Chances are the bustling beauty teams that style Claire Danes and Jessica Alba for regal red carpet events won’t be showing up at my doorstep any time soon, because unlike the stars, we mere mortals must fend for ourselves when it comes to getting ready for parties and nights on the town (or nights on the couch with your cat, if you’re also into that). 🙂
No problem. Getting glam doesn’t have to involve a small army of beauty professionals (although, not gonna lie, if a pro prep team suddenly appeared — POOF! — I would NOT turn them away).
Recreating red carpet looks at home can be easy and fun, and with drugstore beauty products, it doesn’t have to break the bank.
I recently gave two of my favorite red carpet looks a try from this year’s Golden Globes — a look Claire Danes wore with smokey eyes and nude lips, and Jessica Alba’s look with brown eyes and tangerine lips — both of which seemed simple and elegant, which I liked.
Gearing up for a big night? If you are, you can get red carpet ready like Claire and Jessica using makeup, hair, body and skincare products from COVERGIRL, Olay, Aussie and Secret.
Who says that going glam is reserved for the stars?
Inspired by: Claire Danes
Oh, Angela Chase. You’ve come so far since Jordan Catalano wrote that song about you about his car…
I absolutely loved the wavy hair, smokey eyes and nude lips Claire recently wore. Hello, stunning!
1. Let the glamification begin: skin and hair
Start by prepping in the shower with a hydrating body wash like Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash ($5.99), and washing and conditioning your hair with Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.99 each).
Even if the paparazzi aren’t currently stalking you, there’s no reason to let ’em see you sweat, so swipe some Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response ($7.99) under those ‘pits, girl!
Okay, time to tame the mane. Apply Aussie Aussome Volume Styling Mousse ($4.99) to wet hair for hold and volume, and either air or blow dry.
When your hair is dry, recreate Claire’s waves by curling the ends with a large barrel curling iron. Then, mist your mane all over with Aussie You Can Shine Spray Gloss ($3) for red carpet shine.
2. Gotta prep
Ready to play with makeup? Me too, but let’s get our skin ready first with face products from the Olay Professional Even Skin Tone Line, and disguise any uneven areas or imperfections by applying a liquid foundation like COVERGIRL Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation ($12.99).
If your skin tone’s similar to Claire’s, try the shade called Classic Ivory. I have a little — okay, a lot! — more of a tan, so something like Classic Tan works for me.
3. Sights set on smokey eyes
Now for my favorite part — the eyes!
Start by applying your favorite eye primer to your lids, curling your lashes and filling in your brows.
Next, for your smokey eyes, line both upper and lower water lines with COVERGIRL Perfect Point Plus Eyeliner in Black Onyx ($5).
With the same pencil, line your upper and lower lash lines; soften the lines by smudging the edges with a flat eye shadow brush.
Now, it’s time to add the smoke!
Load your flat brush with a combination of black and blue shadows, like COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 1-Kit Shadows in Shimmering Onyx and Sapphire Sparkle ($4.50 each). Combining the shades here adds depth to the smokey effect.
Pat the mix on your lids and barely into the creases. Then, using a domed blending brush, blend away any harsh edges.
To refine your smokey look even more, take your domed brush, and load it with your favorite blush. Something like COVERGIRL Instant Cheekbones Contouring Blush in Sophisticated Sable ($6) should work great for Claire’s look.
Sweep your loaded domed brush into your creases and along your lower lash lines to soften the edges. This helps everything look a little more polished.
Finish up your eyes by applying a few coats of COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara ($6.99).
4. Wrapping it up
From here on out, the rest is cake!
Sweep that same blush, Sophisticated Sable, on your cheeks, apply a nude lip color, like COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Jumbo Gloss Balm in Toffee Twist ($8.99) on your lips, and wrap up with a coat or two of COVERGIRL Outlast Nail Gloss in Forever Frosted ($5.99) on your nails.
Inspired by: Jessica Alba
Jessica Alba looked like absolute perfection on the Golden Globes red carpet this year with her curly hair, brown eyes and tangerine lips. It’s a look I’d actually want to wear not just to parties, but to buy groceries, hahaha!
1. Start the path to pretty: skin and hair
Like Claire Danes, Jessica’s strapless peach gown showed off some skin, so start your journey to red carpet glam in the shower with Olay Ultra Moisture Body Wash ($5.99) for soft, smooth skin.
While you’re there, wash and condition your hair with Aussie Aussome Volume Shampoo and Conditioner ($3.99 each), too.
After toweling off, don’t forget a couple swipes of Secret Clinical Strength Stress Response ($7.99).
Now, hair. For a style similar to Jessica’s, apply Aussie Aussome Volume Styling Mousse ($4.99) to wet hair for hold and volume.
When your hair’s dry, curl one-inch sections with a large barrel curling iron, and spray Aussie Aussome Volume Hair Spray ($3.99) all over to boost your volume and lock the look down.
2. Getting gorgeous: pre-prep
Before jumping into the good stuff (eyes, lips and cheeks!), prep your eyes and lashes with Olay Face Micro-Sculpting Lash Duo ($22.49).
Even out your skin with a foundation like COVERGIRL Outlast 3-in-1 Foundation in Classic Tan ($12.99) before dusting on COVERGIRL + Olay Pressed Powder in Medium ($11.99) to eliminate shine.
3. Eye see brown liner on the red carpet
Kickstart your eye look by patting your favorite eye primer on your lids, filing in your brows and curling your lashes.
Then, with a brown eye liner like COVERGIRL LiqulineBlast Liner in Brown Blaze ($8.79), line your upper water and lash lines. Soften the upper lash line by smudging the edge with a flat eye shadow brush.
Use that flat brush to pat a shimmery gold shadow on your lids and just barely into the creases. Try: COVERGIRL Eye Enhancers 3-Kit Shadows in Golden Sunset ($4.99).
Swap out your flat brush for a domed eye shadow brush, and use it to blend away any harsh lines…
Now, take that domed brush, and load it with bronzer. I like the slight sheen that COVERGIRL’s Cheekers Bronzer in Copper Radiance ($4.99) has. The sheen keeps it from looking flat on the skin.
Sweep the bronzer into your creases, blending it into the golden eye shadow to create a subtle gradient.
To finish your peepers, layer a few coats of COVERGIRL Clump Crusher Mascara ($6.99) on both your upper and lower lashes.
4. Getting gorgeous: the final act
Almost done! Complete your red carpet look by defining your cheeks, lips and nails with COVERGIRL Cheekers Blush in Brick Rose ($4.99), COVERGIRL Lip Perfection Jumbo Glass Balm in Coral Twist ($8.99) and COVERGIRL Outlast Stay Brilliant Nail Gloss in Perma-Pink ($4.99).
Guess what? You’re done. Two words: great job. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Jennifer says
GREAT job on the Danes look! I love the second look too but see less Jess in that one!
Karen says
Thank you, Jennifer! 🙂
Alison M says
Why was it that we didn’t see you on the red carpet this year? Oh, that’s right. Because no one else would’ve gotten any press. All cameras would’ve been pointed straight at your gorgeousness!
Karen says
Hi Alison,
Ha! If I was on the red carpet, I hope it would be to interview someone. I don’t know how the stars do it! All those flashes would blind me.
Hope that you’re having a good week so far. Anything new and interesting to report?
Sunny says
Ahhhh girl you’re gorgeous! Love the smokey eye! Very sexy, very elegant!
Karen says
Thank you, Sunny! Hi to the Tango.
Minsooky says
That first look is INSANELY gorgeous.
Karen says
Hey Minsooky,
Thanks bunches! How’s your Wednesday going?
Agata says
Oh Karen, you are so beautiful. I love the first look.
Karen says
My friend, I keep meaning to send you this link:
https://www.makeupandbeautyblog.com/hair/powered-by-pantene-big-and-bouncy-party-curls/
It’s the hair tutorial. Yes, THE hair tutorial. I did one a while back and forgot about it. But all the info’s there for that bouncy/curly look.:)
Agata says
Ohh thank you:)
Kiss & Make-up says
Looking fabulous, totally red carper worthy!
Karen says
Thanks, boo!
Trisha says
You’re so beautiful Karen!! You look awesome in both looks, but especially the Claire Danes one.
Have you seen Stardust? That’s my favorite Claire Danes movie. It also features a dude looking infinitely hotter with the help of hair-lengthening from Robert De Niro. See it!
Karen says
Hi Trisha,
I think I did a long time ago. I need to re-watch it again soon!
Have you been watching her new show, Homeland? It’s really good.
Trisha says
Unfortunately, I haven’t. I don’t get the movie channels. 🙁
Angela @ The Unprofessional Beauty Blog says
She was gorgeous in that red dress and she looks amazing for someone who just had a baby. And of course you look pretty as always 🙂
Karen says
Yes she did. I want to hire her trainer, LOL!
Ruchita says
I love both looks, especially the Claire Danes one. I have never quite mastered the somkey eye, but this looks so easy. I’m going to try it this weekend. Thanks for sharing!
Karen says
Hi Ruchita,
You’re welcome. If ya want, send me a pic of your final look. I’d love to see it. (I bet the kitties will love it!).
Melissa says
Love the Claire Danes look! Simple and classy. On a side note, I love the MSCL reference 🙂 Of course I watched it religiously and was sad when they cancelled it. I own the box set now. “Where did you get Chinese food?” “Two words. Ti. No.” hahaha!
gio says
You look fabulous, Karen! I especially love the Claire Danes look.
Monica P says
Wasn’t a fan of Jessica’s lip color. Your version is much better 🙂
Monica.
Jasmin says
The hair is soooo gorgeous! Love <3
Becca @ The Beauty Sample says
So pretty–you did a great job with both looks! I really love the second “Jessica Alba” one though! Love that you did it with such affordable products too!
Rebecca Cash says
HauteLook has Mario Badescu, Pur Minerals, and BH Cosmetics on sale. The Pur is up to 70% off!! Check it out girl! I loaded up on Pur Minerals. Nver used them before…..soooo I’m excited!!
http://www.hautelook.com/short/3Kwpw
Sabriel says
Ooh! I have some light/bright blue eyeshadow that I don’t really use because it doesn’t suit my coloring.
I never thought of mixing it with black, to make a blue-grey smokey eye.
Fantastic!
Katherine G says
Wow, you look amazing! How did the drugstore makeup you used hold up? I think it’s getting a lot better and some stuff is really as good as the expensive stuff.
Liz says
I love both looks. I really want the blush and lipstick you used in the first look.
Babsi says
You looks better than Claire Danes 😉 lovely looks 😉
Vineetha says
Karen You look gorgeous. I loved the Claire Danes Look a lotttt
Jennifer L says
Great post! I loved both of those looks.
Shikha says
very pretty.. I like both the looks