This Is How In 6 Steps I Transform My Face To Get The J.Lo Glow
From makeup to fashion to music, Jennifer Lopez continues to slay the game — and the megastar doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon. Case in point: The Puerto Rican star is making history at the 2018 MTV VMA’s on August 20. She will receive the Video Vanguard award, making her the first Latina artist to earn this award.
But aside from having a major influence in the music industry, “Jenny From the Block” is also responsible for making glowy, dewy skin very on-trend. Jennifer Lopez’s iconic “J.Lo glow” dates way back to her unforgettable role in “Selena.” Just look at her old films and music videos, and you’ll see that luminous skin and smoky eye have always been part of her signature makeup look.
As a huge J.Lo fan, I wanted to share my love for her in the best way that I could — by recreating her signature makeup. While I didn’t copy one specific look of hers, I did recreate something similar to what she always wears: a nude lip, smoky eye, and lots of bronzer and highlight.
Here are some of J.Lo’s signature makeup looks:
Credit: Instagram / @jlo / @scottbarnes68
Before we dive right into the tutorial, I wanted to note that her longtime makeup artist, Scott Barnes, is the one responsible for the “J.Lo glow.” He created her bronzy, glowy look that has now become part of pop culture. Hey, you have to give credit where credit is due.
Lista? Here’s how to recreate J.Lo’s signature makeup.
Credit: Tag Simler / Instagram / @jlo
There’s that smokey eye and nude lip I mentioned.
Step 1: Start with primer and foundation
Credit: Tag Simler
To start, I prepped my skin with the bareMinerals Blemish Rescue Skin-Clearing Anti-Redness Mattifying Primer ($26). Since I have redness around my chin and cheeks, this helps to even out my skin tone. To give my skin luminosity a lá J.Lo, I used Laura Geller’s Filter First Foundation ($38).
My secret tip: use a Beauty Blender!
Credit: @beautyblender / Instagram
This magical tool helps to evenly distribute all the product, including foundation and primer.
Step 2: Contour your face and set it with powder.
Credit: Tag Simler
Once I’m done blending out my foundation, I contour.
I use the Avon True Color Transforming Contour Stick ($11) to contour my cheeks, forehead, and my lower lip.
Credit: Avon
I know that might seem odd, but Barnes always contours J.Lo’s lips (which you’ll see in the later steps). This not only gives my lips definition, but it ties the rest of the contour together.
Next, I highlighted my under-eye, chin, and the bridge of my nose with Too Faced’s Born This Way Super Coverage Multi-Use Sculpting Concealer ($29).
To add more glow to my skin (because this is a J.Lo tutorial after all), I add a few drops of Flesh Beauty’s Ripe Flesh Glisten Drop in Aura ($28) to my cheeks, nose, and above my brows. I blend it all out with a makeup sponge. Doing this makes everything look a lot more natural and lit-from-within.
Instead of throwing setting powder everywhere, only dust it onto the areas you get oily.
Credit: @lauramercier / Instagram
J.Lo’s makeup is usually a mix between dewy and matte. I tap the Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder in Glow ($38) on my chin, nose, and forehead because that’s where I get most shiny. To add even more brightness to my under-eyes, like the “Dinero” singer, I use the Essence Brighten Up! Banana Powder ($4.99).
Step 3: Move on to the eye makeup
Credit: Tag Simler
Instead of finishing up my face makeup, I like to let it settle a bit, so I move on to my eyes. For this look, I came up with something similar to what J.Lo usually wears. She typically opts for a smoky eye, rather than something subtle.
For this, I’m using Milani’s Gilded Desires Eye & Face Palette ($19.99).
Credit: @islandglowbeautiful / Instagram
It has so many brown tones and gold shimmers that you can easily copy her makeup.
For my base, I apply the shade Naked Truth all over my lids. Next, I dusted the shadow Crazy For Cocoa on my crease. I take it a bit out, past my eye, to create a winged effect. After, I go over the lighter shade with a deeper brown tone called Wood You Join Me. I also apply this shade to my lower lash line.
To make my eyes pop, I throw the Catrice Precious Pigment in Moondust ($5.99) on my lids.
I spritz the shadow with a makeup setting spray that way the loose powder would stick to my lids a lot easier. Plus, this makes the shade pop.
Step 4: Bat those lashes with mascara and falsies.
Credit: Tag Simler
After my shadow, I apply a brown pencil liner to my lower lash line and to the top lash line. J.Lo rarely wears black eyeliner, so I use the Tarte Cosmetics Tarteist Double Take Eyeliner ($24).
Next, I apply the J.Lo x Inglot Viva Las Lashes Mascara ($24) to my lower lash line.
Credit: Inglot
I had to! The wand is so tiny and thin that you can really fluff out your lower lashes. I then applied the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara ($8.99) to my top lashes. To spice up my eye look more, I throw on false lashes. I use Ardell’s Faux Mink Lash #811 ($5.99). This step isn’t necessary, so if you aren’t a lash pro, no worries. Just double up on the mascara.
Step 5: Bronze, highlight, and blush.
Credit: Tag Simler
Once your eye makeup is done, it’s time to finish up the face.
For this look, I use three different bronzers, because it would be offensive to only use one for queen J.Lo.
Credit: @beccacosmetics / Instagram
However, it’s important to go in lighthanded.
For the first bronzer, it’s best to use a matte one. I use the Physicians Formula Butter Bronzer ($8.49) and dust it over the contour I did earlier.
Credit: Physicians Formula
The key is to build up the bronzer so it looks natural.
Next, I swipe a bit of the Becca Cosmetics Gradient Sunlit Bronzer in Sunrise Waves ($38).
Credit: @moodsandviews / Instagram
I dust this closer to the apples of my cheeks rather than going on top of the contour.
For the last bronzer, which is a lot more shimmery, I use the JLo x Inglot Livin’ the Highlight Illuminator in Luminous ($23).
Credit: Inglot
I tap this with the powder puff it comes with to the high points of my cheeks.
I then use Charlotte Tilbury’s Cheek to Chic Blush in Ecstacy ($40) to the apple’s of my cheeks.
Credit: Charlotte Tillbury
While J.Lo doesn’t really wear a lot of blush, she throws on a bit to bring some color back to her face. Then to give my skin more of a glow (because why not?), I dust the JLo x Inglot Livin’ the Highlight Illuminator in Radiant ($23).
Step 6: Pout your lips with lipstick and gloss
Credit: Tag Simler
But first…
Before I add lipstick, I contour my lips like J.Lo.
Credit: @jlo / Instagram
The pop star’s makeup artist uses this technique to give J.Lo naturally plump-looking lips.
For this, I use the same contour stick as before and overlined my lips a bit with the bronzer shade.
Credit: Avon
I then smudge the concealer to my lips. I know I look like an 80-year-old woman, but I will soon look like the glow queen. Next, I use the JLo x Inglot Lipstick in Dolce ($19) and top it off with the JLo x Inglot Lip Gloss in Peach Pearl ($21).
Here’s the finished makeup look:
Credit: Tag Simler
Now that you have your J.Lo-inspired makeup down, hit play on “Let’s Get Loud” and celebrate the queen’s Video Vanguard award during the MTV VMA’s on Monday, August 20.
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