How To Get A Natural No Makeup Look: Tips, Tricks & Products

Have you ever seen someone and thought, “Wow, they look amazing and they’re not even wearing makeup?”

That’s the magic of the no makeup makeup look!

This makeup trends is all about enhancing your natural beauty without piling on a ton of products. It’s also known as the “clean girl makeup look” and is all about using soft, subtle shades and applications for a flawless look that look super simple but is anything but.

Keep reading to understand the benefits of the no makeup look, what products are needed to achieve this look and how to create the perfect no makeup look.

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Why Rock A No-Makeup Makeup Look?

There are tons of reasons to love this look:

• Easy Breezy: It’s way faster than a full makeup routine, perfect for those mornings when you’re hitting the snooze button or need a makeup look in 5 minutes!
• Fresh Face: It gives you a natural, dewy glow that looks like you woke up beautiful (even if you didn’t!).
• Less is More: It’s gentler on your skin, especially if you have sensitive skin or hate the feel of heavy products on your face.
• Boosts Confidence: You’ll be rocking your natural features while feeling put-together!

What To Avoid When Doing A Natural Makeup Look

Since the natural no makeup look is based on looking like the best version of you without looking like you have makeup on, you’ll want to avoid the following products or techniques in this look:

• medium to full coverage foundations;
• heavy winged or graphic eyeliner (tightlining the upper lashes lightly is ok);
• super bright, dramatic or bold eyeshadow;
• dark black mascara (choose brown shades instead);
• super dark or overly bright blush shades, as these don’t provide a natural look;
• a heavily contoured face – this is better for glam makeup;
• heavily pigmented lip glosses or lipsticks.

What Products Are Needed For A Natural No Makeup Look:

The great thing about a no makeup look is that you don’t need a suitcase full of products to get it. Here are the best makeup and skin care products to achieve a natural, no-makeup look:

1. Moisturizer for your skin type: this is a key first step to prep your skin for makeup. Look for a lightweight, oil-free moisturizer that hydrates without clogging your pores if you have oily skin or a more nourishing, dewy moisturizer if you have dry skin. The Bobbi Brown Face Base is supposed to be an amazing moisturizer and primer in one to apply before applying your base makeup.

2. Sunscreen: if your natural makeup look is for the daytime, always apply a dedicated sunscreen with broad spectrum protection to protect your skin from sun damage. Some great sunscreens to try are:

• • La Roche-Posay Anthelios Clear Skin Dry Touch Sunscreen SPF 60 (oily skin types)
  • Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 – weightless protection 
  • Isntree Hyaluronic Acid Watery Sun Gel – super lightweight, no white cast, all skin types
  • Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery Gel – weightless, great for oily skin types  – reviewed here

 

3. Primer (optional): While not needed for everyone, primers can help minimize the look of pores, make your makeup last longer or provide a dewy finish to the skin. Primers don’t add heaviness to the look of your makeup, so they won’t interfere with the no makeup look, but should contribute to a flawless complexion or longer lasting makeup.

Some great primers to consider are:

• e.l.f. Cosmetics Power Grip Primer (makes makeup stay on longer)
• Missha Glow Skin Balm – hydrating primer and moisturizer in one for dewiness
• NYX Pore Filler – to minimize pores – reviewed here

4. Tinted moisturizer, BB Cream or light foundation: The key to a natural makeup look is using a light touch and thinner products that allow your natural skin to show through. For these reasons, full coverage foundations are a no-no in the no makeup look because they tend to look heavier on the skin.

Instead, tinted moisturizers and BB creams provide light coverage to even out your skin tone while still allowing your freckles and natural beauty to shine through. Choose a shade that closely matches your skin tone for a seamless finish. Below are a few tinted moisturizers and BB creams to consider:

• bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Moisturizer – a cult classic tint
• L’Oréal Paris Makeup Magic Skin Beautifier BB Cream Tinted Moisturizer
• COVERGIRL – Clean Matte BB Cream
• Physicians Formula Super BB Cream All in 1 Beauty Balm Foundation Cream

5. Concealer (if needed): A good concealer is a must for covering dark circles, blemishes or any other imperfections you want to camouflage. Opt for a lightweight, creamy formula that blends easily and won’t crease throughout the day. Dewy concealer is great for dry skin while a matte concealer is great for oily skin types.

Concealers to consider are for a natural no makeup look are:

• Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer
• Kosas Revealer Concealer
• Catrice Liquid Camouflage High Coverage Concealer

6. Cream or Liquid Blush: Cream blush adds a natural flush of color to your cheeks, mimicking the look of flushed skin from exercise or a bit of sun. Choose a sheer, cream-based blush in a shade that complements your skin tone for a perfect blend. Powder blushes can be used as well, but the powder texture tends to show more on the skin, so be careful!

Tip: Get a blush that mimics the colour of your lips for the most natural shade.

7. Tinted Lip Balm or Lip Oil: A tinted lip balm adds a hint of color and keeps your lips hydrated. Look for a balm with a sheer wash of color and moisturizing ingredients like shea butter or coconut oil for a natural no makeup look. 

8. Mascara (optional): A couple of coats of mascara can subtly define your lashes and make your eyes appear brighter. If you have naturally dark or full lashes, you can skip this step altogether. For a more natural look, I recommend a brown-tinted mascara instead of a full black, as black can look more heavy and harsh on the lashes. Also be careful not to apply mascaras that create chunky volume, as this can look too heavy on the lashes and less natural.

Brown mascaras to grab include:

• essence Lash Without Limits (02 Brown)
• COVERGIRL Lash Blast Volume (815 Brown)
• Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High (True Brown)

9. Brow Glue: A current trend with no makeup looks is placing emphasis on natural, full brows. To get your brows to stay in place, a clear brow glue can be applied to make your brows look naturally full and perfect. A tinted gel can provide both colour and hold to brows. Brow glues to shop include:

• NYX The Brow Glue
• e.l.f. Wow Brow Gel
• wet n wild Brow-Sessive Gel

10. Cream/Liquid Bronzer: For a natural, sun-kissed glow, apply a cream bronzer on the highpoints of the face (top of the forehead, cheeks). To bring out your eyes naturally without applying eyeshadow, apply bronzer into the crease with a fluffy eyeshadow brush to add some depth.

Bonus Tip: Apply all your makeup products with a light hand. You can always add more if needed, but it’s harder to take away too much product once it’s on your face.

Cream/liquid bronzers to shop include:

• Physician’s Formula Butter Glow Bronzing Serum
• Glossier Solar Paint Luminous Gel-Cream Bronzer
• Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Bronzer

11. Cream Highlight (optional): For anyone looking for some serious glow, a cream highlight applied along the cheekbones is a must. You can also swipe some on your eyelids for a soft shimmer. Be sure to select a highlight that has a soft, neutral tone for a subtle glow.

Great cream highlighter options are:

• wet n wild MegaGlo Makeup Stick “Nude For Thought”
• L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion (can be applied on top of BB cream or underneath as a glowy primer)
• Rare Beauty Positive Light Silky Touch Highlighter
• RMS Beauty Luminizer

Remember, the key to a no makeup makeup look is to enhance your natural features, not cover them up. With the right products and a little practice, you can achieve a flawless look that looks like you woke up like that! A consistent skin care routine for a naturally healthy complexion is also a must for the no makeup look, so don’t forget to invest in a solid skin care routine!

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How To Do A Natural No-Makeup Makeup Look:

1. Prep Your Skin: Complete your skin care routine as usual (apply SPF if this is a daytime look). Optional: apply a hydrating primer if you have dry skin or a mattifying primer if you have oily skin.
2. Conceal as needed: Dab a little concealer under your eyes and on any blemishes you want to cover. Use a light touch and blend it out with your fingers or a damp makeup sponge. 
3. Even Your Tone: Apply a tinted moisturizer or BB cream lightly to create an even complexion.
4. Bring on the Blush: A touch of cream blush adds a natural flush of color to your cheeks. Apply the blush to the apples of your cheeks, blending it upwards towards your temples.
5. Kiss of Color: Want a little something for your lips? Opt for a tinted lip balm or a clear gloss for a hint of shine.
6. Bronze & Highlight: Apply bronzer to the highpoints of the face if you want to look more sun-kissed. For a glass skin look, you can apply a cream highlight on top for an ethereal glow.
7. Brow Glue (optional): To create the look of natural, thick brows, brush through a clear brow glue. 
8. Mascara (optional): To open the eyes, apply a brown-tinted mascara on your lashes.
9. Set the Stage (Optional): If you want your makeup to last longer, you can use a light dusting of translucent powder to set everything in place or a makeup setting spray.

As you can see, there are a lot of things to consider in a natural no makeup look!

Experiment with different products and shades to get the right look for you and have fun with it.