The beauty world is evolving faster than ever, but I want to take it back to the moment when my love for beauty began: watching my mom get ready in the morning. This sacred time of connection and joy was also Beauty Director Erin Jahns's foray into the space, and it's a memory she treasures to this day.
"Whenever I visit home, there's nothing I love more than standing side by side with my mom in front of her vanity and doing our makeup together," she shares with me. "We love swapping products and asking each other what the other person is using and if they've made any fun product or brand discoveries."
I was curious about which products Erin and her mom use, and she told me that Mary Kay is one of their longtime favorite brands. "Mary Kay was the first beauty brand I was ever exposed to," Erin explains. "My mom used the brand almost exclusively. I remember sitting on a stool in the bathroom each morning when I was little, watching her get ready for her job in television. Because my mom loved the products, Mary Kay lipsticks and eye shadows were some of the first beauty items I was ever allowed to 'play' with, and the brand has had a special place in my heart ever since. I love that my mom has been using its products for decades and that my friends and I also enjoy wearing them. There's truly a product for everyone!"
To align with the brand's Beauty Is More Beautiful Shared™ campaign, Erin was kind enough to share her perfect everyday makeup look, and she also gave a few tips and recs that only a beauty director would know. Don't forget to join Mary Kay for their Fashion Week event on September 15 at Gansevoort Plaza, and keep scrolling for Erin's favorite products and the insider tips she's recently shared with her mom, friends, and coworkers.
"This look epitomizes my signature makeup aesthetic. I like glowy coverage and a little extra sun protection to go with it. I prepped my skin with the Foundation Primer Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 15 ($22) because my mom taught me to wear sunscreen and protect my skin at all costs. We are both fair-skinned, and she really showed me that sun protection is the best thing you can do to preserve youthful-looking skin throughout your entire life. Then, I followed up with the TimeWise Matte 3D Foundation ($28) and used the angled Liquid Foundation Brush ($16)—a game changer—to perfect the finish and ensure everything blended seamlessly.
"Combining foundation or concealer with moisturizer, SPF, or milky toner thins out the formula, which creates a lighter, more natural-looking finish. When I'm not doing a full beat, it gives me the glowy and flawless skin I crave in significantly less time. I love sharing beauty products and tips in the group chat with my sister and mom, so after I tried the mixing strategy, I immediately texted it to them, and now they use that technique too.
"My base is never finished without a pop of color on my cheeks, so I added a few dabs of the Special-Edition Blush Stick in Kind Spirit ($20) to liven up my complexion with a soft touch of coral. I also love to add a bit of blush to the bridge of my nose and right above my eyebrows, which makes me look more naturally sun-kissed."
"My eyes are my favorite feature to play up, so I beefed up the length and volume of my lashes with the Great Heights Mascara ($18). I'm not typically into eye shadow, but I do love a neutral-toned shimmer, so I decided to add a last-minute dash of sparkle around the inner corners of my eyes using the Shimmer Eye Shadow Stick ($20) in Golden Sunrise. This color, in particular, makes my bluish-green eyes pop."
"I'll never apply lipstick or gloss without defining my lips first, so I used the Waterproof Lip Liner ($16) in Auburn Nude—a true 'my lips but better' color—to slightly overline my lip line and fake my way to a fuller-looking pout. For extra hydration and pigment, I used the Supreme Hydrating Lipstick ($22) in Hushed Blush. To finish the look, I added a quick swipe of the Unlimited Lip Gloss ($20) in Beach Bronze Shimmer. If I could design my ultimate lip gloss, this would be it. The bronzy, shimmery gold color is my current fixation (I'm very much in a brown and nude lip phase), and the gloss has the perfect amount of tackiness to stay on my lips without feeling sticky. I'm also in love with the scent because Mary Kay was the first lip gloss I was allowed to use—one swipe immediately transports me back to my childhood. It's lightly sweet and dessert-like without being saccharine. It's just so yummy and makes me emo!"
