Achieving a natural makeup look is a skill every makeup enthusiast should have in their beauty arsenal. The idea behind natural makeup is to enhance your features without looking like you’re wearing much makeup. Known as the no-makeup makeup look, this style is all about minimalism, focusing on a fresh-faced, glowing appearance that’s perfect for everyday wear. Whether you're heading to work, running errands, or going out for a casual meet-up, a minimalist makeup routine can give you a polished yet effortless look.
In this guide, Vogue Beautify will show you how to do a natural makeup look in 7 easy steps, using the right products and techniques to create a radiant, natural finish.Start with makeup basics.
Step 1: Prepping Your Skin
Before applying any makeup, it’s essential to prep your skin. A smooth, well-hydrated canvas ensures that your makeup blends seamlessly and lasts throughout the day.
- Cleanse: Start with a gentle cleanser to remove dirt, oil, and impurities.
- Moisturize: Hydrate your skin with a lightweight moisturizer that suits your skin type. Even if you have oily skin, don’t skip this step—just opt for an oil-free formula.
- Sunscreen: Sun protection is crucial, even on cloudy days. Use a broad-spectrum SPF of at least 30 to protect your skin from harmful UV rays.
- Primer (optional): If you want your makeup to last longer, consider using a primer. Choose a hydrating primer for dry skin or a mattifying one for oily skin.
Prepping your skin not only keeps your makeup looking fresh, but it also helps prevent any unwanted cakey or patchy spots.
Step 2: Even Out Your Skin Tone
A natural makeup look focuses on evening out your complexion while still letting your skin shine through. Skip the heavy foundation and opt for a lighter, more breathable option.
- BB cream or tinted moisturizer: For a natural, dewy finish, use a BB cream or tinted moisturizer instead of full-coverage foundation. These products provide light coverage, allowing your skin to peek through while evening out discoloration.
- Concealer: Use concealer sparingly, only applying it to areas that need extra coverage, like under your eyes or on any blemishes. Blend it well so that it melts into your skin without looking obvious.
Remember, the goal is to let your natural skin texture show, not to cover it up completely.
Step 3: Add a Subtle Flush to Your Cheeks
Blush is an important element of a no-makeup makeup look because it gives your face a healthy, natural glow.Choose from a blush palette to match your skin tone. Choose a blush that complements your skin tone for a more natural effect.
- Cream blush: A cream blush works best for achieving that fresh, natural flush. It blends effortlessly into the skin, giving a lit-from-within glow. Opt for shades like soft pink, peach, or coral, depending on your undertone.
- Application: Dab a small amount of blush on the apples of your cheeks and blend it upwards towards your temples. Use your fingers or a beauty sponge for a more natural finish.
Keep it light your goal is to mimic the natural flush your skin gets when you're healthy and glowing.
Step 4: Define Your Brows
Defined brows frame the face and can instantly make you look more put-together. For this, the best eyebrow makeup is crucial. even with minimal makeup. However, when going for a natural makeup look, you want to avoid harsh, overly sculpted brows.
- Brow pencil or powder: Use a brow pencil or powder to lightly fill in any sparse areas. Choose a shade that matches your natural brow color.
- Brush through: After filling in your brows, brush them through with a spoolie to blend the product and soften the look. The idea is to keep your brows looking as natural and fluffy as possible.
- Brow gel: For a finishing touch, use a clear or tinted brow gel to set your brows in place and add a bit of definition.
Full, natural-looking brows will balance your face and keep your makeup looking fresh and youthful.
Step 5: Enhance Your Eyes
For a minimalist makeup look, you want to keep your eye makeup simple and understated. The goal is to enhance your natural eye shape without heavy, dramatic makeup.
- Neutral eyeshadow: Choose a light, neutral shade that is close to your natural skin tone. A soft taupe, beige, or peach shade will add subtle depth to your eyelids without looking like you’re wearing a lot of makeup. Apply a light wash of this color all over your lid.
- Mascara: A coat or two of mascara can make a big difference in opening up your eyes and making you look more awake. For a natural look, opt for brown or black mascara and focus on separating and lengthening your lashes, rather than creating dramatic volume.
- Eyeliner (optional): If you want a bit more definition, lightly line your upper lash line with brown or nude eyeliner. Stick close to the lash line and smudge it out for a soft, natural look.
This minimal approach enhances your eyes while keeping the look subtle and natural.
Step 6: Add a Natural Glow
A natural makeup look wouldn’t be complete without a touch of highlight to bring out your natural radiance. The goal is to mimic the way your skin naturally glows in the light.
- Liquid or cream highlighter: Opt for a cream or liquid highlighter to keep the glow looking natural and dewy. Apply it to the high points of your face: your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the brow bone, and your Cupid’s bow.
- Blend: Use your fingers or a beauty sponge to blend the highlighter into your skin. This will give you a radiant, natural glow without looking overly shiny or sparkly.
Less is more when it comes to highlighter. You want to create a subtle, luminous glow that enhances your features.
Step 7: Finish with a Natural Lip
The final step in achieving your no-makeup makeup look is to keep your lips soft, hydrated, and naturally tinted.
- Tinted lip balm or lip gloss: Skip the heavy lipsticks and opt for a tinted lip balm or a nude gloss. These products provide just enough color to enhance your lips without looking too made-up. Choose shades that are close to your natural lip color for the most natural effect.
- Lip liner (optional): If you want a little more definition, lightly outline your lips with a nude lip liner that matches your lip color. Blend it in to keep the look soft and natural.
The goal here is to keep your lips looking naturally plump and hydrated.
Summery
- A natural makeup look enhances your features while keeping the appearance minimal and fresh.
- Start by prepping your skin with a cleanser, moisturizer, and SPF for a smooth, hydrated base.
- Use BB cream or tinted moisturizer for light coverage, and concealer only where needed.
- Add a subtle flush to your cheeks with cream blush for a natural, healthy glow.
- Define your brows by lightly filling them in and setting with brow gel for a soft, natural shape.
- Keep eye makeup simple with neutral eyeshadow, mascara, and optional soft eyeliner.
- Apply a cream or liquid highlighter to bring out a natural, radiant glow.
- Finish with a tinted lip balm or gloss for soft, hydrated lips with a natural tint.
- The key to this look is using lightweight products, blending well, and embracing a minimalist approach for an effortlessly polished appearance.
FAQs
What is the purpose of a natural makeup look?
A natural makeup look enhances your features while maintaining a minimal and fresh-faced appearance, perfect for everyday wear.
Do I need foundation for a natural makeup look?
No, instead of heavy foundation, opt for a BB cream or tinted moisturizer for light coverage that lets your natural skin shine through.
How do I achieve a natural flush on my cheeks?
Use a cream blush in a soft shade like pink, peach, or coral and blend it on the apples of your cheeks for a natural, healthy glow.
What’s the best way to define brows for a natural look?
Lightly fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil or powder, then brush through and set with a clear or tinted brow gel for a soft, natural shape.
How can I make my eyes pop without heavy makeup?
Apply a neutral eyeshadow close to your skin tone, use a coat of mascara to lengthen lashes, and lightly line the upper lash line for subtle definition.
Where should I apply highlighter for a natural glow?
Apply a liquid or cream highlighter to the high points of your face—cheekbones, brow bone, bridge of your nose, and Cupid’s bow for a radiant, dewy look.
What lip products work best for a natural makeup look?
Tinted lip balms or nude glosses are ideal, giving a natural tint and keeping your lips soft and hydrated. You can also use a nude lip liner for subtle definition.
Conclusion
A natural makeup look is all about enhancing your features and embracing your natural beauty. By following these 7 easy steps, you can achieve a flawless, fresh-faced appearance that’s perfect for everyday wear. From prepping your skin to adding a subtle flush of color and a natural glow, this minimalist makeup routine focuses on simplicity and elegance.
The key to mastering the no-makeup makeup look is to use lightweight products and blend them well, allowing your skin to shine through while adding just a touch of definition where needed. Whether you’re a makeup novice or a beauty pro, this routine is easy to follow and can be adapted to suit your style.
Embrace your natural beauty, keep it simple, and remember—sometimes, less really is more when it comes to makeup.