Nourishing Skin And Highlighting Natural Beauty Is An Essential Effort
PHOTOS BY ABBEY DRUCKER makeup + SKIN BY Matin
Click the shop button on the right for the thirty eight makeup and skincare products used in this story.
PREPping SKIN ON THE FACE FOR A LOOK THAT'S DEWY AND GLOWY AND HYDRATED
I always ALWAYS use a gentle non-drying toner to balance the pH of the skin. I use either Yon-Ka Lotion or NOTO Botanics Basil Yarrow Mist. If there is time, I love to start with a mask. My go-to is Knesko Skin Nano Gold Repair Collagen Face Mask or Susanne Kaufmann Glow Mask. I'll leave it on while the person I'm working on is getting their hair blown dry. Pro Tip: I use the serum from the mask on the rest of the skin whenever I can, and that includes the décolleté, arms, and legs.
PREPPING HUNTER'S SKIN: THE STEPS
I started with a Knesko mask. After 20 minutes, I massage Retrouvé Intensive Replenishing Moisturizer topped with Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream Moisturizer. I used Retrouvé Revitalizing Eye Concentrate Skin Hydrator, and Orlane B21 Soin Extraordinaire Neck and Decollete Lifting Cream from under her chin to the top of her breasts. I used my Pause Well Aging Fascia Stimulating Tool on her skin to massage and get some nice lymph drainage and capillary circulation. Then I applied very small amounts of Kjaer Weis Foundation and Laura Mercier Secret Camouflage Concealer. I only powdered her t-zone, and applied Laura Mercier Flawless Skin Repair Eye Serum and Danessa Myricks Dew Wet Balm on her cheekbones. I used a touch of Kevyn Aucoin’s The Sculpting Contour Powder in Medium to chisel her face even more.
AMPLIFYing HUNTER'S LASHES FOR A NATURAL LOOK
Keeping her makeup pretty neutral, I used Surratt’s shadows in peach and taupe tones on her eyes. I then added Lashify Intimates Gossamer Ash Lashes to create a beautiful thick lash line, without any harsh lines or dark lashes. The lashes are applied with a non-toxic bond at the root of her own lashes, and are absolutely undetectable.
FINISHing THE EYE
A touch of brightening powder does wonders in the inner corners of eyes, with out adding tacky sparkles. I used Laura Mercier Secret Brightening Powder For Under Eyes to set the concealer and bring brightness to her eyes.
HYDRATED, GLOSSY LIPS WITH NATURAL TINT
I prepped her lips with Chapstick Total Hydration Natural Conditioning Lip Scrub. It’s made of sugar with beautiful, natural oils. Then, I added Chapstick Total Hydration Vitamin Enriched Lip Oil and let it soak. I reapplied the oil throughout our photo shoot.
THE MAKEUP PRODUCTS THAT LEND THEMSELVES TO CREATING A NATURAL LOOK
I personally prefer creams that give a satin texture WITHOUT sparkly effects, And I avoid "long wear" creams. They tend to add too much texture. I like to keep the texture as light as possible, to show the beauty of the skin and things like freckles, etc.
ON CARING FOR SKIN ON THE HANDS
I use creams that contain probiotics. I use either Talika Skintelligence Anti Age Regenerating Day Cream or Payot Crème N°2 Cachemire . They're made for the face, but I find it very important to treat hands with them, especially because they protect against excessive washing and the use of toxic hand sanitizers that damage the microbiome of the skin.
HOW TO KEEP SKIN ON THE BODY SMOOTH, HYDRATED AND FREE OF DRY PATCHES DURING COLD WINTER MONTHS
There are a couple of products that I’m obsessed with for the body. One is NOTO Botanics Agender Oil, and the other is Retrouvé Baume Ultime. They both nourish the skin beautifully.
THE ROUTINE FOR FACE AND BODY THAT WILL HELP RETAIN MOISTURE ALL DAY LONG
I cannot emphasize enough the use of a toner or mist. Then follow with an oil serum followed by a cream. Pro Tip: reserve this practice for when you are not wearing a mask for an extended period of time.
MATIN'S PERSONAL ROUTINE FOR KEEPING DRY SKIN AWAY
A good enzyme exfoliating mask or a peel exfoliant is key. I like Susanne Kaufmann Enzyme Peel or Talika Gentle Moisturizing Face Scrub.
HUNTER MCGRADY ON BEAUTY AND FEELING COMFORTABLE IN HER SKIN
"I've partnered with Olay the last three years. This past year they made me one of their new faces, which is such a dream come true. I grew up not seeing myself represented in the media. I never quite understood why plus-sized women couldn't do makeup or beauty ads, or shoe ads. To see someone like myself in these magazines is just huge. Here I am in a skincare ad. And by the way, it's not retouched."
"I'm really big on daily affirmations and doing sound baths. If you're not having a not-so-great time, it's about really working on your mental health. I think the most powerful thing, over anything physical, is to hone in your mental health. For me, it's making sure I'm the right mindset and space to perform. Because you kind of have to be. So I really work on myself."
"At that time, I was a small size 14. So I said, 'I'm going to take a crack at it. Let's see what happens.' I went in to Wilhelmina, they signed me that day, and I was literally working the next week. I flew to Miami for Swim Week. It was confirmation that I was able to fulfill my dream while still loving my body."
"People often ask me, 'What's the secret to confidence, what's the formula?' There is none. I still have bad days. To be quite honest, today was one of them. Yesterday was one of them, where all you want to do is lay around, you don't want to work on the things you have to do. You don't feel so great about yourself. It's okay to have those days. I know it doesn't define who I am and that confidence is a journey. I always say, 'Rome, wasn't built in a day, neither is confidence.' You're going to be chipping away at it forever, but something beautiful is coming from it."
"I have a shoot coming up in the next couple of weeks. It's a big shoot, and I know now that it's something I'm going to work on. I haven't been as physical in the last eight months, I don't think many of us have. So I have to change the way I've been thinking about myself and not beat myself up so much, give myself a little bit of grace."
"My mother never made my body an issue. Never. She always celebrated it. She's from Iceland. We're very comfortable with who we are in our bodies. She used to always say, and still does, 'Talking about your body and your weight is so boring. It's the least interesting thing to talk about. It's the least interesting thing about you.' That's the mindset I grew up with. Thankfully."
Listen to episode 64 for our full podcast interview with Hunter McGrady on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Listen Notes, Soundcloud, The Podcast App, Google Podcasts, and Stitcher.
#BTS
FEBRUARY 2021 COVER
HUNTER MCGRADY
LOCATION
HOME OF HUNTER MCGRADY
PHOTOGRAPHER
ABBEY DRUCKER
JENNIFER HUTZ INC.
MAKEUP
MATIN
TRACEY MATTINGLY
HAIR
JOSUÉ PEREZ
TRACEY MATTINGLY
ASSISTANT PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTNEY LAUGHREA
"My go-to fragrance is Diptyque Rose."
"I love crisp white sheets from Brooklinen."
"I found Soma last year because they offer longer inseams and the fabric they use in their Cool Nights collection is so stretchy and comfortable. All I wear, they’re my go-to pajamas! I’m such a creature of comfort. I’m also a sucker for a matching set."
"I recently got the coat by Orolay. They make that amazing Amazon down coat."
"I love these because as we all know, we’re really living in sweats now. I wanted to create something that could be dressed up or down, or to just lounge around the house in. The lace up feature is my favorite. It’s sweatpants, but make it sexy."
"My favorite jeans are by Good American."
