Mischa Barton Glows in Dressed-Up Neutrals

Shimmering peach, pink and ivory tones replace conventional bronzer to give skin an ethereal, lit-from-within glow.

HOW TO DO IT
After creating a flawless base using medium-coverage foundation, makeup pro Molly Stern blended a pea-size dot of cream highlighter on Barton's cheekbones, brow bones and the bridge of her nose. "It gives a nice radiance and provides a base so powder adheres," says Stern. Then she swirled a generous amount of light-reflecting baby-pink blush on the apples of her cheeks. To subtly warm up the rest of Barton's face, Stern added sparkling ivory powder on her lids and a dab of nude gloss on her lips.

Go behind the scenes of Mischa Barton's photo shoot

A little vampy-but also the prettiest of fall’s new looks-this deep-hued shadow is surprisingly versatile. "It reminds me of sixties icons like Anita Pallenberg and Marianne Faithfull. And I love how the blue brings out the color of my eyes," says Barton.

HOW TO DO IT
Using a rich indigo powder and a small damp brush, Stern traced Barton’s upper lash line, extending it one quarter inch past the outer corners of her eyes. “The natural curve of the lid creates the swoosh on the end,” Stern explains. To diffuse the line, she buffed a slightly brighter blue shadow over the lid with a dry brush, then applied two coats of black mascara. “With such dramatic eyes, I wanted to keep the rest of the face clean,” says Stern, who finished with mauve blush and lipstick.

Go behind the scenes of Mischa Barton's photo shoot

• 1. On Mischa! A masterful selection of the most wearable blues. YSL Ombres 5 Lumieres shadow in No. 5 Riviera, $56; yslbeautyus.com.
• 2. Shockingly deep pigments with a touch of shimmer. Bobbi Brown Metallic eye shadow in Midnight, $20; bobbibrowncosmetics.com.
• 3. This vibrant cobalt makes a beautiful liner. Cover Girl Eye Enhancers eye shadow in Indigo Impact, $3; at Target.
• 4. Not too blue, not too gray-just right for beginners. The Body Shop Shimmer Cubes palette in Autumn/Winter 08, $22; thebodyshop.com.
• 5. Bits of glitter give it a pretty, metallic sheen. Le Metier de Beaute True Color eye shadow in Midnight Sky, $30; at Neiman Marcus.
• 6. Crease-free matte shadows without a hint of chalkiness. Laura Mercier Eye Colour Trio in Blue Hour, $38; lauramercier.com.

Retro wine gets a modern update when paired with fresh skin and a touch of blush-no mascara required. "I think women should wear lipstick every day-it just makes you look and feel more glamorous," says Barton.

HOW TO DO IT
"I don't like using liner for such a bold lip because it can look too harsh," says Stern. Instead the makeup artist opted for a small stiff brush to apply color in short strokes along Barton's natural lip line, then filled in the rest of her mouth. For fresh yet polished skin, Stern smoothed concealer only where needed-"I wanted to keep her freckles visible"-then dabbed a berry cream blush on Barton's lower cheeks. Stern's final trick: Skip the mascara. "It's an unexpected touch to keep the look youthful."

Go behind the scenes of Mischa Barton's photo shoot

• 1. So pigment packed, one swipe delivers a bold berry sheen. Rouge Dior lipstick in Fantastic Plum, $27; sephora.com.
• 2. A semi-matte opaque burgundy that stays put for hours. Revlon Color Stay Soft & Smooth lipstick in Divine Portwine, $10; glossi.com.
• 3. On Mischa! A rich brown-based wine with a balmlike texture. Chanel Rouge Hydrabase lipstick in Fantastic Plum, $27; chanel.com.
• 4. Loaded with silky powders for an ultrasmooth veil of color. Armani Silk lipstick in No. 80, $25; giorgioarmanibeauty-usa.com.
• 5. Even the fairest skin won?t be overwhelmed by this deep rose. Cle de Peau Extra Silky lipstick in No. 115, $50; at Neiman Marcus.
• 6. Tiny flecks of gold shimmer offer brilliant shine. Clinique High Impact Lip Colour SPF 15 in After Party, $14; clinique.com.

Smoky eyes don’t always have to be dark and moody. Gilded lids offer a luminous take on a smoldering look. “It’s amazing how an eye shadow can make my whole face look brighter,” says Barton.

HOW TO DO IT
Stern first covered Barton’s lids with matte brown shadow for depth. “Layering metallic over matte is what gives it the smoky effect,” the makeup artist explains. Then she used her fingertip to press on a wash of glimmering gold powder and blended it up to the brow bone. For definition, she worked black liner into Barton’s upper lashline and piled on two layers of volumizing mascara. Stern finished with a slick of dusty rose lipstick to “complete the look without overpowering her face.”

Go behind the scenes of Mischa Barton's photo shoot