Is The 'Mary Phillips Technique' The New Standard In Makeup Application?

Mary Phillips is the makeup artist behind the "soft glam" makeup look often seen on celebrities like Hailey Beiber and Jennifer Lopez. Phillips has taken over our TikTok “For You” pages with her viral tutorial on how to achieve the same look at home. The technique uses Phillips' version of "underpainting," which is a method of makeup application where contour and highlight are applied to the skin as the base prior to applying foundation.
Mary gave us her secret sauce, and I’m breaking it down step by step so you too can master this effortless glam. Keep reading to learn how to achieve this soft glam makeup technique.
Step 1: Apply bronzer.
The first step is bronzer and highlight which Phillips refers to as “laying down the bones under the skin.” Take a bronzer shade of your choice and apply it to the following parts of the face:
The cheekbones:

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The forehead:

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The brow bone:

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The jawline:

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Down the nose:

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The completed bronzer placement should look like this:

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The blended result should look like this:

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Step 2: Apply highlight.
Now for the highlight. For the highlight in the Mary Phillips technique, you can use a lighter shade of concealer as I did, or use a shade closer to your skin tone.
The placement for highlight starts right under the bronzer on your cheekbones:

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Under the eyes:

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Down the bridge of the nose:

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Blend for a result that looks similar to this:

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Step 3: Apply foundation.

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Use one pump of foundation and a fluffy brush to blend everything together with a light hand. The key is making sure you don't cover the base you just created.

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Step 4: Add blush.

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I apply blush by using my finger and tapping the blush into the high points of my cheeks and over my nose.

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Step 5: Complete the look with the optional addition of mascara and lipgloss.

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Mary Phillips' technique blew me away the first time I tried it! I wasn't expecting the amount of dimension while maintaining a soft, glowy, and effortless look. It is a new standard in my routine.
If you are a fan of “no makeup” makeup, you need to try this!
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Featured image by Jorine Dorcelus/xoNecole
Sleek & Heat-Proof: Straightened Hair, The Summer It List Way
This article is in partnership with SheaMoisture.
The world may try to convince you that straight hair is a no-go for the summer heat, but if you’re an It Girl, defying the odds is embedded in your DNA.
When it comes to achieving sleek strands for the summer, xoNecole and SheaMoisture have your blueprint for smooth, frizz-free, humidity and heat-damage-resistant hair throughout this season!
From hair styling oils to bond repairing products, and strengthening shampoo and conditioner, SheaMoisture offers a range of products that help you achieve the perfect silk press without worrying about the heat damage, thanks to formulas that moisturize, reduce breakage, and more.
We want your silk press to stay pressed, not stressed, so here’s our quick, three-step guide featuring SheaMoisture products from our xoNecole Summer It List for straightened hair all summer long.
Step 1: Keep Your Hair Strong
Like everything in life, if the foundation is rocky, things won’t last, and the sentiment remains when it comes to your hair.
SheaMoisture’s Hair Styling Oils are a must-have when preparing and protecting your strands before getting them pressed. The Bond Repair Oil is perfect reinforcement that your hair needs from within to prevent breakage and dryness when using heat-forward tools to achieve your look.
Protecting the hair before adding heat with SheaMoisture’s Bond Repair Leave-In helps guard against styling damage. The product also ensures hair bonds are repaired and essential proteins are replenished, resulting in less breakage. It also provides a boost of hydration and 24-hour control against frizz.

Courtesy of SheaMoisture
Step 2: Seal The Deal With Some Shine
Whether you’re preparing to attend a summer wedding or hitting a rooftop with your girlfriends, finishing the look with SheaMoisture’s Manuka Honey & Yogurt Lightweight Oil serves you and your hair right by adding luster, locking in moisture, and taming flyaways.
Step 3: Repair Your Hair Following The Heat
Before jumping into your next style, a moisturizing cleanse is a great repair duo to put the life back into your hair after a silk press.
The SheaMoisture Jamaican Black Castor Oil Shampoo and Conditioner offers damage-repairing benefits that will have your hair thanking you. It restores, nourishes, and strengthens hair, eases detangling, and brings damaged hair back to life with shine and movement, while most importantly, restoring moisture.
Who said that straight hair was off the table during the summer heat wave? With SheaMoisture and a plan, you’ll hit the scene like the It Girl you are for every summer festivity.
Consider your It Girl era unlocked. Shop all of our beauty and lifestyle must-haves on The It List.
Featured image courtesy of SheaMoisture
Jay Hill On Self-Control, Modern Dating, & Co-Parenting
Podcaster and media personality Jay Hill opened up about the lessons learned growing up in Baltimore and navigating the complexities of manhood, relationships, and emotional growth in a reflective conversation with xoMAN host Kiara Walker.
He explained that his environment taught him early lessons about survival and reputation:
“You learn that if you don’t play by the rules, you end up being a person they tell stories about.”
Central to his message is the importance of self-control, which Jay believes is an important aspect of true manhood. “I think that’s the biggest area of manhood that most of us lack and that we all need to grasp early. Even when I was younger, thinking I was a man, like fighting and stuff… Imagine if I was fighting to stay in school. Imagine if I was fighting to graduate.” He shared that he recognized that understanding what you fight for matters.
Jay also got into his experiences with marriage, infidelity, and co-parenting, emphasizing the role of therapy and accountability in healing. He discussed modern dating and what he values in a partner.
For Jay, it’s someone who commands respect and holds her man to high standards—“being a great mom, respecting your own boundaries, being a source of admiration, and requiring him to meet your standards.”
Want more real talk from xoMAN? Catch the full audio episodes every Tuesday on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, and don’t miss the full video drops every Wednesday on YouTube. Hit follow, subscribe, and stay tapped in.
Featured image by xoNecole/YouTube









