Happy Monday from sunny Kauai! We arrived yesterday afternoon, gawked at our condo and view for a little bit, then immediately hit the sack! That’s the longest travel day our kids have every endured, and they were absolute champs. We’re excited to hit the ground running and experience all this magical island has to offer (thanks, in part, to all your amazing tips!). I’m posting our adventures to my Instagram Story, so follow along if you’d like!

Today I’m excited to share some simple, yet game-changing tips I learned from working with Suzie Moldovan…an award-winning, professional makeup artist! I was lucky enough to be on the receiving end of her talents for the Gibson x Hi Sugarplum Collection photoshoot for Nordstrom, and couldn’t believe the transformation. (See behind-the-scenes of that shoot in this post.)

I went from being fairly indifferent to makeup, to a complete makeup junkie! Now I stop at the Nordstrom beauty counter on every visit! And from the response and number of questions I’ve had about lipstick and eye shadow colors, I’d say y’all are right there with me!

In fact, I had so many questions, I asked Suzie if she’d be willing to share the products and colors she used for the shoot, and she happily agreed! Plus, I’m passing on the amazing tips she taught me…so let’s get started!

Five Make-Up Tips I Learned from the Pros

Lipsticks: Nars ‘Yu’ layered with Nars ‘Claudia’

1. Overline just the Cupids Bow for a fuller, younger looking lip

I always assumed you overline the entire mouth, but that’s what gives the fake ‘duck mouth’ pout. You actually want to overline just the Cupids Bow, where the majority of collagen is concentrated in younger girls. It’s a quick and easy step, but makes a huge difference! I whipped up this little video to demonstrate (thanks Mr. SP for the music!).

(If you’re reading on a feed or email, click here to watch the video.)

2. Layer powders over creams for long-time staying power

Suzie applied cream shadow, followed by powdered eye shadow, and the colors stayed put all day with no creasing or smudging! She does the same for blush…always layer powder blush over a cream-based blush. We worked 12-hour days, shooting 20+ outfits each day, and the only touch-ups she had to do to my makeup were under my eyes (when I got a little sweaty), and changing lip colors! Everything else stayed put!! That’s serious staying power.

3. Use eyebrow pencil to frame your face & create symmetry

You know I’m a huge fan of defined brows, and am a firm believer they can make you look 10 years younger (see my post on that subject here). Suzie taught me to not only darken and define the brows, but create symmetry for the face. She demonstrated her techniques on my Instagram Story, and I saved it to a handy video for us. She’s using Anastasia in ‘Medium Brown’

(Watch the video here if you’re on a reader or email.)

4. Add highlighter to the waterline for a brighter eye

I’ve always added a dot of silvery highlight to the inner corner of my eye, but the best way to open and brighten your eye is to add it to your waterline. But even more importantly, the key is using a peach tone to balance any red. She used Urban Decay Waterline Pencil in ‘Walk of Shame’, a waterproof formula that stays put all day (and didn’t irritate my eyes).

5. Use lipstick to complete the face, and more importantly…the outfit!

Y’all know I love a bright pink lip…and I pretty much rotate between two shades, Nars ‘Yu’ & Bobbi Brown ‘Punch,’ regardless of what I’m wearing. But Suzie actually assembled an entire palette of bright pinks, reds, and corals just for me, and changed my lip color for almost every single outfit!! I couldn’t believe the difference it made in showcasing the clothes. Below are the main colors we used repeatedly…all of which I’ve now added to my arsenal…along with the rest of the makeup.

Makeup Products:

Primer: Becca Backlight Filter
Foundation: Custom blends
Blush: Pixi ‘Sugar & Spice’ Cream Palette, layered with Nars ‘Orgasm’ powder
Contour: Charlotte Tilbury ‘Film Star’
Highlight: Pixi Sweet Glow palette, Color ‘Dulce’
Bronzer: Stila ‘Matte Bronze Medium’
Eyes: Mac ‘Shroom‘ with ‘Soft Brown‘ & ‘Expensive Pink‘ in the crease
Mascara: Bobbi Brown Everything in ‘Black’
Brow Pencil: Anastasia in ‘Medium Brown’

Tie Front Cami in ‘Palm’ | Tassel Earring | Lipstick: Nars ‘Grace’

Romper in ‘Black’ | Leopard Clutch | Gold Disc Earrings | Gold Cuff Bracelet | Lipstick: Nars ‘Lana’

Pleated Skirt in ‘Nautical’ | Ruffle Racerback Tank in ‘White’ | Tassel Earrings | Lipstick: Nars ‘Yu’

Gingham Ruffle Top in ‘Royal’ | White Jeans | Earrings | Clutch | Lipstick: Mac ‘Girl About Town’

Tie Front Cami in ‘Red Pink Dot’ | Cropped Stretch Pants | Earrings | Cuff Bracelet | Lipstick: Nars ‘Grace’ mixed with Kevyn Aucoin ‘Everlasting’

Tie Sleeve Tee in ‘Red Pink’ | White Jeans| Hoop Earrings | Bamboo Bag | Lipstick: Nars ‘Grace’ mixed with Kevyn Aucoin ‘Everlasting’

Halter Top in ‘Coral Floral’ | Earrings | Cuff Bracelet | Lipstick: Nars ‘Grace’ mixed with Kevyn Aucoin ‘Everlasting’‘

Ruffle Sleeve Dress in ‘Royal Stripe’ | Ombre Tassel Earring | Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury ‘Pillow Talk’ with Anastasia ‘Dolce Liquid Lips’

Elbow Sleeve Tee in ‘Nautical Blue Stripe’ | Pleat Skirt in ‘Palm’ | Tassel Earring | Lipstick: Charlotte Tilbury ‘Pillow Talk’ with Anastasia ‘Dolce Liquid Lips’

When Suzie worked her makeup magic, I still looked and felt like me, but the absolute best version of me! And that confidence boost was much-appreciated, given the fact that I was shooting my own clothing line to be showcased at Nordstrom!! #hellointimidating

Be sure to follow Suzie Moldavon for more great makeup tips, and behind-the-scenes peeks at the life of a celebrity makeup artist! And find all my makeup, including the fabulous lip colors, at Nordstrom! What are your favorite makeup tips and tricks?

[Shop My Fave Lip Colors]

[Shop My Makeup]

*Photos by the darling and talented Samantha Klose. This post created in collaboration with Nordstrom, but all styles, ideas, and false eyelashes are my own. Thank you for supporting Hi Sugarplum sponsors.*