Ask Sammy Beauty Blog: July 2010

Dakota Fanning keeps it simple and pretty with bold black liner. Her makeup artist tells you how you can too!

Dakota Fanning sported some killer black liner to her NYC premiere of The Runways on Mar. 17. “I was going for a clean yet modern look,” says celebrity makeup artist Sammy Mourabitwho created Dakota’s mod look. “My inspiration was a young, playful, London 1960’s classic winged liner mixed with dewy, perfect skin and a natural lip shade.” Sammy considers this edgier vibe a nod to Dakota’s Cherie Currie Runaways character. “This movie gave me a chance to experiment with this type of look on Dakota,” Sammy says. What’s so great about this makeup for Dakota is that it’s fun and fresh and completely age appropriate. “Dakota is 16 years old and already a great role model for younger girls,” Sammy says. “My job is to never forget that less is more. I make sure to keep her skin fresh. Her liner is a statement of elegance, style, and personality. This is who Dakota is,” Sammy says.

Here’s how Sammy got Dakota’s look!

For Dakota’s liner, Sammy has a great trick for the liquid novices. “To achieve a perfect liner with so much precision and depth, I start by drawing a smaller line with deep black matte powder at the very base of her eye lashes,” Sammy says. “Then, with a cream eye liner I draw the liner on top of the back powder. This makes the liner deep black with a matte effect.”
“I use an heavy black mascara only on top lashes,” Sammy says. For added drama, “I’ve used a few single lashes only to accentuate depth in the outer corner of her eyes. Those help to direct the light a certain way,” Sammy says. To not mess up the liner look, Sammy recommends using black lash glue.
For a dewy effect, Sammy moisturized Dakota’s skin well and applied a subtle cream blush to cheeks.
Sammy kept Dakota’s lips natural. “Neutral lips create more contrast between pearly skin black liner,” he says. - Marta Topran