A Peek Inside Makeup Artist Ehlie Luna’s Everyday Routine

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Bored with your everyday routine? Makeup artist Ehlie Luna would love to help you plan your next makeup look. “What I do best is really connecting with people through beauty,” she says. “I love empowering people with ideas, techniques and different perspectives.” As you might guess, this starts on social media. The Brooklyn native fills her Instagram feed with inspiring looks for every mood — from vibrant shadow and sultry liner to glossy eyes and red lips — but unlike many other creatives, she’s all about publicly sharing her secret sauce.

Luna connects with her community through tri-weekly live makeup tutorials that feature the technical tips and tricks for a flawless application, plus confidence-boosting personal advice. “I just love making people feel good and confident,” she says. “I remember giving my sisters makeovers growing up. I would curl their hair, pick their outfits, do their makeup and then take their photos.”

Today, she’s fueled by her own journey in finding her voice and inner beauty. “I found confidence through the practice of celebrating small accomplishments and also trying new things,” she explains. “It has also been really important to allow myself to feel vulnerable and okay with not knowing everything. These things helped me get to a better place in the long run.” Having a strong wellness routine doesn’t hurt either. “I really value meditation,” she says. “I use a lot of singing bowls.”

Ahead, the artist goes into detail about the self-care and beauty rituals that help her maintain a positive outlook as well as her expert tips to achieve a flawless complexion through intentional skincare and clever makeup application.

RI:
Who had the biggest beauty influence on you growing up?
EL:
I would have to say my mother. She loved makeup. She was always getting her nails done. She was the type of woman who would pick me up from school and everyone would ask me, “That’s your mother!?” So I would say she was the most impactful.
RI:
Who is inspiring you beauty-wise these days?
EL:
I have an amazing beauty community who I’m able to connect with over Instagram and they’re all really inspiring. I feel like we really encourage each other, support each other and it’s a special thing. I’ve never experienced that kind of support before.
RI:
What was your first memory of doing your own makeup?
EL:
I remember in the '90s I would go to variety stores and buy the darkest brown lip liner and some flavored lip gloss. That was my go-to look.

RI:
What about your first memory of doing your own hair?
EL:
I was probably 12 years old. I remember being in the bathroom trying to do a ponytail and a side bang; trying to flat iron my own hair and wrap it at night.
RI:
As someone who plays around with makeup a lot, what are your tips for keeping your complexion clear?
EL:
The number one thing for me is what I eat. I used to get really bad cystic acne on my chin so I became very passionate about figuring out how to not have that. The book The Perricone Prescription really changed my life. It taught me the connection between food and inflammation. The second important thing is to make sure I’m not falling asleep in my makeup anymore. Also, double cleansing is key. I introduced retinol into my routine, too. Although my arsenal is not minimal, I like to maintain a pretty basic routine on a daily basis. I try to look at my skin and evaluate what it needs each day. I try to really focus on nourishing and moisturizing it.

“I really love the Rose Inc Blush Divine in Azalea. I talk a lot about how amazing it is in my Instagram stories.”

RI:
What are your tips for getting a smooth complexion with your makeup application?
EL:
Be diligent about skincare; the canvas has to be cared for. Color matching [is key to] get the right undertones. Formula match appropriately for your skin type and find the sweet spot with the correct tools, be it sponges or brushes. It’s different for everyone.

To start, cleanse, hydrate and protect. I’m a fan of a vitamin C serum a few days a week before my moisturizer and SPF steps.

Next, you want to make sure to color matching. Figure out if you have red undertones, olive, yellow or something else? Get curious about figuring this out. With the right undertone, you can expand your options.

Then, you want to make sure to formula match for your skin type. Brands always let us know what skin type their products are made for. For example, if you have oily skin and you use a formula made for dry skin and find you can’t keep makeup on your face, there’s a chance you’re making things harder for yourself. Stay in your skin’s lane.

Find the right tools. Personally, I love buffing brushes, dense brushes in general and spongers for a flawless base. A little finger tapping works too.

“Although my arsenal is not minimal, I like to maintain a pretty basic routine on a daily basis. I try to look at my skin and evaluate what it needs each day.”

RI:
What is your go-to hair routine like?
EL:
I go to Salon Suite to take care of my natural hair. They helped me simplify my routine a lot. My hair is thriving now. So I’ve been taking breaks from wigs every now and then. I started using Olaplex, I clarify once a month using Pattern and then I use the Pattern Leave-In. I also blowdry my hair every now and then.
RI:
What is your go-to makeup routine like?
EL:
Lately I’ve been reaching for the Sunny Days Tower28 mineral tinted sunscreen. I feel like that’s been a game changer. I really love the Rose Inc Blush Divine in Azalea. I talk a lot about how amazing it is in my Instagram stories. For concealer, I use One Size. Those are my main three superstars right now.

RI:
Do you have any favorite fragrances?
EL:
Flowerstreet’s sunflower fragrance, because it makes me feel like it’s summer time.
RI:
What’s your go-to wellness routine?
EL:
As soon as I wake up, I set a timer for a 10 minute meditation in bed. Then I go to the gym, which I try to be very consistent with. I come back, eat a good meal and get ready to do some work. Whether it’s content creation or I have to leave the house. When I’m stressed, I like to also watch Ru Paul’s Drag Race.
RI:
Did you develop any new self-practices during the quarantine that have stuck with you?
EL:
I really refined my hair routine. Now it feels so light and easy. It doesn’t take me a whole day to do my hair anymore.

"I remember giving my sisters makeovers growing up. I would curl their hair, pick their outfits, do their makeup and then take their photos.”

RI:
What’s a beauty industry narrative that you’d like to see rewritten?
EL:
There’s this myth that there are no good, genuine people in the industry, but I think it’s really changing and I’ve found a really solid community within [beauty] who are supportive.
RI:
How do you define beauty?
EL:
Confidence. It’s something so innate that comes through no matter what you’re wearing or doing. It’s communicated in the way you speak and in the way you make other people feel.
RI:
When do you feel most beautiful?
EL:
I feel most beautiful when I’m sweating and working and doing something for my body. Like in a yoga pose or when I’m lifting weights or expressing what my body is capable of.

Do Your Makeup with Ehlie Luna

Makeup artist Ehlie Luna shares the self-care tips that have boosted her confidence: from in-bed meditation to flawless foundation application, along with the perfect getting ready playlist to inspire your next makeup look.