Last night, Gabrielle Union attended Tiffany’s Blue Book Gala in a beauty look worth its weight in gold. While stars witnessed the high jewelry collection unveiling at New York’s Park Avenue Armory—which was turned into a hidden garden for the night—Union’s beauty was something worth the same as those rare Tiffany gemstones.
“Having worked with Gabrielle Union since her first Essence cover (2005), she remains my inspiration,” makeup artist Sam Fine tells ESSENCE about her look. For over three decades, Fine has taken a classic, sculpted approach to beauty. That philosophy, rooted in fundamentals, has gained popularity to the point he even wrote a book about it: Fine Beauty: Beauty Basics and Beyond for African-American Women.
That explains why Union’s look defied every makeup era, existing instead, in a state of trend-lessness. “While techniques and trends continue to evolve, my philosophy remains the same: beautifully prepared skin, thoughtful structure, and a finish that enhances rather than overwhelms,” he says. “It’s a timeless approach… and one I’ve never felt the need to abandon.”
Taking a page out of his own book, those basics were expressed throughout the glamorous evening—starting with well-prepped skin. First, he applied thin layers of Black Radiance’s Color Perfect Liquid Makeup in the shade “Bisque” starting from the center of the face and blending outward. Then, Fine used a deeper-toned foundation stick to “maintain warmth and dimension” around the perimeter of her sweet face.
Next was his signature sculpting. He softly carved out her cheekbones, temples, and jawline with the medium-dark True Complexion Contour Palette. “What keeps a look feeling current is the introduction of new textures and products,” he says, adding highlighter to the crest of her forehead and cheeks. “They can shift the finish, elevate the complexion, and make something classic feel entirely fresh.”
Her brows were structured but not overly sharp and eyes avoided dramatic shadow. Instead, Fine applied a rich matte brown to her crease and an even deeper shade on the outer corner. Then, he extended liquid eyeliner from her upper lash line into a soft wing. The same matte brown used for her crease was also used on her lower lash line for a sexy, smoky finish. That was all paired with wispy lashes and Body Building Mascara, of course.
To finish her beauty off, her lips were simple, enhanced, and costed under $10 dollars: the Perfect Tone Lip Color in “Boss Brown” and a swipe of clear lip gloss. Union’s entire look was sensuously classic, down to her side-part bun by hairstylist Larry Sims (who’s also the co-founder of Flawless by Gabrielle Union), chocolate manicure, and black and brown gown she wore. And, naturally, her look was all paired with the evening’s most obvious accessory: jewels!
“While the dress often leads, tonight at the Tiffany Blue Book Gala, the jewelry takes precedence,” Fine says. “Larry Sims and I crafted a look for Gabrielle Union that naturally enhances her beauty, while ensuring nothing competes with the brilliance of the jewels.”
Outside of her look, this moment represented why Union and Fine’s beauty relationship has lived since her very first ESSENCE cover over 20 years ago. “It’s her energy,” he credits. “She’s engaging, relaxed and never takes the process too seriously, which makes room for true collaboration… and ultimately brings out the best in my artistry.”
