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Home • News

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland

Whether you're a white collar professional, an student, or an medical resident trying to climb the corporate ladder, Shondaland has always offered a lesson in office beauty chic. Curious if you're a master of Shondaland's beauty-and-a-boss looks? Find the winning formula for beauty bossdom, here!
By Virginia Lowman · Updated October 27, 2020
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01
Olivia Pope, Scandal

Name: Olivia Pope

Occupation: Gladiator and Crisis Manager

Personal Catch Phrase: “It’s handled.”  

Beauty Lesson: Pink lips can go corporate if you use choose a soft shade in a cream formula. 

Beauty Must-Have: Lipstick

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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02
Olivia’s Must Haves

Olivia always sports a rosy pink lip with a little bit of a sheen. To avoid looking ashy, opt for a pink hue that has a little bit of depth— more rose than white. Deeper shades also look less flirty and more polished. We like this “Nubile” shade from Tom Ford’s Lip Color Shine collection. 

$52, available at tomford.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Tom Ford
03
Olivia's Must-Haves

Her go to nude is a mix of dark cream and pink. It’s sophisticated and feminine without being overbearing; and way more fun than a boring cream mani. Want the look? Try Dior Nail Lacquer in Icognito.

$27, available at dior.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Dior
04
The Show We Loved: How To Get Away With Murder
How To Get Away With Murder has been giving us a front row seat to the life of a powerful Black woman attorney who is as flawed as she is fierce for 5 seasons and counting.
Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Getty Images
05
Annalise’s Must-Haves

Annalise usually opts for a soft black smokey eye with touch of bronze in the center of her lid. Use a brush to blend upward from the crease. Keep your lines soft— you’re going for polished, not clubby. Get you new corporate smokey eye with the Naked palette from Urban Decay. 

$54, available at urbandecay.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Courtesy
06
Annalise’s Must-Haves

Copy Annalise’s simple liner with this Laura Mercier Kajal D’Orient in Noir Supreme. Flirt with different line widths to execute the perfect look.

$28, available at Sephora

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Courtesy
07
Michaela Pratt, How To Get Away With Murder

Name: Michaela Pratt

Occupation: Second year law student and Intern at Annalise Keating & Asscociates 

Primary Character Trait: Perfectionist

Beauty Lesson: Don’t over do it. A little liner and a tinted lip balm goes a long way.

Beauty Must-Have: Pencil Liner

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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08
Michaela’s Must-Haves

Michaela is always on-the-go, so she keeps her makeup routine fairly simple. Her class to courtroom look always consists of dark lined eyes. For eyes that won’t need to be touched up between errands, try Bobbi Brown on-Wear Eye Pencil in Jet.

($25, Bobbi Brown)

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Bobbi Brown
09
Michaela’s Must-Haves

This season, Michaela will be a 2L. While she will have settled into the law school lifestyle, she still won’t have much time to sleep and certinaly no time for an extensive beauty routine. She always opts for a sheer tinted balm.  For intense hydration with a little color try Korres Mandarin Lip Butter Sticks.

$16.50, available at korres.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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10
Dr. Miranda Bailey, Grey’s Anatomy

Name: Miranda Bailey, MD

Occupation: Attending General Surgeon and MD Intern Handler

Best Personality Trait: Quick wit

Beauty Lesson: Keep it Simple. Balmy rouge lips are always underestimated.

Beauty Must-Have: Tinted Lip Balm

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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11
Dr. Bailey’s Must-Haves

Need a look that’s pulled together without looking “done?” Take a cue from doctor bailey and opt for a tinted lip balm. Our favorite is Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Colour Lip Balm in Jumbo Jasmine.

$17, available at clinique.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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12
Dr. Bailey’s Must-Haves

Get full brows like Dr. Bailey’s by filling in brows with a complimentary pencil using feather light strokes. To get the look try Cargo Brow Pencil in dark brown.

$20, available at cargocosmtics.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Cargo
13
Dr. Stephanie Edwards, Grey’s Anatomy

Name: Stephanie Edwards, MD

Occupation: Surgical Resident 

Personal Motto: “Be worthy of believing in.”  

Beauty Lesson: Dewy skin and balmy lips are the meat and potatoes of beauty.

Beauty Must-Have: Tinted moisturizer

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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14
Stephanie’s Must-Haves

If you are going sans lip color, opt for a balm with intense hydration and a little sheen. Keep your lips hydrated and smooth with Rouge Bunny Rouge Kiss Elixir Lip Balm.

$25, available at rougebunnyrouge.com

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
Rouge Bunny Rouge
15
Stephanie’s Must-Haves

Girls on-the-go like Stephanie love a good 3-in-1 product. Bareminerals Complexion Rescue gives you all the perks of a BB and CC cream plus it has an SPF of 30! Mix it with your favorite face cream for an instant tinted moisturizer.

$29, available at sephora.com 

Boss Beauty Lessons From Shondaland
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