The Secret to Carrie Underwood’s CMAs Glow Is in Your Kitchen

By Emily Orofino
Getty | Larry Busacca
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If you tuned in to the 2014 CMAs, you know it was pretty much impossible to ignore mommy-to-be Carrie Underwood's gorgeous glow. Turns out, a baby on the way isn't her only beauty secret. Carrie's makeup artist Melissa Schleicher (who's been working with her for nearly 10 years!) shared the star's favorite products, how to quickly change your makeup, and the trick behind that radiant skin.

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POPSUGAR: What was your inspiration for last night’s base look? (Carrie had 10 outfit changes!)

Melissa Schleicher: You know, she’s a mother-to-be and she looks so pretty and glowy right now. I did an old-Hollywood look. We wanted to keep it classy.

PS: It seemed like you didn’t necessarily change her look for all of her outfits.

MS: Carrie was like, “Let’s not try to change it every time.” We tried to keep her hair down and easy. I would change it every once in a while, pinning it to the side or back.

PS: What did you keep in your kit for all those quick changes?

MS: I just have lips on me, but we actually go back to the dressing room. I have the biggest makeup set up you’ve ever seen! We changed clothes, hair, and makeup in at least three minutes and sometimes in 12 minutes.

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PS: What was the atmosphere backstage like? How many people helped Carrie at once?

MS: It was amazing. We had the music going and were having fun. Her stylist, Trish Townsend, Trish’s assistant, and just me doing hair and makeup. We have a system where Carrie’s pulling her earrings off, someone is taking her shoes off and putting her clothes on, and I’m touching up her lips at the same time.

PS: Did you try to coordinate with the outfits?

MS: I did. I didn’t plan the hair out, we just went with it. I used hot rollers, brushed out the curls, and then used a curling iron. But right before we got going, I looked at the dresses to get an idea for the makeup like, “OK, that’s a two-minute change; we can change the lips.”

PS: What’s your favorite quick-change makeup trick?

MS: Changing the lip. If you don’t have time, just intensify the eye or change the lip color.

PS: So how do you layer the eye shadow to intensify the eye?

MS: With anything that shimmers, I wet the brush before applying, and it intensifies the eye. It’ll also stay all night long, so you can keep building. You just wet it and add a different color.

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PS: What was Carrie’s favorite product that you used on her last night?

MS: She loved her some eyeliner. I used Almay’s Intense i-Color Liquid Eyeliner in Black ($7). She can never use enough eyeliner. And her lashes last night were awesome; I used Smoke and Mirror Lashes in Heart ($14).

PS: Did you do anything to accent her mom-to-be glow?

MS: I used the Almay Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer ($11). I used a little bit of coconut oil over her face — the tiniest bit. I use coconut oil all the time. Everybody should use it. It will help wrinkles, and I slather my face at nighttime with it. I put it on top of her makeup in the end. I brushed it on, and I didn’t use a lot of powder last night. I just kept it fresh. I also used the coconut oil on her legs.

PS: How would you say her beauty style has evolved over the past 10 years?

MS: Carrie is really amazing at doing her own makeup. She won’t ever do it for TV, but she does her own hair and makeup on tour. She said it’s her time to relax. It’s her chill moment. She does her own eye makeup really well.