WHAT'S IN YOUR MAKEUP BAG? / MORGAN GRACE JARRETT, IMPROV QUEEN

broad city photo credit comedy central

Hey everybody, this is Morgan. Morgan . . . oh my gosh I don't even know where to start with this one, I luhhff Morgan. We met when I was her guest on Night Late at the Upright Citizens Brigade a little while back. She's a blog-stalking Birchbox-obsessed intensely witty actress + comedienne who lives here in the city and has flipping perfect hair. (You might have seen her in an episode of Broad City!) I love how unapologetically, amazingly feminine she is, she completely revels in it, it's glorious and intelligent and perfect. You talk to Morgan and suddenly your voices have ratcheted up to all new heights + interesting octaves, and pretty soon you're jazz-handing over things like green juice, it's magic. Morgan is pure magic. I feel like I may have discovered a long-lost blonde-haired sister with this one.

She is also a BABE.

Take it away, sister!

WHAT'S IN MY MAKEUP BAG, THE MORGAN GRACE JARRETT EDITION

01. Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick

02. Clinique Airbrush Concealer

03. Bobbi Brown Cream Blush in Pale Pink

04. Bobbi Brown Crayon  in Shadow

05. Trish McEvoy Eyelash Curler

06. Maybelline Mascara

07. Urban Decay 24/7 Eye Liner Zero

08. L'Oreal Pop Balm in Wild Pink

09. Revlon Lipsticks

10. Revlon Highlighting Palette Rose

11. Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua Foundation

12. Bobbi Brown Glitter Eye Shadow [ED NOTE: YEAH YOU DO!]

13. Laura Mercier Perfume in Ambre Vanille (what dreams are made of)

14. Dr Hauschka Rose Deodorant

15. Sunscreen

16. Rose Water Facial Spray

17. Aquaphor

18. For cleansing, Bioderma (#1!!!!!!)

19. And Jojoba Oil 

[ED NOTE: Did you know "jojoba" is pronounced "hohoba?" No crapping you!]

photo credit abra tabak

My Beauty Philosophy, According to Morgan:

"I have very sensitive, fragile skin, so I have to be a little careful with all my makeup and beauty products. My life motto for skin care + beauty comes down to this: As natural as I can get; Prevention with daily sunscreen; Gentle cleansing + exfoliation; Hydration hydration hydration; Tons of water + exercise. I love beauty products and skincare so much but I find the two most boring things, water + exercise, have a huge impact on my skin! Lame!!

I try to stay away from parabens + overly fragrant products, which is hard because everything has fragrance in it! There are some areas where going more natural has been easy, like deodorant--I haven't worn real deodorant in years! Other things, like makeup, nail polish, and hair products just don't have natural replacements that work as well. So, I do what I can and convince myself it all evens out?? Shhhh! I believe it!

My normal routine is pretty simple, but there are also varying factors in my life that change my routine because of my work. If I'm shooting something I make sure to get to set with nothing on my face, not even moisturizer. The makeup artists always wipe my face down before applying their own moisture. If I'm not working but going to auditions all day, I try to keep it very natural.

I start with a layer of sunscreen Supergoop City Serum in the winter, COOLA in the summer, and then a layer of moisturizer. Right now I'm using Clinique Moisture Surge. Then light foundation, right now I'm using Chanel Vitalumiére Aqua Foundation. It's actually a little too pink for my skin, but I'm trying to use it up! I add a little Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick in Warm Ivory to certain areas that have redness under my eyes--it's a more yellow color. Then Clinique Airbrush Concealer under my eyes, which I love! I also really love Laura Mercier under eye concealer. I always curl my eyelashes because as long as I'm alive and breathing I will curl my eyelashes!! Since you can't get Shu Uemura in America anymore I've defaulted to Trish McEvoy Eyelash Curler--don't get me started! I know I can order it but have you read those Amazon reviews that are all, "This is fake Shu Uemura it's actually a razor and I cut my eyelids off!!!!" Next, I apply Bobbi Brown longwear eyeliner in Shadow along my eyelids, this is a holy grail product for me. A couple years ago a makeup artist told me I should be using greys, and it was a life changing tip! It looks much better on me than browns and golds. So now I pretty much exclusively use this! If i need a little more drama for night, or a show, I'll also use Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeliner in Zero. My all-time favorite mascara was Maybelline Volume Express but they have stopped making it, but I love the brand for mascaras, so I'm using the classic Great Lash, which I don't love. My beloved Bobbi Brown Cream Blush in Pale Pink, my all time favorite blush even though my skin tends to have a lot of red in it, I don't care!! I'll never stop with bright pink blush!! Never!! I usually put a little Aquaphor on my lips and then when I get on the subway I apply lipstick/gloss for the day. Right now I'm loving Revlon Lip Butters and L'Oreal Pop Balm. Especially for auditions because they are lighter and more natural. 

For hair I don't have any products right now that I'm dying over. I'm actually using Kiss My Face Whenever Shampoo + Conditioner right now, which I'm surprisingly liking? I usually use a volumiser at my roots and a little oil on my ends. My biggest thing w/hair is I'm a HUGE believer in having a high quality blow dryer + hot tools. My most cherished possession is my GHD Flat Iron. If I take it with me when I travel it's the ONLY thing I worry about losing. This is what I would grab if there was a fire, ya know? I also have a T3 hairdryer that's pretty awesome. And I swear by Creative brushes, they are the only brand I use! I honestly think you can wash your hair with pond water and the GHD would STILL MAKE YOUR HAIR LOOK GOOD!! I also love hairspray. I do think expensive hairsprays work better but right now I have a L'Oreal Lock It Weather Control Hairspray and it's great! 

middle photo credit abra tabak

EXTRAS

-- I love this Laura Mercier perfume, Ambre' Vanilla. It absolutely smells like heaven, people are always complimenting me on it. For someone who tries to be natural and organic, I realize that wearing perfume is like spraying poison on my body, but it makes me happy! And I believe there is something to be said about things that bring you happiness, it's a benefit that outweighs the negative.

--I treat myself to manicures all the time! They are a great joy in my life!

--Mario Badescu facials!!! They are the best in the city and only $65!!! Whenever I leave, my skin is glowing, not red and banged up like from other facials.

--Bioderma. It really is worth all the hype! I always pre-cleanse my skin with Bioderma on a cotton pad. Then I use an oil (jojoba), then I remove that with a warm washcloth. It's a lovely experience.

--Rosewater Facial Spray! All day err day! And I use it as a deodorant too sometimes!!

broad city photo credit comedy central

And now for the Q+A portion of this event:

HOW OLD WERE YOU WHEN YOU STARTED WEARING MAKEUP?

I think around 7th and 8th grade? I can't remember the exact time.

WHO TAUGHT YOU?

My BFF in high school pretty much taught me. She was an aspiring makeup artist and her mom sold Mary Kay! Living the life!!

WHAT WAS THE FIRST COSMETIC YOU EVER APPLIED TO YOUR FACE?

Clinique Dramatically Different whatever whatever that yellow cream that I guess is a cult classic but I don't actually know anyone who uses it?? My aunt is a Clinique lifer, so most of my first products were little Clinique products that were her free-gift-with-purchase!

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE? WHY?

Favorite favorite . . . ummmmmmmm . . . I think I'm gonna say my nose because that's insane who ever likes their nose?? I don't even know if I would say I "like" my nose, but I feel like it makes me who I am.

photo credit abra tabak

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE FEATURE TO PLAY UP / DISGUISE / MANIPULATE WITH MAKEUP?

I feel like the correct answer here is eyes, but I pretty much wear glasses 24/7 so it kinda feels like a bummer to spend a lot of time on a great eye and then cover it with glasses. So, I"m gonna say, lips! I love bright poppy pinks and reds!

WHO DID YOUR MAKEUP FOR YOUR PROM?

Prom makeup was always at the department store counter at Leggets. Remember Leggets??

HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY CONTOUR YOUR FACE IN A MANNER THAT DOES NOT MAKE YOU LOOK INSANE?

F no! I can't even use bronzer without doubting myself. 

WHO DO YOU LOOK TO FOR BEAUTY INSPIRATION?

Lisa Eldridge. Dear God, if you haven't been watching her videos . . . you're welcome. Clear the next 24 hours. Whatever she says I trust! And I love beauty / makeup vlogs on YouTube.

FAVORITE BRAND OR PLACE TO BUY MAKEUP?

Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier. Sephora. Macy's and Bloomingdales! I love a good department store! Even though they are so aggressive! You really have to be in the right mindset and prepare yourself for the insanity. Especially here in NYC. The Bloomingdales on 59th Street is beauty product mecca but the energy is BUY OR DIE! However, there's nothing better than leaving with a brown bag of high quality products that have been violently applied to your skin by a manic salesperson! 

WHAT'S YOUR FAVORITE MAKEUP TIP OR TRICK?

EYELASH CURLER! It will make you a better person and it cures cancer!!

HOW MUCH TIME WOULD YOU SAY YOU SPEND ON YOUR MAKEUP IN THE MORNING?

Around 10-15 minutes. It depends. If it's ad ay I have auditions, I might spend a little more time or maybe do something that suits the character. If it's a day w/no auditions, I do very little and if it's a day w/nothing I won't wear any makeup! I'm crazy! But, I will curl my eyelashes because I'm not a monster! 

DO YOU ALWAYS WASH IT OFF AT NIGHT? (BE HONEST!)

One of my favorite guilty pleasures in life is falling asleep with my makeup on, I feel so defiant! But, in the morning I'm wracked with self sabotage guilt because my skin will not not react the next day, it's sooooo sensitive! So I don't do it very often. If it's a day where I've been shooting, the very first thing I do when I walk in my door is take off makeup. It gets so heavy and built up on set it takes a while to get it all off and it helps to decompress.

WAHT ONE MAKEUP / BEAUTY CONCEPT / PRODUCT INTIMIDATES YOU MOST?

Brows! I know I need to get over this fear but I'm so lost when it comes to filling in my brows. Won't they look too dark!?

WHAT ONE MAKE UP / BEAUTY CONCEPT / PRODUCT HAVE YOU NAILED BECAUSE YOU ARE AWESOME?

I can give myself a legit good blow out. When I first moved to New York I was a receptionist at a hair salon, they did a lot of training with young stylists and they always asked the receptionists to be hair models. I learned so much about how to do hair from those classes! It was the best!!

DESERT ISLAND. WHAT HEAT YOU PACKING?

Sunscreen, Aquaphor, Dr. Bronners! I use Dr. Bronners soaps for EVERYTHING! I feel like this is a real answer, like these would actually be good to have on a desert island. I'm giving myself extra points for being properly prepared! 

DOES YOUR SIGNIFICANT OTHER HAVE A PREFERENCE, OR ANY OPINIONS? AND IF SO, DO YOU TAKE THOSE UNDER ADVISEMENT? OR ARE YOU JUST, LIKE, BISH PLEASE. ??

He's pretty supportive and uninvolved when it comes to this stuff. He recently said he didn't love my nail polish color (Essie Ruffles+Feathers) and then I spent a lot of time showing him beauty blogs and articles about how its THE new color and he was just, like, are we really still talking about this??

SEPHORA: EXCITING OR TERRIFYING?

Exciting! I don't want to admit how much of my life I've wasted wandering around Sephora in a catatonic state, rubbing cleansing milks on the back of my hand.

You can follow Morgan on Twitter + Instagram (her Instagram feed is a legit treasure trove of thoughtful beauty product musings), see more of her amazing work HERE, and, if you can, you should totally see her in her next performance of Grandma's Ashes at UCB this weekend, and The Lady Jam at UCB on March 13th, both here in NYC. 

Morgan, my honorary blonde sister, thank you!