Over the past two years, the “no makeup” makeup look has been trending and many people are ditching the heavy foundation for light BB creams and healthier skin care routines. However, finding the right products to use can be confusing and very daunting. But don’t worry because I am here to let you know the secrets to looking flawless and natural!
Skincare
If there is ever anything wrong with your face makeup, 9 times out of 10 it is because of your skin. Uneven skin tone, dryness, oiliness, and texture all show up through your foundation so you should treat these issues before you start your routine to ensure your face makeup looks as natural as possible!
Primer
Want your foundation to last? Use a high-quality primer! Primer allows your foundation to stick to your skin and will prevent makeup from caking onto your face. The Hydro Grip Primer from Milk Makeup is the best hydrating primer for all skin types and makes your foundation glow and look natural. The best drugstore primer for most skin types is the Maybelline Baby Skin Instant Pore Eraser. This primer mattifies the skin, reduces the appearances of pores, and does not cause breakouts!
Foundation
The key to the “no makeup” look lies within the foundation. Heavy, full-coverage foundations are not ideal in this situation, especially if you have relatively clear skin. The Glossier Perfecting Skin Tint or Fenty Beauty’s Pro Filt’r Hydrating Longwear Foundation are both perfect for that natural look and both blend seamlessly into the skin. However, if you have skin concerns like acne or texture then a more full coverage foundation like Il Makiage’s “I Woke Up Like This Flawless Base” foundation will be more helpful and will cover every SINGLE imperfection — it’s my personal favorite foundation by far!
Concealer
A lightweight concealer is the way to go if you want to achieve this look. Heavy concealers crease easily and can make your skin tone look uneven. The perfect lightweight concealer is Nars’s Radiant Concealer or Glossier’s Stretch Concealer. Both of these concealers are creamy, buildable, and cover every imperfection without making it obvious.
Setting Powder
Let’s get something straight… baking is not for everybody. If you do not have really oily skin then you should not be baking your face! Those who have dry, combination, or normal skin do not need to bake and in fact, will make their skin drier and not natural. For the natural look, use a minimum amount of powder under the eyes, on the forehead, and on the neck/jaw area. The best lightweight powder that I have used is the Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder. This powder legitimately changed my life!
Bronzer and Blush
Earlier I said to only apply powder to certain areas of the face and here’s the reason why. Set your foundation with your bronzer to naturally contour your face and ensure it lasts all day. The Sun Stalk’r Bronzer by Fenty Beauty is my new favorite bronzer (sorry Hoola by Benefit!) solely because of this tip. This bronzer lasts the entire day and looks natural on the skin, plus there is a huge shade range so every person can be bronzed without a worry. Now for blush, a cream blush is the key to a dewy, natural “no makeup” makeup look. Glossier’s Cloud Paint is one of the best cream blushes on the market because it achieves this look flawlessly.
Highlight
Liquid highlighter is your best friend for this look. Powder highlighters can show texture on the skin which is not ideal when doing this look but a liquid highlighter will blend into the skin and create a glow from within. Becca Cosmetics has the best liquid highlighters and a little goes a long way with them!
Eye Makeup
For this look, the eyes need to look very natural so use nude eyeshadows and light mascara. Roller Lash by Benefit Cosmetics is the BEST natural-looking mascara in my opinion. The formula is lightweight and the brush fans out and curls the lashes at the same time. The L’oreal Telescopic Mascara can achieve the same job at half the price too!