The Beauty Brands That Michelle Obama Wore For The Inauguration

Drew Angerer/Getty Images By Karishma Desai/July 18, 2021 3:45 pm EST

Former first lady Michelle Obama captivated viewers watching President Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony in January for her timeless elegance. Mrs. Obama’s smoky eyes and defined eyebrows did all the talking as she wore a black face mask and statement-making plum outfit. Mrs. Obama’s makeup artist Carl Ray told Elle, “I started thinking about the look weeks in advance. I knew she would be wearing a mask and a monochromatic outfit. I wanted her to have a powerful beauty look that would need to be achieved by playing up the top half of her face.” So focusing on eyebrows and eyes were especially important in framing the face. 

Ray did not reveal the foundation he used on Obama as it is still a secret, but he did say he used NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and that he contoured her face with Fenty Beauty Matte Matchstix, per Elle. He then used Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight to play up Michelle Obama’s natural glow and set her complexion makeup with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) is most famous for their eyebrow products, so it should be no surprise that Ray used nothing but the finest eyebrow products on Obama for Inauguration Day 2021. Ray used the DipBrow Gel, Brow Definer, and Clear Brow Gel from ABH to give Obama bold eyebrows that are fit for a lady-boss.

The Beauty Brands That Michelle Obama Wore For The Inauguration

Drew Angerer/Getty Images

By Karishma Desai/July 18, 2021 3:45 pm EST

Former first lady Michelle Obama captivated viewers watching President Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremony in January for her timeless elegance. Mrs. Obama’s smoky eyes and defined eyebrows did all the talking as she wore a black face mask and statement-making plum outfit. Mrs. Obama’s makeup artist Carl Ray told Elle, “I started thinking about the look weeks in advance. I knew she would be wearing a mask and a monochromatic outfit. I wanted her to have a powerful beauty look that would need to be achieved by playing up the top half of her face.” So focusing on eyebrows and eyes were especially important in framing the face. 

Ray did not reveal the foundation he used on Obama as it is still a secret, but he did say he used NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and that he contoured her face with Fenty Beauty Matte Matchstix, per Elle. He then used Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight to play up Michelle Obama’s natural glow and set her complexion makeup with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder. Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) is most famous for their eyebrow products, so it should be no surprise that Ray used nothing but the finest eyebrow products on Obama for Inauguration Day 2021. Ray used the DipBrow Gel, Brow Definer, and Clear Brow Gel from ABH to give Obama bold eyebrows that are fit for a lady-boss.

Ray did not reveal the foundation he used on Obama as it is still a secret, but he did say he used NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer and that he contoured her face with Fenty Beauty Matte Matchstix, per Elle. He then used Iconic London Illuminator Liquid Highlight to play up Michelle Obama’s natural glow and set her complexion makeup with Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder.

Anastasia Beverly Hills (ABH) is most famous for their eyebrow products, so it should be no surprise that Ray used nothing but the finest eyebrow products on Obama for Inauguration Day 2021. Ray used the DipBrow Gel, Brow Definer, and Clear Brow Gel from ABH to give Obama bold eyebrows that are fit for a lady-boss.

How to get Michelle Obama’s eye look

Pool/Getty Images

If you want to replicate Michelle Obama’s elegant and radiant look from the 2021 presidential inauguration on a budget, there are a few affordable dupes you can try out. Allure recommends Maybelline Hyper Easy Liquid Eyeliner as one of the best waterproof eyeliners out there. In fact, celebrity makeup artist Erin Parsons uses the liner to create sharp, pitch-black lines.