Perfecting the effortlessness of ‘no makeup’ makeup is no easy feat. How many mornings have you started your everyday makeup routine and had it turn into a full face of glam? Yeah, same. It’s really easy to go overboard. But the flip side isn’t most desirable either. Some days I am tempted to forgo makeup all together, but then I look in the mirror and see someone who looks as though they haven’t slept in three days. See the dilemma?
After a little trial and error, and while I’ve still not perfected it, I have come to a middle ground for an everyday makeup look. Turns out, no makeup makeup takes a handful of products.
The truth of the matter is effortless and minimal makeup begins with perfecting your skincare routine and keeping your skin healthy. I’m still working on perfecting my skincare as well. But if you’re like me and doing the best you can in that department, these are a few products I think may help you out on your road to a fabulous summer no makeup makeup routine.
Step 1: Prime
I don’t always prime my face, but depending on what my skin needs, sometimes I do. Lately I’ve wanted an ultra glowy look, so I begin with Laura Mercier’s Radiance foundation primer after applying my SPF. Much like my beloved Becca Backlight Priming Filter and FAB Coconut Moisturizing Primer, it adds a lit from within glow while also keeping the rest of my makeup in tact.
Step 2: Conceal
I’ve been opting for light coverage base products recently. I find that I really like my freckles and skin peeking through. So I’ve been loving Glossier’s Skin Tint. I apply about 4-6 drops to my face with my fingers. It isn’t going to cover major blemishes, but it gives a wash of color over my skin, evening out my skin tone a bit and concealing minor imperfections.
To conceal blemishes and any darkness under my eyes, I’ll go in with the Stretch Concealer from Glossier. It’s not my absolute favorite concealer, but it performs ok, and I like how light it is.
Step 3: Highlight
I. Love. Highlight. Especially during the summer months– I aspire to be a glowy goddess, and I need the help. I find I prefer cream highlights, because they tend to look a little more natural. My favorite of the moment is the Essence Moonlighter Cushion from CLE Cosmetics. It’s a pretty champagne color that almost looks wet on the skin … a look I love.
I will apply highlight to my cheekbones, middle of the forehead, nose, cupid’s bow, beneath brow, and on the inner corner of my eye.
Step 4: Cheeks
For the past few weeks, I’ve been opting to use only bronzer. Sometimes I will add in a blush. But I’m always reaching for Hourglass powders.
My cheeks tend to flush fast and easy, which is why I’m frequently ignoring blush. On those days, I’ll just use the bronzer on my cheeks, temples, and along the jawline. I also like to apply it to my nose, because if the sun is going to hit anywhere on my face, it’ll be the thing that stick out furthest, you know?
On days I do wear blush, I generally only wear blush. I find it brightens up my face while still leaving it fresh looking. Generally I prefer a peachy pink blush.
Step 5: Brows
Brows are a must. The products vary, but the idea is always the same. I like brow gels. They’re easy, quick, give me the feathery brow look I love, and lock my brow hairs into place. Right now I’m using the Gimme Brow from Benefit in 3.
Step 6: Eyes
On no makeup makeup days, I do one of two things. I leave my eyes bare from shadows, or I will use some of the bronzer I used in the crease and lightly over the lid.
Mascara is another negotiable. It just depends on how I’m feeling. However, curling my lashes is not. I don’t care if I’m running 20 minutes late, my lashes will be curled.
Another trick I like to do, especially if I’m not wearing mascara is to run a brown liner along my tight line (the space beneath your upper lashes). It adds undetectable definition to my eyes, and doesn’t smudge throughout the day.
There have been days I’ve wanted to subtly upgrade my eye look, and for that I’ve been using my Glambition palette from Marc Jacobs. The colors are soft and sophisticated.
Step 7: Lips
I’m a lip junkie at heart, so it feels wrong for me to leave the house with bare lips. I feel naked. There certainly some days where I have light face makeup and still want a punchy lip color. But most no makeup makeup days call for something a little more subtle. Products like Perricone MD’s No Lipstick Lipstick or tinted Sugar lip tints from Fresh add a wash of color and shine to my lips without making a statement of them. They look healthy and naturally enhanced.
Step 8: Set
On hot days, the final step is to lock everything into place with a setting spray. I like Mac Fix Plus+ at the moment.
The reality is the above routine takes less time that it took me type up this post. While quick, enhancing my natural features makes me feel put together and confident without looking like (or feeling like) I’m wearing a ton of makeup. Have you found a no makeup makeup routine that works for you? Let me know in the comments! I’d love to try them out!
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