Finally, spring has arrived, and the cold chill of winter has been mostly lifted (c’mon Utah, get with the new season). It’s the time for decluttering your closet, buying new clothes, finishing classes, and getting ready for summer. With all these changes, why not change up your makeup routine too? I love wearing a full face of makeup as much as the next girl, but now that I know about this no-makeup makeup trend, I’m OBSESSED. I’ve spent the last month or so trying out new tips and products to perfect this, so I’m ready to share my 10 steps to creating the no-makeup makeup look.
Step 1: Hydration Station
Achieving the no-makeup makeup look is all about creating healthy, dewy, and glowing skin. The easiest way to do this is with a moisturizer to hydrate your skin before applying any makeup products. A water based moisturizer with hyaluronic acid is great for hydration and keeping skin looking youthful. My favorites are: Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel, Tatcha Water Cream, and Milk Makeup Cooling Water.
Step 2: Prime Time
After moisturizing, the next step is to use a primer to smooth out the skin. Using a primer can minimize the look of pores, blemishes, fine lines, and wrinkles. I love the Benefit Porefessional Primer, Glossier Priming Moisturizer, and the Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Primer.
Step 3: Less is More
The no-makeup makeup look is all about letting your natural skin show, and the way to do this is with a bb or cc cream. These light-weight products are essentially tinted moisturizers designed to melt into the skin and look like you’re not wearing anything. My favorite bb and cc creams are: Tarte BB Moisturizer, Maybelline Dream Pure BB Cream, and IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream.
Step 4: Let’s Get Concealing
Since bb and cc creams are just tinted moisturizers, they aren’t going to give you full coverage like a foundation would. To cover up any blemishes, dark circles, acne scarring, etc., I would recommend using a light weight concealer, and then blending it into the skin with either a beauty blender or your fingers. The best light weight concealers are: NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, E.L.F. Cosmetics HD Lifting, and Maybelline Fit Me Concealer.
After concealer, I like to use a translucent powder under my eyes to set everything in place. I use Laura Mercier’s Translucent Setting Powder.
Step 5: Bronze, Bronze, Bronze
Bronzer is the perfect product to use for highlighting areas of the face to get that sun-kissed glow, without having to sacrifice your skin in the sun for it. Put the bronzer on the areas of the face that normally catch sunlight: cheeks, nose, chin and forehead. You’ll want to use a cream instead of powders, creams blend into the skin easier and look more natural. Here are some top rated bronzers: Milk Makeup Matte Bronzer, Benefit Cosmetics Hoola Quickie Contour, and Fenty Match Stix.
Step 6: Faking the Flush
This is one of my favorite steps in creating this look. Adding a cream blush to your cheeks, nose, and temples gives the skin a gorgeous warm and flushed look. The NARS Orgasm Blush, Smashbox LA Nights blush, and Glossier Cloud Paint are seamlessly sheer and easily blendable.
Step 7: Brow Boost
The best part of this look is enhancing your natural brows to look full, bushy, and unruly. Simply use a tinted or clear brow gel to wisp the brows up and into shape. In my opinion, brows can make or break a makeup look. These are the best tried and true brow gels: Benefit Cosmetics Gimme Brow and Anastasia Beverly Hills Dipbrow Gel.
Step 8: Glow Baby
Want a dewy and glowy finish to your makeup look? Add a cream-based highlighter to your skin instead of a super shimmery, powder highlight. The cream will blend into the skin and add a subtle glow to the skin. My favorites are: Too Faced Jelly Highlighter, Milk Makeup Highlighter, and Glossier Haloscope highlighter
Step 9: Tint Those Lashes
For this look, the norm is to go light on the mascara and use a brown one (if you have naturally dark eyelashes stick to black). Brown mascara will open up the eyes without looking like you’re wearing a lot. These drugstore mascaras will do the trick without breaking the bank: L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Mascara, Covergirl LashBlast Volume Mascara, and Maybelline Eye Lash Washable Mascara.
Step 10: Pretty Pout
The finishing touch to the no-makeup makeup look is choosing a tinted lip balm. They are great for hydrating lips and adding a hint of sheer color. The Burt’s Bee Tinted Lip Balm, Maybelline Baby Lips, and Pixi by Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm are all great products at an affordable price.
Now you’re ready to slay all day every day, while looking like your naturally beautiful self!