Issa Rae showed up to the 73rd annual Emmy Awards wearing a custom silver Aliétte gown, enhanced by glowing skin, metallic purple eye shadow, and bold lashes. The overall look was a riff on the disco era and was taken even further by the Insecure star’s custom grill.
While the newlywed turned heads as she walked the red carpet, it was only once all of the attendees were inside that we learned her secret: This entire beauty look was created using products under $15, including skincare. “The beautiful custom Aliétte felt like a nod to the ’70s, Studio 54, and disco glam,” said Joanna Simkin, celebrity makeup artist. “I was instantly inspired to do a sparkly purple eye shadow and fluttery lashes to accentuate Issa’s gorgeous features while playing up a bold statement eye.” The star of the show? E.l.f. Cosmetics’ $5 Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow in Supernova.
Below, Simkin breaks down Issa Rae’s gorgeous red carpet look, including details about how to achieve the perfect purple power eye at home. As they say on TikTok, issa vibe—right? Right.
“First, remove all makeup and residue using Holy Hydration! Melting Cleansing Balm.”
“Brighten the under-eye area by applying Holy Hydration! Eye Cream.”
“Apply Holy Hydration! Face Cream with SPF 30 to create a hydrated, glowing canvas.”
“Prime skin with Poreless Putty Primer, which grips makeup—it’s E.l.f.’s number one–selling product and the best-selling primer in the U.S.”
“After the skin is moisturized and primed, apply Camo CC Cream SPF 30 in shade 540N to create a rich, even base.”
“Use the Complexion Duo Brush for an airbrushed finish.”
“Apply Putty Bronzer to the contours of the face to add dimension.”
“Brighten up the under-eye area using Flawless Brightening Concealer pen.”
“Add a pop of color to the apples of the cheeks using Putty Blush in Tahiti.”
“To create the power purple eye look, apply Liquid Metallic Eyeshadow in Supernova over the entire eyelid. Then, use the Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palette in Acai You to add more color for a power purple smoky effect. “On the outer corners, apply the darker purple shade, then lightly bring it into the crease. On the center of the eyelids, use the creamy shimmer shade to add a twinkle that catches the light.”
“Finally, highlight the inner corner of the eyes using Bite-Size Eyeshadow Palette in Rose Water.”
“Pump up lashes using two generous coats of the new Big Mood Mascara to create bold, voluminous lashes with a brush that separates individual lash hairs.”
“Fill in brows using Wow Brow Gel.”
“Finish the look by dabbing on Lip Plumping Gloss in Mauve Lady to the lips to add a subtle warm color.”
