My Uniform:
A Next-Level
(No-Makeup Makeup) Bronzy Glow
On her brilliant Naked Beauty podcast, the conversations Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli has with top makeup artists, dermatologists, hairstylists, founders, nutritionists, and more on what beauty—and feeling beautiful—truly means could pull anyone to the edge of their seat, even someone who thinks they care very little about the topic.
For the New York–based mom—Ozaydinli does marketing at Instagram, and Naked Beauty is her very successful side hustle—a dusting of bronzer and the juicy sheen of nude lip gloss does as much for her mood as it does for her skin, which sparkles (she credits a miracle plum face oil, but it’s also that fabled new-mom glow; her son, Mavi, is almost two). “When I stick to my skin-care routine and do my hair and makeup, it gives me an extra little boost to take on the day,” she says. “Feeling put-together matters—you feel different.”
Ozaydinli’s sleek everyday look falls somewhere between no-makeup makeup and soft glam: “I love brown and bronzy pigments and really dewy, glazed skin,” she says. Her secret weapons: easy melt-into-skin tints, glow-boosting oils (for her skin and lips), some lazy-girl hairstyling, and the most flattering pair of high-waisted jeans.
For Dewy, Glowy, Glazed Skin
I love Le Prunier plum face oil—it’s the best canvas for makeup (and sunscreen)—along with the saffron serum from Ranavat; those make my skin glow before I even put on makeup. I dab on a little Glowy Super Gel from Saie, then apply Kosas concealer where I need it. Kosas’s founder, Sheena Yaitanes, was a guest on the podcast and talked about how it’s formulated with peptides that treat skin, so you’re getting a benefit, too. It’s also so creamy and melts in so your skin still looks like skin.
How I Bring the Bronze
People don’t always think about women of color wearing bronzer, but it can absolutely elevate a look. I smooth cream bronzer—a deep shade with reddish undertones that subtly catches the light—from Tower 28 over my cheekbones. (A Black makeup artist helped formulate the bronzer tints, and they’re wonderful.)
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Saie
Sun Melt Natural Cream Bronzer
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I blend cheek tint on top, or cream blush. I smile and tap it over the bronzer for a hint of flush. I like how peachy or reddish shades look against the other bronzy-neutral pigments.
Lip-Shine Magic
The Ami Colé tinted lip oil is the most brilliant thing ever made. It’s hard to find a neutral lip gloss that lasts, and this one looks so good on brown skin. The founder, Diarrha N’Diaye, put so much thought into it. The formula is made with baobab, camellia, and all these other hydrating oils that stay put without feeling sticky. I love it for day and night.
Lazy-Girl Polished Hair
When I’m feeling lazy, I do a middle part and smooth my hair down into a low bun. A middle part is chic and makes you look pulled together without having to do any styling. I love Act + Acre and Pattern Beauty’s brush for smoothing down baby hairs, which I don’t always want to do. Black women have often been made to feel like we have to slick down our edges to look presentable. Obviously that’s not the case, but sometimes I do smooth everything down if there’s a look I’m going for.
I’m also developing my own heatless rollers, and sometimes I do a twist-out and sleep in my prototypes so I wake up with a nice curl at my ends. When my hair needs a vacation, I go to Illeisha Lussiano, a hairstylist at the Way in SoHo—she does the best lightweight braids and can add highlights and color. Braids are so easy, especially with having a baby.
Night-Out Makeup
I’m into a strong red lip, black winged liner, and my hair pulled back. For fragrance, I make my own oil blends (I get my essential oils from Mountain Rose Herbs): I mix jojoba with palo santo in a rollerball and apply it behind my ears or at my wrists to feel grounded and calm.
My Inspiration
Solange always looks great. She plays with makeup and isn’t afraid to go bold, but her skin always shines through, which I love.
Classic with an
Off-Duty Twist
My go-tos are jeans from G. Label and an oversize button-down that I tuck in for a classic look or pair with a pleated skirt for a more collegiate, preppyish look. I grew up wearing a uniform to school, so I always have a thing for collared shirts. You can get beautiful ones at thrift stores.
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