I was more than honored to work with leading beauty brand, Mary Kay, this year for fashion week. I wasn’t originally planning on going to NYFW this season (Feb is just too stinkin’ cold) but the opportunity with MK was too fun to pass up. Plus, I’d just started using their moisturizer after a friend lent it to me and have been eager to learn more about the brand and try a few more of  their products. Even with all the crazy NYC weather and the freezing, icy rain I still had SUCH an amazing time!

Mary Kay sponsored the beauty look for the Tracy Reese Fall 2017 collection, and it was beyond amazing to see the creative genuineness behind it all – from the MK makeup artists to the stylists and designer too! Overall, the thought process that goes into finding a makeup look that’s coordinated with and complements a collection insanely impressive to me, and it was such a treat seeing it all first-hand. I’ll get more into the details of the actual makeup looks later, but let me break down the day first!

Before the Tracy Reese presentation, Mary Kay sent someone to my hotel to do my makeup and get glammed up in MK products. Ummmm how cool is that? Maybe you’ve had someone COME TO YOU to do your makeup before, but I’ve never had that luxury! And it made me feel really cool (ha!).

The makeup artist did such an amazing job and I loved the outcome. As you can see from the photo below, I look like myself, just a better version, ha! This is a huge bonus when getting makeup applied, right? I hate looking like a different person or like I have WAY too much product on.

We stuck to mainly neutral colors and moisturizing products to fit my skin needs. I especially LOVED the Intense Moisturizing Cream as a primer and the Satin Lips Shea Scrub – both items that were also used on the models in the Tracy Reese show. I’m fancy huh?? My makeup lasted all day, which is saying a LOT since these days at NYFW are crazy long.

After my makeup was done and I was lookin’ my best, it was time for the actual presentation, yay!  I was alongside a few other bloggers and a few members of the MK team and I think it’s safe to say that the entire pre-show and presentation (and day for that matter) were nothing short of exceptional. From the venue to the poetry readings to how well the collection and beauty look paired so well, the entire presentation was quite a work of art.

Yes, there were LIVE poetry readings going on and it was AWESOME!

Before the presentation, we went backstage to see the application of the carefully curated beauty and hair looks. I’ll admit, it was pretty chaotic back there, but I totally ate it up. I loved how crazy it was and how everyone was running around in a hurry – with a clear mission and passion behind them. There’s something about NYFW that will always be chaotic and a bit unorganized (and hectic) so to say and I actually LOVE that. As much I may complain about things being untidy in my own life, I get a little uncomfortable and bored when things aren’t a little crazy from time to time. Quite frankly, I strive on it – until it becomes too much of course!

I was so excited to see the actual makeup application process. If a beauty look is good enough to be presented in a fashion show, you know I was excited for those details – for myself and to share with y’all!

Luis Casco, Mary Kay Global Beauty Ambsassador, gave me a full breakdown of the products he was using and steps he was taking (aka I asked him millions of questions while taking notes, lulz). Here are some of the products and steps:

Skin

• First, the Intense Moisturizing Cream went on for hydration. Y’all, this stuff is crazy good.
• Next, TimeWise Firming Eye Cream was massaged as a base for the under-eye area. He says this helps under-eye cream set better and just makes everything going on down there look better.
• Then came a little lip exfoliation by way of Satin Lips Shea Scrub and a Satin Lips Shea Butter Balm to prep lips for color later. I plan on doing this little set every time my lips are dry or before wearing color because I was obsessed with the feeling when I had it applied earlier in the day.

Brows

• On brows, there was some Brow Definer Pencil applied in short but firm motions to give the models full brows. Bold brows are seemingly here to stay, y’all.
• They followed that up with Brow Gel to hold everything in place.

Eyes

• The artist patted on Undereye Corrector as an eyelid base.
• He used the new Mary Kay Limited-Edition Eye Color Palette in Sunlight (launching 2/16) on the eyes and blended, blended, blended (major key, he says) and finished the lid and waterline with brown Eyeliner.
• Next, he put a few coats of Lash Intensity Mascara on the top lids, then Lash Love Waterproof on the bottom. My bottom lashes always seem to bleed mascara, so I thought this was genius!

Face

• Undereye Corrector was also used to get rid of dark circles and any blue or purple hues under the eyes – loved this step since it really brightened up the whole face.
• Then, there was Perfecting Concealer over any zits or blemishes. A little goes a long way!
• He buffed TimeWise Matte-Wear Liquid Foundation in areas that the model needed it (not the whole face).
• He set everything – mainly in the T-zone – with a Translucent Loose Powder to mattify everything. This was for a more matte look vs. dewy (remember, the collection of clothes is for FALL 2017, so they weren’t going for a summer glow).
• Maybe the most fun part was the fake freckles – a major new trend from what I’m hearing/seeing. He literally drew on a handful of freckles on the model’s face using a Brow Definer Pencil. So fun!

Cheeks

• They actually used a Mineral Eye Color on the top of the cheekbones which I loved because I’m all about products that multitask. No actual blush needed!
• He then used the Bronzing Powder in the hollows of her cheeks.

Lips

• To finish things off, the artist outlined the model’s lips with a Lip Liner (to make the gloss stay) then used Mary Kay Limited-Edition Glossy Lip Oil in Magenta Ray (launching 2/16).

To set everything, they spritzed makeup Finishing Spray to the face in an X then T motion. This helps to keep makeup in place (hence why mine lasted allll day). It really kept the matte texture too.

The models all looked stunning, as you can see from the photos. I seriously had such a fun day with the MK team and I’ll be recreating the makeup look all winter long. I left NYFW because I was sooo exhausted, but can’t wait to be back in the Spring and to see what MK will do next.

Do you like these looks? What’s your favorite MK product?