Makeup Artist Scoop: Behind the Scenes at the Emmys with Gretchen Mol

As I was watching the Emmy red carpet (yes, live on E! of course), I was chatting with some of my favorite celebrity makeup artists who created the looks for some of the biggest stars for the evening.  First, Daniel Martin, a friend of Boardwalk Empire's Gretchen Mol, who after about a week of debate decided to swap out a red lip for a contemporary eye. First introduced to Mol through an editor at Vanity Fair about 2 1/2 years ago, he's been the artist behind her fresh faced looks ever since.  Creating her Emmys look began last Wednesday when he received a picture of her red, vintage Valentino gown, but was finalized just this morning.

"Gretchen's very classic looking so when she gets dressed up she can look retro," Martin exlpains.  "Initially we wanted to do a red lip with the red dress, but  keeping that in mind, we swapped it out for an eye to make her look more modern and chic."

Prep began at 12:30 PST, but before they even got together, Mol texted Martin to remind him to bring his Clarisonic Opal.  "I got her addicted to it," he says.  After cleansing, he used Lancome Genifique Eye Light Pearl, around her eye area and also as a highlighter on her cheekbones.  Topping off her skin with Armani Maestro Foundation, since it "looks great on camera whether it's still photography or video."

The real focus was on her eyes.  "She has small eyes so if she wears anything heavy on them when she smiles they get lost so I had to be strategic about creating depth without eating up the eye," Matin explains.  His secret?  Concentrating color on the outer corners.

He drew a subtle cat eye with Lancome's Le Crayon Kohl in Black Coffee and smoked it out so there were no harsh lines and continued to create a sensual look using a combination of black and coffee toned shadows.  "Her eyes change color from blue to green to grey and reflect what she's wearing beautifully," Martin says.  "The red Valentino and dark sultry eyes make them appear green tonight.

Lancome L'Absolu Rouge Lipstick in Rich Cashmere and nude gloss completed the look.  In her clutch?  The lipstick and blotting papers were all she needed.

2011 Emmys Best of Beauty

I love awards shows, but the Emmys holds a special place in my heart because my very first national TV segment was two years ago on the E! red carpet live from the Emmys breaking down how the A-listers prepped for the red carpet.  Now, I'm bringing you the BeautySweetSpot Emmy Beauty Awards – the top 5 looks and how to get 'em Christina Hendrix

I give props to any red head who can pull off a daring shade of red lipstick.  As soon as I saw her on the red carpet, I knew she'd be my favorite look of the night.  Makeup artist, Vanessa Scali used Dior Beauty to create an "effortless chic" look.  Her champagne eyes were complimented by siren red, Rouge Dior Lipcolor in Blazing Red #638.

Nina Dobrev

The Vampire Diaries actress looked stunning in Donna Karan, but I loved 40's inspired her hair done by Andy Lecompte of Wella Professionals.  A dramatic side part is key to this retro look.  He curled her hair in 2" sections with a 1" barrel iron and used a dollop of Wella Professionals Pearl Styler to keep it in place.  Bobby pins kept loose strands over one shoulder for the night.

Sofia Vergara

She's so sexy she never fails to impress.  I love how her lipstick matched her dress and her lashes were like wow!  Makeup artist, Kayleen McAdams used CoverGirl Lash Blast Volume Mascara in Very Black with Liquiline Eyeliner in Black Fire along the top of her lashes to create definition.  On her lips, McAdams used LipPerfection Lipcolor in Rapture #280.

Julianna Margulies

While I wasn't crazy about her Armani Prive grown, I did love her coif. Inspired by old Hollywood, stylist, Matthew Monzon worked his magic by first creating tons of volume with Lenor Greyl's Mousse au Lotus Volumatrice,  blow drying with a 2" round brush and then setting with velcro rollers.  A deep part was key to the retro feel and using a 1 1/2" barrel curling iron, Monzon curled the bottom sections in rotating directions.  To hold, he used Lenor Greyl's Laque Souple Light Styling Spray.

Olivia Munn

"We were channeling Olivia's inner 1940's siren," commented her makeup artist, Uzo for NARS.  I like how Olivia looked like a more glamorous version of herself for the red carpet.  Highlighted skin, filled in brows and a pretty lip was all it took to get her ready for the big day. The key product – NARS Orgasm Illuminator.  It took three lip products to achieve this feminine, flirty lip all by NARS: Rosebud Lip Liner Pencil, Montego Bay Pure Matte Lipstick and Piree Larger Than Life Lip Gloss (new for fall).