How to Achieve the “No-Makeup” Makeup Look

With the summer heat getting hotter and hotter every season, our willingness to go out with full makeup has taken a stark decline. Who wants to spend hours perfecting makeup only for it to melt off a few minutes after stepping out the front door. However, most of us are not willing to stop doing makeup completely. We still want to look good and feel good.

One of the best beauty trends today is the “no makeup” makeup look. It looks great on everyone, and it won’t make you feel like you’re overdressed (face-wise) when going out. Basically, the no-makeup look is achieved by applying makeup that looks like we’re not wearing makeup. It’s the off-duty model, minimum makeup vibes that is here to stay.

Here are some helpful tips and tricks to achieve the no-makeup makeup look:

1. Start with keeping good skin.

The secret to a radiant, barely-there coverage begins with clean, clear, and moisturized skin. Achieving the flawless no-makeup makeup look starts with skincare. Having fresh-looking, hydrated skin prevents makeup from looking too cakey and unnatural. Make sure you prioritize having a good skin care regimen that you stick to daily to keep your skin glowing and healthy without needing to add too much makeup.

Choosing the right products for your skin type is a surefire way to jumpstart your skincare journey. Before embarking on a no-makeup makeup journey, indulge in skincare using products that work best for your skin type. Using a hydrating face mask before applying makeup helps ensure the skin is already supple and moisturized.

Spend at least three to five minutes massaging each skincare product to your skin to allow the pores to open up and keep the blood circulating. This will help even out skin tone naturally, so you don’t have to use too much makeup.

2. Don’t skimp on sunscreen.

Sunscreen is one of the essential steps in a skincare routine. This product is crucial for protecting your skin from the harmful UV rays from the sun. For best protection, use sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Use something that is great for everyday use.

If you want to save yourself a few steps, you can simply buy beauty products made with SPF. Use a moisturizer with SPF or a primer with SPF, so you don’t need to add a layer of sunscreen while doing your makeup.

3. Use a primer.

When going for the minimal look, applying primer is the easiest way to get a smooth base. You can choose a prime according to what kind of look you’re going for or according to what best suits your skin type. An illuminating primer adds a lit-from-within effect that makes your skin look extra hydrated. A pore-filling primer can help smoothen out and fill any pores without clogging the way a foundation might. A hydrating primer can help dry skin, and a glow-boosting primer can add radiance to maturing skin.

4. Stick to cream and liquid products.

Cream and liquid products just blend and sink right in the skin, and it tends to look more natural than powders. These products can also help enhance your natural features better than powder and allows you to achieve a dewy look that highlights your natural skin.

When it comes to eyeshadow, the cream is a better choice. For a bright and wide-awake look for your eyes, start with a cream eyeshadow in the shade as close as possible to your skin tone. Blend the eyeshadow up from your lash line, fading as it gets closer to your brows. Creams tend to wear more naturally throughout the day, and they are easy to apply.

5. Go easy on the foundation.

For a no-makeup makeup look, steer clear of thick, full-coverage foundations. You may opt to forego foundation altogether and simply use moisturizer, primer, and sunscreen. But if you think you need to even out your skin tone, apply a light layer.

There are a number of alternatives out there if you want some coverage but don’t want to use anything too heavy. BB (beauty balm) creams are an excellent choice for those who wish for a multitasking product that can give sheer coverage. BB creams typically combine moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, and light coverage in one formula. If you need help with redness, blemishes, hyperpigmentation, blotchiness, and dark spots – try a CC cream. “CC” stands for “color corrector,” so it will help. Meanwhile, a tinted moisturizer is also an alternative to foundation. Applying these products with a buffing foundation brush for more coverage or a sponge to keep the dewiness is preferable.

6. Conceal as needed.

Just like foundation, concealer is not always important for this kind of look. It’s an apply-as-needed product that you use whenever you need to cover up blemishes or dark circles. The trick to a fresh and even complexion lies in the brush you use to apply the concealer. A small, flat brush with synthetic bristles can spot-conceal any blemishes or redness. But for your dark circles, blend with your fingers. Then, finish with a light dusting of translucent powder in your T-zone.

The concealer you pick is crucial. It must be the same color as the skin. The more contrast you have to your natural skin tone, the more made-up it will look.

7. Highlight for a natural glow.

A highlighter is a perfect product to use for an overall no-makeup look with a glow. It also gives you the quickest way to liven up your complexion. Highlight your cheekbones and cupid’s bow, and use it to accent your eyes by top-coating it on your eyeshadow.

A creamy highlighter formula that melts into the skin is the best for a minimal makeup look. You can mix it with your foundation for a natural-looking, sun-kissed strobe.

Rather than going for a traditional shimmery highlighter, choose a creamy formula with a clear base. It adds a nice dewiness to the tops of your cheekbones, making your face look natural yet still glowing. The texture of this type of highlighter will also blend right in with all the other cream products you put on your face.

8. Add a soft touch of blush or bronzer.

Applying a bit of blush or bronzer can make all the difference. But you want to make sure you don’t go overboard because this will make your makeup look obvious. Choose one or the other – choosing to use both blush and bronzer will certainly overdo your look. To nail the natural look, imagine where your face flushes after exercise. Use it as your guide as to where to apply blush or bronzer.

If you prefer to use blush, use a cream blush and add it to the cheekbones, up to the temples, and right on the nose bridge. When applying blush, start off light and build it up from there. If you think you applied too much, go back with a little bit of foundation and blend it out.

If you want to use a bronzer, avoid the traditional way of bronzing that creates a heavy contour. Softly enhance the structure of your face by choosing a bronzer that is not too shiny. Apply as you would blush.

You can also use a bronzer as an eyeshadow. For a no-makeup makeup look, you really don’t need to use eyeshadow. You can swipe a little bronzer on for a more natural and subtle pigment. Again, stick to a cream bronzer to achieve the no-makeup look.

9. Brush up your brows and curl your lashes.

The best part about the no-makeup makeup look is that bushy and unruly brows are accepted and encouraged. Enhance the beauty of your natural brows by using a brow gel with fibers. Brush them up away from your face. This will help make your brows look fuller without filling them in with a pencil, which can appear heavy when paired with light makeup. Also, a good eyelash curler is a must-have for this look.

10. Apply mascara if you like.

The skin is the star of the show in a no-makeup makeup look, so it’s fine to go light on the lashes. It makes the eyes pop in just the right way. Choose a volumizing or a lengthening mascara to make your lash line look defined without needing eyeliner. However, it’s not at all necessary for this look. You can simply curl it up and brush it with a clean spoolie and call it a day.

11. Swipe on a lip tint or a subtle lipstick.

To make sure the natural-looking makeup look is complete, add a tint of color to your lips. A natural way to go with lip color is by using a lip tint or a tinted balm. You can also hack your way to this look by applying a nude shade of lipstick. You may also prefer to apply lipstick and simply blot off the excess with a tissue.

12. Finish with a setting spray.

The last step in achieving a no-makeup look is by keeping it in place with a setting spray. A setting spray can help seal it all in a while, keeping your face looking dewy, radiant, and natural. It’s a better choice than using powder because it can cause your face to look cakey.