How To: No Makeup, Makeup Look

Writer and expert24 days ago

This summer is set to be all about garden parties, low-key festivals, picnics and other local motives—making it the ideal time to perfect your “no makeup” makeup look. Natural makeup is the look du jour for 2024, an extension of the popular clean-girl, vanilla-girl aesthetics symbolic of the quiet luxury style donned by A-list celebrities from head to toe.

Step 1: Skincare

Much like the off-duty model look, the “no makeup” makeup focuses on enhancing your natural features and the best place to start? Skincare. To achieve glowing, natural skin, double down on your summer skincare routine.

IMAGE Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser

Begin with a gentle cleansing treatment that removes makeup and impurities from the skin. The IMAGE Skincare Vital C Hydrating Facial Cleanser is infused with essential vitamins and antioxidants which help to brighten the skin for a renewed complexion.

Decléor Aromessence Mandarin Verte Essential Oil Serum

Follow with an oil-balancing serum. Decleor's Aromessence Green Mandarin Serum is a 100% natural origin daily serum that uses a mixture of Citrus Essential Oils to help revive the skin’s radiance and lessen the appearance of fine lines. Warm three drops by rubbing them into your hands before applying them to cleansed skin with soft taps over the face and neck.

Estée Lauder Moisturiser DayWear Multi-Protection

Lock in the product with a moisturiser. The Estée Lauder DayWear Moisturiser Anti-Oxidant 24H Moisture Creme SPF15 Normal / Combination Skin 50ml will do just that as well as diminish and protect against the visible signs of premature ageing. SPF protection is so important year-round, make life easier by introducing an SPF moisturiser to your skincare routine. The Estée Lauder DayWear is a super anti-oxidant complex that helps to guard skin with advanced broad-spectrum sunscreen and UVA defence.

Step 2: Base

REN Clean Skincare Face Perfect Canvas Clean Primer

To achieve a minimal look, applying a primer is a quick, easy way to get a smooth base. Primer is pretty magical in that it mattifies your complexion, blurs pores and often contains ingredients that directly benefit your skin. REN Perfect Canvas Clean Primer 30ml / 1.02 fl.oz is a great example, of refreshing the skin and reducing fine lines while using ingredients that support the skin’s microbiome.

Erborian CC Creme

CC creme is a natural alternative to foundation to achieve a lighter base, for the warmer months or a no makeup, makeup look. Eborian CC Creme 45ml SPF25 is enriched with SPF25, doubling up on your SPF. It also helps to boost radiance, and protects and hydrates the skin all whilst blurring imperfections, reducing fine lines and signs of fatigue.

Top tip: Warm up the product and apply in small strokes in an upward motion with your fingertips for a more natural look. To build the product, buff in with a more dense brush or a damp sponge.

M.A.C Pro Longwear Concealer

Opt for a lightweight long-wear concealer the same shade, or one shade lighter, than your natural skin tone to help disguise any blemishes and dark circles. This will help to even your skin tone whilst maintaining the natural, no makeup look. The tried and tested M.A.C Pro Longwear Concealer 9ml provides a natural finish with medium buildable coverage that can last for up to 15 hours.

Step 3: Blush

When choosing a blusher, your skin tone is a great guide. For example, naturally warm undertones such as yellow or pink are complemented by a warm shade whereas a cooler shade usually works best for blue undertones.

benefit Playtint Lip & Cheek

Stick with cream and liquid products to achieve the natural, glowing skin that sings no makeup, makeup. benefit lip and cheek tints are a fantastic option. Dot on the product in a line that runs from the apples of your cheeks to the top of your cheekbones and tap into the skin with your fingertips to blend seamlessly. Add a stroke to your lips for a flushed look and follow with your favourite lip balm for extra nourishment.

Step 4: Brows

benefit Gimme Brow+ Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel

The best way to enhance your natural brows is with a brow gel. Natural brows are vital to achieving the no makeup, makeup aesthetic. The benefit Gimme Brow+ Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel contains tiny microfibres that adhere to skin and hairs to create a natural-looking yet full brow.

Top tip: Loving the skinny brows trend? Simply stroke the brush tip along the brow to define the shape. A quick and easy alternative to an eyebrow pencil with a much more natural style!

Step 5: Lashes

Shiseido Tools & Accessories Eyelash Curler

If you’re feeling confident, the best way to truly achieve the no makeup, makeup face is—less makeup! Achieve “your lashes but better” with a lash curler and lash brush. This will help to open up your eyes without the need to add any makeup.

Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara

To take your no makeup, makeup to the next level with a subtle stroke of mascara. Elizabeth Arden Grand Entrance Mascara in 02 Brown 8.5ml / 0.3 oz increases volume, length and curl by up to 80%. The go-to mascara for sensitive eyes. Plus, the brown mascara colour will keep your makeup looking natural and understated.

Step 6: Lips

Opt for a lip oil or coloured lip balm for the no makeup, makeup look.

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm

Intense colour and moisture in one product with the Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Colour Balm by Clinique. Try the shade fuller fig for a sunkissed lip colour to achieve a nourished, fuller pout.

Top tip: For something more defined, begin with a lip liner. Trace the pencil around your lip edge, or just over, and then follow with lip oil or balm for a ‘your lips but better’ look.

Step 7: Nails

Have you discovered the naked nails trend? TikTok’s most favoured spring manicure aligns perfectly with the no makeup, makeup look. Read all about it here.