Iman has never chased trends, and neither does the man who does her makeup. "I always think about her quote: 'In a world full of trends, I like to stay classic,'" celebrity makeup artist Keita Moore shares. "It's a reminder for me that while you can slide in and out of trends, it's important to stay true to your own classic touch."
That was the brief for last night's 2026 CFDA Fashion Awards. "It's always a very collaborative process when we're planning a look for such a major night," Moore says. "We went for a classic look all around with staple makeup techniques, like her smokey eye, brown lined nude lip, and semi-radiant base." Every product came from MERIT.
Moore splits his time between New York and Los Angeles, and his clients include Kerry Washington, Tessa Thompson, Cynthia Erivo, Taraji P. Henson and Serena Williams. He's known for one thing above all. "I am all about skin!" he says. "It always starts with hydration. Without skin prep, makeup just won't set the way products are intended." For Iman, that meant MERIT Great Skin Serum ($42), which he used to create "a smooth, radiant canvas for makeup."
Once her skin was moisturized, Moore applied The Minimalist ($32) in Sienna "to create an even base with a skin-like finish. I like to keep the complexion balanced and luminous without making it overly shiny by concentrating coverage only where it's needed and allowing the natural dimension of the skin to do the work," he explains. "It's also important to rely on products that you trust can last through important moments."
His shade-matching advice is worth stealing. "I recommend matching foundation to the chest and jawline rather than just the face to make sure the undertone is right," Moore says. "If you have the opportunity, look at the color in multiple lights to ensure a true match."
Next came Flush Balm ($30) in Persimmon "to bring color back into her cheeks," blended from the apples up toward the temples. He finished with Day Glow ($32) in Solstice on top of the cheekbone for "a fresh, luminous finish that catches the light beautifully without looking overly shimmery."
The eyes are the detail Moore most wants people to notice. "I love coming back to timeless makeup techniques, so I had a lot of fun creating a classic smokey eye on Iman," he says. "I started with MERIT's Solo Shadow ($26) in Brun through the crease, then built depth by layering a deeper shade along the lash line and outer corner of the eye. Then, just blend until you can't blend anymore." Two mascaras finished the eyes: Clean Lash ($28) for length and separation, then Clean Volume ($28) for fullness.
Lips were the other Iman staple. Moore lined with Signature Lip Liner ($24) in Brownstone "to softly define and sculpt her natural lip shape," then topped it with Shade Slick ($24) in Taupe "for a neutral nude shiny lip."
None of it is new—and that's kind of the point. "I am so honored to work with and even be in the presence of an icon like Iman," Moore says. To get the look at home, start with his chest-and-jawline shade match, then a brown shadow blended until you can't blend anymore.
