacred treasures, shedding new light and visual interest by grounding the sentimental finds in a backdrop of focus and drama. As a lover of light-filled rooms and white walls, I intuitively seek out a lighter palette in my work styling and photographing interiors, however as I discover evidence of these darker shades, I admire how these colors showcase beloved belongings. In a similar sentimentality to how we feel as the warmer months come to an end, deep tone walls and dark, saturated hues provide an almost magical entrance, setting the tone for a new season. Sending you all light and love this week. Xx

What is The New Southern?

WHAT IS THE NEW SOUTHERN?

In short: The New Southern is a movement to unite, inspire, and empower individuals to live in their light and lean into their creativity. It’s a book (Lead Fall Title via Abrams in 2020), it’s a blog, and it’s a belief that creativity can be a conduit for deeper connection, no matter your background or circumstance.

The New Southern highlights those with old and new ties to the South creating work that unites and inspires. It’s about life pivots, soulful storytelling, and beautiful images to inspire not just your home, but to feed the soul. Expect stories from creative entrepreneurs, artists, authors, designers, thought leaders, chefs, and more who are using their creative talents to inspire the communities around them and redefine their creative fields--just as I aspire to.

As a photographer and author, my goal is to spread the light I find through my lens and empower others to step into their own light. Because I’ve been through the shadows. Following a consuming corporate career and a cancer diagnosis, my camera gave me the opportunity to see through a different lens; to see a new way of doing business, a new way of cultivating connection, a progressive version of the creative South, a new and bigger dream to empower, be of service, and a new way to connect as the truest version of myself–to live in my light.  

I believe when we are living in our light, leaning into our creativity, and speaking our truth, it creates a ripple effect and inspires others to do the same, resulting in a kinder, inclusive, more loving South, and for that matter, world. The more of us who believe that creativity connects in raw, authentic ways, the better.