Molly Stern: On Makeup and Motherhood

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This week I'm super excited to feature Molly Stern, mother of three and makeup artist to pretty much every Hollywood someone (literally, everyone). I first met Molly several years ago, through her husband David, who, for several years shared a table with me at our local coffee shop. David happens to be a writer, director and I've featured both him (and Molly!) here before. When I first met Molly I was struck by her incredible energy - warm, wonderful, the epitome of beauty, nurturing and strength. She's a sparkle, this one, and both her husband and her children carry within them the same kind of wonderful. It is a pleasure knowing them, knowing her.

GGC: Molly, hello! I love you! Lets talk makeup and motherhood, shall we?

Molly Stern: Hello, I love you right back. Yes please, let's discuss.

GGC: How long have you been in makeup? Mind telling us how and why you got started?

Molly: I started when I was a young pup at the age of 16. (I turn 40 next year.) It was a total fluke. I was walking around in the Century City mall in Los Angeles (where I'm from) with my boyfriend and wandered into a beautiful Japanese makeup boutique, Shu Uemura (not there anymore, boo!) in search of a perfect lipstick that matched my dress. I made friends with the girls there and eventually they hired and trained me. I fell in love with women's faces. Painting them and learning how to bring out what is inherently beautiful about them.
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GGC: How long have you been in motherhood? Mind telling us a little bit about how and why you got started?

Molly: My oldest daughter was born on my Mother's birthday in 2005. I always wanted to be a mother. I love my Mother. She is a strong and inspiring woman. I was uber serious my whole life about wanting a family, and wouldn't date anyone really that wasn't a serious contender. I was always looking for my love, even in third grade. I would ask, "could this be my husband?" Then I met him, David, (my Mother fixed us up...) a week before my 30th birthday and we began trying to have a baby on our wedding night.

GGC: As a working mother of three children how do you manage your family time?

Molly: It's challenging on a daily basis for sure. I try to really be present and focus on the children when I am seizing family time, which is so hard as at times it feels like my i-phone is glued to my hand. We make an effort to always have family dinner, schedules permitting as David is also a freelance artist. But the saving grace is that we observe the Jewish Sabbath, (and the Black Sabbath of course), every week which is supreme, dedicated family time. We shut it down from Friday night sundown to Saturday night sundown every week. No phones, or tv. Just family meals and rest and games and walks. It's incredibly therapeutic and bonding. Love the day of rest.

GGC: I love that you were the sole punk-rock chick in an Orthodox Jewish school (more on that story, here). How did your formative years shape the woman you've become? The mother you've become?

Molly: My parents allowed me so much freedom to express myself when growing up which I think is a huge reason that I have been able to find success in careers that requires honest self expression. I hope to cultivate that same faith and trust in my relationship with my own children. I truly believe that one can do whatever they want with belief and support from others. I strive to develop and stimulate individuality in myself and my kids on a daily basis.

GGC: You work with some of the most beautiful women in the world, women that 99.99999% of us envy, try to emulate, even worship. What are some myths about celebrity and how, if at all, has it influenced, affected and/or enlightened you?

Molly: I haven't met one woman yet in my path, even the ones that are viewed as perfect by most, who doesn't struggle with the whole, not feeling good on the inside equals not feeling good on the outside. If one doesn't cultivate what makes them feel beautiful on the inside, it doesn't matter what our shells look like, we don't like what we see. Women are very hard on themselves. All women. It's painful to realize that we all share a very warped perception of ourselves. Even the women we admire. I have often said that the reason I am successful as a makeup artist is because of how I make the women I work with feel more than how I make them look. The thing to remember about celebrities is that it is a part of their job to look the way they do. They exercise more than most women do (sometime 2-3 hours a day), they get facials on a regular basis, many of them have their food delivered to them and it's not three big huge glorious meals. It takes extreme dedication and diligence on the part of the actress to maintain the body and face that they have. They sit in hair and makeup for 2-3 hours before we see them all dolled up. A lot goes into how they look. An average women does not have the time to dedicate to their looks the way an actress does, and the average woman shouldn't feel compelled to, it's not part of their job. What is admirable about these "beautiful" woman, is there dedication to being great at their job. That is what is empowering about them, not how glamourous they look.
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GGC: How has motherhood influenced you as a makeup artist, specifically, as a mother of daughters?

Molly: I am extremely inspired to raise healthy daughters of body, mind and spirit. I also feel a great sense of responsibility for contributing to a very narrow side of what is considered beautiful. Women have to look beyond the concept that beauty is only skin deep. Our society has become obsessed with beauty and youth. I work hard to empower my clients to remember that aging is a privilege and the natural course of events, we are stronger and more dynamic with the life we have led at 40 than we were at 20 and there is immense beauty in that. I try to motivate my children to understand that there are ways to care for our skin and bodies on a consistent basis that will keep us feeling great, healthy and ultimately beautiful. Lastly I instill in my girls that their beauty comes from a heart filled with love, and that is what makes the outside look so good.

GGC: You've been responsible for some of the most glam and gorgeous red carpet faces. What are some of your favorite red carpet looks?

Molly: It's so hard to choose. I love getting a gal ready for the red carpet. It's always an exciting collaboration. I love the clothes, the jewelry, the hair. I've made a career of helping people play dress up. I am lucky that my clients are woman that like what I do, trust my sensibility and my eye that I will bring out something beautiful and sometimes fun in them. I loved Reese's makeup at her Monsters vs Aliens premier:
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She wore an adorably slamming Rodarte dress. Super short and kind of fembotish. I kept her makeup very cool in tones and almost see through. I also loved Maggie at the Oscars when she wore Dries Von Noten and I gave her a bright neon cotton candy lip:
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...But like I said, it's always exciting to work for the red carpet.
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GGC: How has working in the "beauty" industry altered your perception of beauty?

Molly: That is such a hard question. I have always had an affinity for beautiful things, and that said, there is no firm definition of what constitutes beautiful. Working in the beauty industry is a mixed bag of emotions for me. There were times in my career when I would cry with guilt that I all I was doing in my life was making prettier people look prettier. Sometimes the vapid realities of this job hit me hard. Those emotions would then evolve into feeling very empowered when I realize that even "pretty women" suffer from not feeling good about how they look and that I am a voice of encouragement and love for them. One of my mantras as a makeup artist is: look for what you like in your face (and life) and focus on that. Enhance the features that bring you joy and spend less time trying to cover up or change what you don't like. With that shift, you will be shocked at the positive attention you get. People notice what you focus on, so keep the focus on where your confidence lies and dismiss your insecurities.
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GGC: Beyond makeup you're also a painter and at one point, designed Haute couture as well as ready-to-wear for retailers including Barneys. How do your other creative outlets influence each other?

Molly: I feel very blessed to be able to tap into my creative self on a regular basis. I love this quote by the craft queen Anna Maria Horner: "I refuse to accept the notion that I should stick to one medium as a means of success, so I move from one discipline to another as a way of freeing up my process from becoming too rigid." The more artistry I put into one area, the better my work is in another.

GGC: There is a lot of dissent in the female community when it comes to measuring one's "success". What, in your opinion, makes a woman "successful"?

Molly: My mother always says that the definition of a "feminist" is that she gets to choose who she wants to be with no apologies. To me a woman is successful when she is fulfilling her personal goals, family, career, art, health, spiritual growth, all of the above, none of the above, lovingly without allowing anything to get in her way.
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GGC: I love that so much. There's a Francis Ford Coppola quote I recently heard (and I'm probably totally botching it, but here goes...) about how it wasn't until he became a father that he became truly ambitious. Because, he HAD to be, he had kids to support! One cannot put off work when there are dependents to clothe, feed and nurture. And yet, it seems to be assumed by the majority that having children will make one less career minded...

Molly: The quote is great, as my ambition's purpose also changed with becoming a mother. I feel the need to succeed in my career for the example of what a human, in my case a woman, can accomplish if you work hard. My ambition now includes the necessity to provide for my family as well as the desire to raise my kids believing one must and can follow his/her dreams.
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GGC: What/who inspires you as an artist?

Molly: On a good day? Everything... my son's expression when learning a new word, the sky, the buildings, the loving kiss my husband offers me. When I have to search for it? Painters, Egon Schiele, John Currin, Annie Kevans, Banksy. I love Anais Nin, her strength and power and poetry make me feel like I am important, even in my own little world... Anyone doing their work is inspiring to me. It wakes me up to see someone else's work. It encourages me have to make something, read something, feel something. I rely on other's creativity a lot.
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GGC: What/who inspires you as a mother?

Molly: My husband. He is a born hero in the parenting department. He is patient beyond belief, he is inventive, and fun. He reminds me to lighten up, to laugh, to remember these children are ours to love and teach.
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...Also my friend Stacy Gould, she has 5 kids, 4 of which are boys. She also has tremendous patience. I guess practicing patience and inventiveness awakens me. It takes a lot of both to be an inspired parent.

GGC: What's a typical day in the life of Molly Stern?

Molly: It starts with my 5 year old son whispering "mamma, mamma, mamma, mamma," over and over and over again until it seeps into my subconscience and wakes me up. For some reason he is always famished when he wakes up. Always. On my better days, I get up and exercise. I love to dance or practice yoga. When I begin my day connecting to my body I feel more productive and confident. Then it's morning duties, breakfast, getting the baby her Cheerios, finishing lunches and getting them off to school. On days when I work I could be off to any variety of jobs. I could head to someone's house to get them ready for an event which only takes a couple of hours or land in a studio for a photo shoot that lasts 10 hours. Depending on my schedule, I reconnect with the kids, sometimes not until dinner which is usually around 5:30pm. Then we diligently do bath and bed, reading bedtime stories by 7pm. This way we have the rest of our evening to hang out, read Girl's Gone Child, watch Master Chef, whatever we adults need to do in order to feel like well rounded humans, not just parents. Try to be in bed by 11p but on some nights it's 12 or 1am. If I'm not working, I try to do something creative, some sort of art project. Somedays I hit Target, the 3-4 grocery stores it takes to stock the kitchen etc... I am very blessed to have different days in a week. Very little monotony with a freelance career, and three kids. Every day is a new adventure.

Molly and her mother present: Kale salad!

GGC: What are some beauty must-haves for summer?

Molly: Sunblock sunblock sunblock. JOSIE MARAN Argan infused 40 SPF is my choice this summer. It feels great on the skin and really protects. I also love a bright lip in the summer. Something with some pop. Hot Orange, electric Pink, these colors look great with a sunkissed face and body. I think a fun waterproof eyeliner is a great summer beauty accessory as well. Pop a color you might not usually wear on the outer corners of the eye for something playful. NARS and COVERGIRL do them great, in fantastic color ranges. Keep your skin fresh and play up the eyes or lips.

GGC: Lets talk all-around bests. Lipstick? Mascara? Shadows?

Molly: My favorite lipstick of all time is a tinted lip balm by COVERGIRL called Lipslicks in Daring. It's the perfect shade for EVERYONE and feels great on the lips. My favorite mascara right now, is JOSIE MARAN Argan Mascara. I love both the black and brown. It's got a great brush and great staying power. As far as eyeshadow my personal fav is a NARS eyeshadow in the color Blondie. It's a perfect taupe. I use it for everything, a smudge on the lid, contour in the crease, I have even used it as blush.

GGC: Do you have any advice for novice makeup artists just getting started?

Molly: The best learning ground for me was the working at department store counters. There you are forced to learn how to work on all different types of faces, complexions, and personalities. This was a tremendous tool in discovering different techniques, and how to use varying formulas. From there, find someone to apprentice. A mentor is so important. Someone who can share their experiences and is willing to pass the gavel as it were. And remember, in the world of beauty, empowering your client is 80% of your job. Find what is beautiful about each client and strengthen those qualities.
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GGC: Your happiness is palpable, contagious and totally MOLLY, where do you source your joy and what advice (if any) do you have for fellow mothers, creatives, women re: self-fulfillment?

Molly: That is incredibly sweet of you to say. First and foremost my joy is sourced from my children. They bring purpose and light to my everyday. I work hard on keeping my relationship with my husband fun and filled with humor. Lastly I am constantly reminding myself how important it is to take time for myself. I forget sometimes that I only had myself to satiate and fulfill my world for much of my young adult life until I turned into a wife and mommy. So I must respect that on (I try) a daily basis. My goal is to nurture some personal part of myself. That might mean getting a manicure, or drawing, or taking a walk alone around the block. Something that is just for me. Those moments bring me joy which I can then share with David, the kids, the women I work with etc. If we women have nothing to bring to the table the table falls apart.
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Anyone out there have questions for Molly? On makeup? Motherhood? All of the above? I'll post a follow-up Q&A with your questions and Molly's answers (and perhaps a 'Molly does Makeup' tutorial vid thrown in the mix as well!) Fun, yes? In the meantime you can find Molly on twitter (@mollyrstern) and

Thanks for doing this, Molly. You're aces.

GGC

60 comments:

Shelly Pfeffel | 9:28 PM

What a great interview! I love that last picture of Molly... she's beautiful! I have a question. I have oily skin, and every time I wear eyeshadow, I get the ugly greasy creases. Any product out there that will apply a good base before putting on eyeshadow? Thanks! :)

Humanist mom | 9:46 PM

Love the interview! How about a giveaway where some lucky mother/makeup artist gets to assist her doing makeup! I think I fit the profile!

Love this, thank you!

S.A. | 10:13 PM

Oh my gosh, I love Molly! What a fabulous interview, thank you for sharing her with us. She is very gifted (love all the looks in the photos) and i am so on board with her philosophy of life.

GIRL'S GONE CHILD | 10:22 PM

Shelly - GREAT question, Shelly. I, too, am of oily face.

Suburban Heretic - are you LA based?

S.A. - Right? She is seriously one of the all-time greats. I want to bottle her and wear her around all day long. Smart cookie, this one. Smart, luminous cookie.

Molly R. Stern | 11:23 PM

Hello ladies! So happy to be spreading the good word. As far as oily eyelids go, I think a slightly greasy lid is under-rated. Don't fear the creases. That said, a great way to prep the eye is to dab a little concealer on the lid and then press some translucent powder into that to set it. Dust off any excess and then start your shadow from there. Also NARS makes a great eyeshadow base that really does mattify the lid as well. Good luck...

Dani K | 2:29 AM

Red lipstick for fair redheads?

Meg | 6:58 AM

This was a great interview! Thank you so much for sharing. You are both inspiring women! I love Molly's philosophy on beauty. She has such a refreshing and thoughtful perspective on Hollywood and the commercial beauty business. And, I love the photographs of her work. Thank you, again.

Anonymous | 7:32 AM

I noticed that Molly has great curly hair and I can tell its natural. I would love to know how she cares for it.

loodles | 7:48 AM

Ooh, make-up. I love this topic. Molly looks so fun and her work is amazing. I especially love that pic of Amy Adams.
I have a question. I am beyond freckled, which I kind of love, but makes the picking of concealer/foundation kind of difficult. Since I have had my three kids I have very dark circles under my eyes and redness on my chin. Is there a way to cover-up the bad and keep the good?

Sarah | 8:12 AM

Lovely interview - she IS luminous! I'd love some tips on skin care routines and keeping the face healthy/young. My skin is dry, so I tend to exfoliate and moisturize a lot - are things like the Clarisonic face brush/exfoliator okay, or are they too harsh and aging for the skin over time?

Anonymous | 8:13 AM

Great interview! Can you tell us what was the neon pink lipstick you used on Maggie? I love it, and it's perfect for summer!

Anonymous | 8:15 AM

Enjoyed this!

Unknown | 9:40 AM

Awesome interview and so inspiring! Both on the makeup front and the family front. I think it's always helpful to be reminded to work on patience and inventiveness in parenting and to work hard on keeping a marriage fun.

A question for Molly: how do you feel about tinted moisturizers instead of foundation? I don't like the heaviness of foundation and prefer just a bit of evening out and a subtle glow. Any product recommendations?

Amy | 9:43 AM

Best interview yet, GGC. OK, so -- sunblock. What's Molly's technique (application frequency, amount), and does Josie's sunblock block both types of rays? I got a little freaked out last week when I learned more about this. Turns out you need a sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB. And you have to apply ENOUGH, or it doesn't work at all. Check out this intense infographic, seriously: http://www.informationisbeautiful.net/2011/the-sunscreen-smokescreen/

Hatching West | 10:22 AM

I know I'm not Molly, but I'm a big make-up (and all around product/deals) maven and huge make-up head. I have tested many - my favorite eye primer is by Tarte (http://www.ulta.com/ulta/browse/productDetail.jsp?productId=xlsImpprod2430075).

Too-Faced is a close second.

Had to share, just discovered the wonder that is eye-shadow primers this past year!

Grumble Girl | 10:45 AM

That was an excellent interview, lady. Or l-a-d-i-e-s, I should say!

Loved it. Wonderful. Thanks for sharing!!

Glenda | 11:00 AM

Fabulous interview!

Eyebrows: should people go for the trend or just go for their own shape? are thicker eyebrows in this season?

joyous | 11:25 AM

Thanks for the great interview! I have two questions for Molly:

1. I love make up, and have wanted to make it my career for a while. I'm finally at that stage in my life where I'm ready to make the leap and have started working in the industry. Is this a young woman's world that I'm jumping into, or as a 35 year old, do I have a chance?

2. One of my recent wedding clients gave me a $50 gift card to MAC as a thank you. What would you spend it on?

Kay | 12:05 PM

Molly's loveliness jumps off the screen. Thanks for featuring her, GGC!

I do have a few questions. First, I turned 40 this year & am wondering how to apply concealer & foundation so that they won't highlight wrinkles.

Also, I only do concealer, foundation, eyebrow pencil & mascara because 1)) I never learned how to apply anything else and 2) I'm worried I'll rub my face & smear everything. Am I hopeless?

leila | 12:36 PM

Q: is Molly watching Masterchef Australia, and if so, who is her fave? And does she miss Jay? I am really excited that she might be watching it every day along with me (!). Xxoo

Allison | 1:01 PM

It really struck me when Molly said women are very hard on themselves, even ones we admire. We are (I am) and I don't know why. So thank you Molly and Rebecca for reminding me to focus on the positives in my life, including a great husband and 3 little kids, and not complain so much about how much work they can be!

Molly R. Stern | 1:15 PM

Dani K: I LOVE red lipstick for any shade of redhead.
I have a real thing for redheads, but that's a side note.
Go sheer, go bold. Funnily enough, I think a redhead has more freedom with choosing the right shade than other hair colors do. If you feel shy about it, try a stain. Blot any shade down w/ a tissue and make any color a stain. Pop a little lip balm over that and you are good to go. Some of my favorite reds: Terrific Rouge By Terry, Cruella NARS, #220 COVERGIRL natureluxe balm.

Molly R. Stern | 1:18 PM

My hair. Thanks for the compliment...Right now my mix is Fredrick Fekkai shampoo and conditioner for curly hair with a little Morrocon Oil Cream scrunched through when it's wet. Air dry.

Molly R. Stern | 1:21 PM

Loodles: Let those freckles shine through!! For dark circles I would try COVERGIRL simply ageless concealer. It's great and blends nicely. You can dab a smidge of that on your chin to control the redness there as well.
Forgo the foundation all over. It sounds like you don't need it.

Molly R. Stern | 1:28 PM

Sarah: I know many that swear by the Clarisonic and I think it's okay to use it regularly. I am also very dry and trying to keep the skin looking fresh. Sunblock sunblock sunblock. It's so important. I am also a huge fan of cleansing oils. There are many on the market to use, I like the way they make my skin feel vs using something that suds up. Exfoliating shouldn't be done more than twice a week. My favorite cleansing oil is Shu Uemura which you can buy online. I am a big fan of moisturizing, and I switch it up. I don't use the same thing everyday. I think it's good to give your skin different ingredients on different days. Our bodies crave and need lots of varied nutrients on the inside, the same applies to the outer layer of skin as well.

Molly R. Stern | 1:29 PM

nodramamomma37: NARS Schiap on Maggie's lips. Such a great color.

Molly R. Stern | 1:32 PM

flyrish: I LOVE tinted moisturizers. They are actually my personal first choice over regular foundations. My favorite is fancy, I love the La Mer. Josie Maran's tinted argan moisturizer is great as well. Which one do you like?

Molly R. Stern | 1:35 PM

Amy: Yes, Josie's blocks both UVA and UVB. I apply generously in the morning before any foundation or tinted moisturizer. It's the first layer I put on. That's why I love Josie's it's a moisturizer and sunblock. Great for my kids too. If I am planning to be in the sun, like beach, pool etc. I reapply like every hour. For the body I love B-Kamins, same deal, apply to anything exposed in the morning, and every hour if I've got a bathing suit on.

Molly R. Stern | 1:39 PM

Glenda: I think it's important to keep your brow a natural as possible as far as shape goes. Groomed yes, but natural is super important. Don't Edward Scissorhands your brows. We have all done it, and have all regretted it. I think if you want to play up the brow you can do it w/ your natural shape. I think if you are blessed with thicker brows they are in season. Your season! Stay on trend w/ shoes, keep the brows real.

Molly R. Stern | 1:45 PM

joyous: I am a firm believer in any age is the right age to go for your dreams. I think there are many versions of a makeup career to have. In other words, go for it.
Hmmm, $50 at MAC, fun...I love their face and body foundations and I also love their liquid liners. But I might invest in a good brush or two. You can't go wrong. Great shade range, one of the best brands for that out there.

Molly R. Stern | 1:52 PM

Kay: Try and keep the concealer off the outer edges of the eye where the skin can be more wrinkly. You want to highlight dark areas and keep it really sheer in other areas. I think a great way to help foundation settle into the skin is after you have applied your face, take your hands and gently press them into your cheeks, chin and forehead. In doing this you get your natural juices flowing again and the makeup no longer sits on the surface or settles into the lines. This is a tip throughout the day. When it feels like your makeup is settling, press your hands into your face. It awakens the skin.
Not hopeless at all. The only thing you must add is a little blush. Nothing keeps the skin looking youthful as a little rosy glow does. Apply to the apples of the cheeks, where you would naturally blush. You won't believe how much more alive you feel. Also, maybe incorporate a lash curler? It really opens up the eyes. We will have to do an eye shadow tutorial with Rebecca, if she's game!!



I do have a few questions. First, I turned 40 this year & am wondering how to apply concealer & foundation so that they won't highlight wrinkles.

Also, I only do concealer, foundation, eyebrow pencil & mascara because 1)) I never learned how to apply anything else and 2) I'm worried I'll rub my face & smear everything. Am I hopeless?

12:05 PM

Molly R. Stern | 1:53 PM

leila: Master Chef US. I wish it was on everyday!!!

Amy | 4:06 PM

OK, one more ... I am desperately freaked out about sudden, diffuse hair loss. All blood tests came back normal. I'm five years postpartum, so not that. No medications. Dismissive dermatologist told me that it's genetic - go get some rogaine. NO ONE in my family has anything less than ridiculously thick hair. So, I'm exploring new answers. Molly, any tips, thoughts, experiences, ideas on scalp health, hair growth nourishment, or, worst case scenario styling and accepting thinning, very curly hair?

Anonymous | 5:47 PM

LOVED EVERY WORD OF THIS!

Humanist mom | 7:08 PM

No, I'm not LA based, I live in Salt Lake City. I'm sure I could make my way to LA if needs be :)

Molly R. Stern | 7:48 PM

Amy: Many hairdressers I know have spoken highly of Viviscal hair supplement. See the website below.

http://www.viviscal.com/?gclid=CJiJ7ZO0kaoCFQY-bAodjR2TyA

See if that promotes anything fantastic...as far as other advice goes if nothing helps re-growth, then acceptance is really your only choice.
So do it w/ power!
I am closely connected to the Orthodox Jewish world, where many women cover their hair always (for religious purposes).
There are great ways to look and feel totally adorable and work w/ hair accessories. I am always inspired by scarf styles from the late 60's and 70's. Stores like Urban Outfitters have great seasonal hats year round. Even wide headbands might build your confidence. Good luck...try the viviscal.

Alyssa | 8:13 PM

Awesome interview!

KateFitz | 10:32 PM

I loved this...happy people letting their happy shine through. I made a variation of the kale salad tonight with what I had on hand(raisins, walnuts and balsamic vinegar subbing in) OMG it's been 4 hours and my belly/body is still pleased with that choice. Sooo cool Rebecca and Molly! more of this please!

Ilonka | 1:03 AM

Oh my god I LOVE HER. Love the way she talks, love every single look she has done, she is amazing. I would love it if you featured her more.

Anonymous | 3:25 AM

This interview is so well done. Both the questions and the answers. Thank you both! And I must try the kale salad - I love kale and didn't think you could eat it raw without a terrible tummy ache. Can't wait to try it!

Yes, Molly is beautiful. Thanks again for such a delightful read.

Barbara

Anonymous | 3:33 AM

Can you give a heads up on a waterproof (read stay on all day) eyeliner pencil that can be found in the drug store?

Love love love all the ladies in the pics, but most of all, your own face in the last one is gorgeous.

Laney

Isabelle | 3:57 AM

Hi, Thanks Rebecca this is an amazing post,Molly sounds ace and her make up portfolio is gorgeous!Im 40 and would love to find out how to use the new shimmering products such as http://www.narscosmetics.com/color/multi-use/~/illuminator I think it would give me the youthful glow I kind of lack!I m very pale, brown hair with grey eyes and lots of moles on my skin.I also would love to know how she did the Jennifer Connelly make up especially the lipstick reference!Merci beaucoup girls! Isabelle

Anonymous | 4:55 AM

My daughter just showed me this interview. So well done!

I'd love to ask Molly - do the same "rules" apply to making up the older (I'm 61) eye (droopy lid over crease, sort of crepey skin)?

I've had my makeup done half dozen times over the last ten or so years (Nordstrom's and Macy's) yet these women are so young, and I leave feeling my face might be okay for a night out, but certainly too "done" for daytime. I look hard/harsh. Perhaps they just don't yet have a lot of experience with older women.

I've tried tutorials (Rebecca's included - who I think does a beautiful job on her eyes - well, she's just beautiful, which helps!)

I feel taking the base shadow all the way from lid to brow... well. You know. I'm lost.

Any advice? Please and thank you forever!

Jean

Katie | 7:15 AM

What a great article! I have a make-up question!

So I am quite fair skinned. I freckle like crazy, and I burn like nobody's business. I have yet to find a blush colour that is a natural match for my skin type, freckles and all.

Basically, anything too pink just sits on my cheeks looking fake, and when people have recommended tones leaning towards the bronzes, I feel like my whole face just looks dirty! hahaha.

Any suggestions?

NOELLE ALOUD | 8:15 AM

It's early Thursday as I'm reading this, and it made my morning! What a truly lovely, inspiring woman! Molly is awesome.

~ Noelle

Holly | 10:16 AM

Such fun Rebecca! So lovely Molly!

I would LOOOOOVE a natural eye tutorial! And am always interested in knowing what brings out blue eyes (and of course other colors!).

Also what to do with thin lips and those little fine wrinkles around them ugh and sigh!

Anonymous | 10:53 AM

Such an awesome interview -- love Molly's perspective! Thanks for the intro, Becca!

Goth, Hippie, Baby | 10:56 AM

What a great interview! I have a make-up question: I have very almond shaped eyes with not much of a crease, and they're small. I'm always so lost on the eye shadow instructions where you apply this colour to the crease, and this bit here, and this bit there. I feel like I don't have the crease and bits they're talking about. Usually, I just stick with eyeliner and call it a day, but I would like to change it up.
Thanks!

Unknown | 12:35 PM

Ooh, good to know about the Josie Maran tinted moisturizer. I love her products. I've been using Benefit You Rebel for a while now and I like it but I don't love it. Thanks for the tip, Molly!

Molly R. Stern | 12:10 AM

Jean: I think most women leave the counters feeling a little too done. I know when I worked at the counters I wanted to pull out all the stops. That's why it's a great playing field for aspiring artists. That said, I think the policy for any and all ages, (I've got my 6 year old saying it too) is 'LESS IS MORE'. Just like when you are younger you wore makeup to look older, that never stops happening. Too much makeup makes us look older than we are. Keep it fresh. I think maturing women tend to loose their sense of adventure when it comes to color. We all need to get shaken out of our color ruts every so often. Choose a brighter blush than you think, don't be afraid to wear a bold lipstick. Play with the elements just keep in mind you never ever need nearly as much as you think. Tutorials to come...Promise.

Molly R. Stern | 12:28 AM

Laney: Liquiline Blast from COVERGIRL are great waterproof liners in super fun colors. And I am a die hard fan for the Lash Blast length in waterproof also by COVERGIRL.

Molly R. Stern | 12:31 AM

Katie: Try a cream blush in a pinky peachy tone or a brighter reddish tone. The cream will look more natural as if it's coming from inside rather than sitting on top of the freckles.

Isabelle again oops | 3:28 AM

I m sorry I just have one more question for Molly .I love red or plum lipstick but as I m 40 it never stays it smudges and bleeds despite using lip pencil and anti- age lip cream , is there any magic solution out there?Thank you soo much!

ztannler | 5:20 AM

Hopefully this doesn't get me in trouble, but I must say....Molly Stern is my aunt and I am truly blessed to have her in my life. She is superwoman, without the tacky cape! Not only is she successful, and an amazing mother and wife, but she is a constant reminder to me to aim for the stars. I love her so much, and NOW I love girls gone child too for interviewing and acknowledging such a good person. Love you Moll and love all you supporters of my fabulous aunt! - Zack

Molly R. Stern | 9:38 PM

Holly: Natural eye shadow tutorial, on the way!!
As far as fine lines around the lips, try using a primer around the lip line. I love NARS Pro-prime skin smoothing face prep. Just press it into those lines and see how that works. Otherwise try and stick w/ stains and lip balm. The stain will help the color last and lip balms tend to be less greasy than glosses. Good luck!

Molly R. Stern | 9:43 PM

Kaylie: Forget the crease...Just apply a color you like all over the lid and blend it upward diffusing it about mid way between the lash line and brow bone. You can do this technique w/ light, or bright colors or for a more dramatic "smokey" eye use something darker.
It will feel like a change and it doesn't take a pro to do it. Have fun! p.s. I did a simple tutorial on my tumblr page...check it out....
http://mollyrstern.tumblr.com/page/4#2353426255

girloliver | 3:53 PM

This was SUCH a good interview...I think because you can truly see Molly's spirit: love her quote on creativity, her tidbits on motherhood and her advice on career.

Any tips for deep set eyes (re eye makeup)? I guess I would have to ask more specifically about trying a certain technique, but on the day to day I am not sure what to do, one bc I am a mom with another on the way and two because most makeup I feel like you can't even see on my deep set eyes...

Goth, Hippie, Baby | 5:13 PM

Thanks Molly! That helps a ton and makes a lot more sense! Next date night, I'm using this technique with a bright color for a fun summer look!

-Kaylie

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Joyce | 11:45 AM

I love what she said about internal vs external beauty. I'm always amazed that sometimes gorgeous girls don't feel beautiful. I do believe beauty reflects from the inside.