Our cousin Amina is equal parts tomboy and knockout. We love her mellow, laid-back attitude, wise-beyond-her-years sensibility, and the fact that she’s kicking butt in a male-dominated field. While you’ll want her on speed-dial for IT-related catastrophes, she can also teach you a thing or two in the powder room.
By day, Amina usually keeps makeup to a minimum, but for play, she turns up the volume to mega-watt glamour with smoky eyes and a bronze glow, framed by long, cascading waves. We asked her to empty out her makeup bag for us, and here’s what we found:
1.Diorskin Nude Foundation in Honey Beige (#40) to even out skin and prime it for makeup
2. Like most of the women in our family, I swear by NARS blushes: I use Gilda (an amazing matte, peachy hue) for every day, but Angelika, Sin, and Lovejoy are also in heavy rotation.
3. MAC Eye Kohl in Smolder for lining the inner lids/waterline, and MAC Chromaline in Black Black for lids, applied with an angled eyeliner brush.
4. I used to prefer glosses, but lately I’ve switched to lipstick. I love wearing pink nudes these days. My favorites are MAC’s Hue and Crème Cup. I also just bought Shy Girl — it’s more of a peachy nude — which I absolutely love.
5. I also line lips with MAC Subculture or Dervish.
How do you get those gorgeous waves? [Ed. note: her hair is naturally straight and thick]
I get my haircut at Solo Salon in Chicago with Jovan and love her! She gives great cuts and styles your hair so nicely. Whenever I want beachy waves, she uses a straightening iron to curl my hair and makes it look so good.
Any other leads for Chicago gals?
My favorite eyebrow person is Zena at Campagnia della Bellezza in Old Town. Also, if I want to get my makeup done, I go to Dana at the MAC counter at Nordstrom Michigan Ave. She taught me how to cover my dark circles properly.
Desi Betty 