How to Get the No-Makeup Makeup Look May 25, 2023January 30, 2021 by Rebecca – University of California at Berkeley
You ve seen celebs on Instagram do no makeup selfies, but the key to that flawless look is actually in your makeup bag. Here s how to copy it.
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.
Who hasn’t heard some guy say he prefers girls with no makeup? Well, first of all, we’re not interested in what you prefer. Secondly, anyone who wears makeup knows that the “no makeup” look is actually a makeup skill that must be mastered.
Let me first just say that putting on makeup is time consuming and if you’d rather not bother, your actual no makeup look is beautiful as is!
But if you do want to learn to master the no makeup makeup look, keep on reading.
In my book, putting on makeup is a relaxing time to focus on yourself, and to highlight what already makes you beautiful. Now, I like throwing on some glitter on my eyelids and a rouge lipstick on occasion just like the next girl. But these days, I m all about the natural look.
This past year at home, I realized I tended to use the same products over and over again, and that most of the things taking up space in my bathroom had long gone past their expiration date.
Since decluttering my bathroom (Marie Kondo would be proud) I find myself with the same few products, which I now always use before they expire. I mean, I don’t know why I ever needed 3 different concealers.
By sticking to a “no makeup, makeup look” I spend less money, I travel lighter, and I’ve gotten a lot better and faster at doing my makeup, because I know my few products so much better.
You might have heard of a few controversies surrounding celebrity makeup brands by public figures who don’t seemingly wear a lot of makeup. But I’d like to defend their choices because the fact that people can’t tell they re wearing makeup is proof of their skill in applying natural-looking makeup.
Now, I haven’t tried most of those brands yet, but I’ve heard Rare by Selena Gomez is high quality and perfect for the natural makeup look.
If you’re trying to perfect the natural makeup look, there’s something you should keep in mind: it’s all about what will heighten your beauty. Which means you’ll only get better with time as you continuously discover other features of yours to highlight.
And without further ado, here are the must have products and tricks for the no makeup, makeup look:
After you’ve cleansed and hydrated your face, you must prime. There’s nothing natural about runny, creasy makeup.
I suggest waiting 2 mins after you’ve done your skincare routine to prime your face so you can let your products sink in. Then apply your primer.
An added personal favorite of mine is First Aid Beauty’s Eye Duty Triple Remedy, which is like a primer for under your eyes that always softens the look of my circles, which means I wear less concealer!
Before going on to do your makeup, wait another two minutes to let your primer sit.
I have always been a devout fan of liquid foundation, but one of my friends converted me to the powder cult with one particular brand: Bare Minerals.
Bare Minerals barePro gives me a less shiny look while still working with my complexion to keep my skin breathing.
Then I use Benefit’s Hoola Matte Bronzer all around my face, careful not to put too much makeup on, but just trying to match my skin in the rest of my body.
Makeup secret: grab a smaller brush and use that bronzer lightly on your eyelids for a bronzed effect.
I dab it under my eyes, in the inner corner of my eyes, a bit on my forehead, even less on my nose bridge and nose tip, and a little on my chin.
After blending everything in, I use my trusted Revlon Powder Blush in Naughty Nude, a makeup product I learned about from my mom, and I lightly pat it on my cheeks and over my nose.
Putting your blush on like this will give you a natural blushing look and add a bit of color.
I then take that blush and a new brush and lightly dab it on my eyelids, creating a natural eyeshadow look.
While we’ve added bronzer and blush to our eyelids, now comes the real eye products.
I’ve always struggled with mascara clumping together, which doesn’t really scream natural. But I’ve found that adding some Jojoba oil at night to my eyelashes as well as using a primer really helps.
I then use my Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, which is true to its name, with a focus on bringing out the mascara to the outer corners of my eye.
This product creates the TikTok worthy natural combed upwards eyebrow look, without having to have your brows laminated.
Find a nude that works for your skin tone, because nude isn t a color, it s a tone that matches your lips.
It may seem like a lot of steps, but I can honestly bang this out in less that 10 minutes really. By no means am I a professional makeup artist, I just use these products in this routine repeatedly.
Now you can either get some new products or try some that you already have at home to perfect your own version of the no makeup, makeup look.
What are your favorite makeup products? What products do you not like? Let me know if you have any vegan or natural alternatives to the products above!