Our love affair with Retta began in Pawnee, IN, where her sly digs and baller demeanor as Parks and Recreation’s office manager Donna Meagle inspired instant devotion. Those affections were then sustained by social media (her tweets are gold), and deepened thanks to her latest show, the NBC dramedy Good Girls. And now we’re being spoiled again: her book of essays, So Close to Being the Sh*t, Y’all Don’t Even Know (St. Martin’s Press), just hit shelves. In it, she dishes on her childhood in the Jerz, a blackout drunk run-in with Robert Redford at the Golden Globes, her varied obsessions—hockey, Hamilton, handbags—and more. We asked this funny lady to share her beauty ride-or-dies so we can snap up some of her flawlessness for ourselves.
Marc Jacobs Eyeliner
“This was the first liquid eyeliner I bought in pen form and I haven’t looked back. It’s very user friendly when it comes to crafting a cat eye.” Marc Jacobs Magic Marc’er Waterproof Liquid Eyeliner, $30, marcjacobsbeauty.com
Comodynes Make-Up Remover
“I don’t wash my face at night. I’m lazy and these towels clean off the makeup while moisturizing my face.” Comodynes Make-Up Remover Dry with Oats, $6.99 for pack of 20, comodynes.net
Chanel Sérum
“This serum is so light. It feels like nothing is on your face. I feel moisturized without feeling oily. I panic when I run out of it.” Chanel Hydra Beauty Sérum, $135, chanel.com
MAC Foundation
“I have good skin, but when I use this mineral powder I feel like I have flawless skin.” MAC Mineralize Foundation/Loose in Dark Deep, $34, maccosmetics.com.
MAC Powder Highlighter
“I started using this about three or four years ago when shimmery highlighting became a thing. I’m scared it may be out of style but I can’t stop, won’t stop.” MAC Extra Dimension Skinfinish in Glow With It, $34, maccosmetics.com
MAC Lipstick
“Ruby Woo is my go-to lip color when I wanna feel girly with a splash of vamp.” MAC Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo, $17.50, maccosmetics.com
Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Sealer
“This finish makes me feel like my face is locked in. Even a fire hose to the face isn’t gonna ruin my chances of being camera ready.” Ben Nye Final Seal Matte Sealer, $8, camerareadycosmetics.com
By Lisa Butterworth
Photo: Amanda Friedman
Makeup: Melissa Dezarate // Hair: James Sartain
This article originally appeared in the June/July 2018 print edition of BUST Magazine. Subscribe today!
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