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!
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.
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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!
