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Save 6 Makeup Tricks for Looking Au Natural

6 Makeup Tricks for Looking Au Natural

What's the best way to get that no-makeup makeup look? Here are tips and tricks to help you create a glowing, natural finish!

6 Makeup Tricks for Looking Au Natural

Going full glam is fun, but sometimes you feel like you don't need all that to get your glow on. It's super easy to create that "au naturel" look with a few simple products on those days you're just not feeling the full Instaglam look.

1. Focus on skincare

The biggest secret to makeup that looks natural? It's not about makeup at all. It's about being confident that you are uniquely beautiful, full-face glam or no makeup at all. But if you want to rock that no-makeup look with a little something extra, we got you. Here are the next steps:

  • Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxy acids (BHAs) are your best friends. These chemical exfoliants slough away dead skin. Try an AHA like glycolic acid or a BHA like salicylic acid as a toner in the morning or evening to brighten your complexion.
  • Retinol stimulates cell turnover, which is a fancy way of saying that it helps your skin cells replenish themselves. Add a retinol serum or cream to your nighttime routine to give your skin a refresh.
  • Moisture is another key thing to keep your skin healthy. Enter hyaluronic acid. This molecule holds 1,000 times its weight in water, which binds moisture to your skin to keep you hydrated and looking fresh. You'll find hyaluronic acid in lots of serums and moisturizers.
  • Add SPF to your skincare. UV rays are one of the biggest causes of premature aging. SPF all day every day will help preserve your natural glow.

2. Don't skip the primer!

Primer creates a smooth base for your makeup and helps block pigment from settling into creases and fine lines. Bonus: It can also help your makeup last longer throughout the day. Check out primers that address your concerns. Use a mattifying primer for oily skin, a pore-filling primer to smooth pores without clogging them, or an illuminating one for extra glowy skin.

3. Foundation, tinted moisturizer, or BB cream?

Truthfully, any of these three products work well for natural makeup looks. It's all in the application. You can use medium- and full-coverage foundations if you apply them super lightly. But because these products are designed to be buildable, you might find it tricky to get that light-coverage look. If so, try a BB cream or a tinted moisturizer. These products offer light coverage, and many have SPF protection, too.

4. Under-eye concealer

Some apply concealer before their foundation or tinted moisturizer, and some put it on afterward. Either way, if you have raccoon eyes from staying up too late binging Netflix or you pulled an all-nighter, concealer brightens the area to give you a naturally radiant look. Apply it lightly just beneath the eyes and use a concealer brush to buff the product in and blend it down toward your cheekbones, so you don't end up with an obvious line where the concealer ends.

5. Adding essential color

Once your base is in place, products like blush, bronzer, highlight, and a lippie can give your face more contour and definition. For blush, choose a shade that matches or builds on the natural flush of your cheeks and apply it lightly.

Bronzers come in warm and cool tones, so find a shade that matches your skin's color temperature, then apply it around the hairline to give your face some definition. You can also sweep it over your cheekbones to create a subtle summery shimmer. A great way to figure out if you're warm- or cool-toned is to think about what jewelry you gravitate toward—gold or silver.

If you're looking for some extra glow, add on a highlighter. Look for golds, whites, cream shades, or champagne. Apply it lightly over the high points of your face: cheekbones, just beneath the arch of your brow, and along the cupid's bow.

Now the lips. Nudes, neutrals, and natural shades work well. For finishes, do you go matte or gloss? Satin lipsticks and lip balms offer the most natural-looking finish, but nothing beats a great lip gloss.

6. Look at those peepers!

The eyes give you more opportunities for add-ons if you want them. Sweep a brow pomade lightly along the brows or a brow pen to create fine, hair-like strokes. Consider an eyeliner in black or brown to fill in your lash line and make it look fuller. Add mascara to give your eyelashes a lift, and you're done!

If you want to add a little drama, embellish with eyeshadow. Nude shades to match your skin's color temperature work best for no-makeup looks. Look for neutral brown palettes in either cool or warm hues, or go with a rosy pink look to match your blush.

Save on essentials for your no-makeup look

The best part about this look is that you can customize and mix and match. Skip the foundation and focus on the eyes, toss on a BB cream, whatever makes you feel your best that day. And remember to check your Save mailer for deals on everything you'll need!