Emily Blunt’s Classic Makeup and Subtle Contouring at the 2016 Met Gala

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(Photo: Getty Images)

Though many were leaning into the mechanical aspect of the Met Gala’s 2016 theme, Manus x Machina, Emily Blunt arrived with a softer take on the robot age: a nine-months-pregnant glow, classic makeup and a lace gown by Michael Kors.

The most distinctive feature of her Met Gala look are her piecey, clumpy eyelashes, inspired by the fashion runway. The most clever nod to the evening’s theme is her matte makeup, which is surely the envy of fembots around the world.

Blunt compares baby bumps with actress Olivia Wilde. (Photo: Getty Images)

Makeup artist Jenn Streicher worked with Blunt to create her look, which she calls “monochromatic,” saying she wanted to make Blunt’s makeup “simple and modern.” Streicher started with a treatment consisting of RéVive Intensité Moisture Serum Extrême, followed by Révive Intensité Crème Lustre Day and RéVive Moisturizing Renewal Eye Cream. She followed this prep with an application of Laura Mercier Foundation Primer – Oil Free for long lasting makeup.

To begin Blunt’s matte look, Streicher applied Laura Mercier Candleglow Soft Luminous Foundation in Linen and used Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage in SC-2 to even her skin tone. Although it appears that Streicher created a look with the new nontouring trend, she says she did in fact contour, lightly, using Fiona Stiles Sheer Sculpting Palette on her cheeks. “I’ve always contoured, my entire makeup career — it’s what we do. It’s part of our job to do it and make it look like we haven’t,” Streicher says. She finished Blunt’s cheeks with Laura Mercier Matte Radiance Baked Powder for a sheer glowing look and set the face with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

Streicher says that you’re not wrong if you think Blunt’s eyebrows are a major feature. Her tri-colored eye shadow includes Laura Mercier Eye Basics in Cotton for a primer, Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Vanilla Nuts on the eyelid and Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Fresco from crease to brow. She added a small amount of Laura Mercier Matte Eye Colour in Truffle for emphasis in the crease. In addition to her unique false eyelash placement, Streicher applied Ardell Long Black lashes along her lashline and Laura Mercier Faux Lash Mascara in Black to enhance her lashes.

“I really like to look at current runway shows, that’s where I get a lot of my beauty inspiration,” Streicher says. “I was seeing a lot of lashes with sporadically long lashes added in, so that’s what we went for.”

Blunt’s lips, also in matte, were created with Laura Mercier Velour Lovers Lip Colour in Embrace. “The lip is kind of a matte finish, but it’s still creamy. That’s what I love about it,” Streicher explains.

This classic, simple look took around 45 minutes to complete in total, though Streicher says they “stop and go” as the look is built. “We love to chit chat. We have snack breaks! We don’t do it all in one go,” Streicher says with a laugh.