Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic/Getty Images

Sometimes, you want your face to wear all the jewelry, other times, you want your dress to take on the task. At last night’s Oscars, Sandra Oh let her sparkly Elie Saab gown wield all the bling while makeup artist Mai Quynh gave her face a break by keeping the beauty look a more understated kind of shiny. “All and all, I wanted her skin to glow and her makeup to be chic and elegant without overpowering the already-dramatic look,” Quynh told the Cut.

That mission was accomplished. From the red carpet to the stage where Oh fittingly presented the award for achievement in makeup, she looked all the adjectives we aim for: fresh, lit-from-within, and the right amount of moist. Naturally, we wanted to know how this was done. The more ways to look dewy using makeup rather than drinking water like it’s your job, the better.

Photo: Courtesy of Mai Quynh

Quyn tells us she prepped Oh’s skin with Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Hydrating Primer before applying our favorite fancy liquid foundation in two shades; 6 and a little 7.5 to add dimension. Next, she dotted a new Armani concealer (it launches next month, stay tuned) under the eyes before setting Oh’s entire face with, plot twist: a dry powder.

Next up were the eyes, which Quynh says she wanted to play up the most. The base was wet (Armani Beauty Eye Tint Liquid Eyeshadow in 34, an orange-y gold,) and laid from lash line to crease. Then, she did some shimmery, smoky eye handiwork using two Eyes To Kill Eye Quattros in Avant Premiere and Fame. A shimmery brown over the entire eye, a shimmery taupe in the crease, and a mix of cocoa and chocolate shades smudged along the lower lash line. Top and bottom lashes both got two generous coats of Armani Beauty Eyes To Kill Mascara.

Finally, the apples of the cheeks got a wash of the water-based Neo Nude A-Blush in 32 and the cheekbones were brushed with Neo Nude Fusion Powder in 6.5, another powder, but one that magically mimics the finish of liquid foundation. And on her lips, Oh wore that fancy nude liquid lipstick in shade 102, further proving that it really does look good on everyone.

The spread. Photo: Courtesy of Mai Quynh

Photo: Courtesy of Mai Quynh

Photo: Courtesy of Mai Quynh

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