Shara Strand

Summer is my favorite time to edit. Not just your wardrobe — your makeup bag. The heat means heavy products work against you, and the lifestyle of summer — travel, outdoor events, long days that turn into late nights — means you need things that are versatile, portable, and actually reliable. After 15+ years as a makeup artist in New York City, summer is when I see clients really benefit from stripping back to what matters. Here’s what I’d put in the ideal minimalist summer bag, and why each...

If you’ve ever left your apartment looking flawless and arrived at work looking like you’ve been outside for three hours — welcome to a New York City summer. The combination of heat, humidity, and a subway commute is genuinely challenging for your makeup. But it’s not unbeatable. This is one of the most common topics that comes up in makeup lessons in New York at our Manhattan studio. My clients want to know how to actually keep their makeup on, not just look good for the first hour. Here’s...

May and June are the busiest months at our Manhattan studio — and it’s no coincidence. Wedding season is here, and as one of New York City’s most trusted bridal makeup artists, I want to make sure every bride (and every member of her wedding party) walks into that ceremony feeling completely prepared. Whether you’re getting married in a candlelit ballroom or a sun-drenched rooftop garden, summer weddings come with their own set of beauty challenges. Heat, humidity, hours on your feet, and...