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We’ve all been home a lot more and home means sweats and no makeup. But lets be real, it’s important to still feel good about yourself and still have a daily routine. I’ve been focusing on my skin more, but there are days I still want to wear some makeup – enter the no makeup makeup look. Here are my essential steps and products for a no makeup makeup look.
Prep your skin
I have a whole post on how to prep your skin for makeup here, but it can be simplified a bit for a no makeup-makeup look. The most important step is hydration – you want your skin to be the main focus, not the makeup on top. I start with my normal skin care and add a little extra hydration like the Inky List’s hyaluronic acid serum or the Elcie Cosmetics Glow Enhancer.
Choose your base
You should choose your base based on what your skin is looking like. On days I need a little extra coverage I’ll use a tinted moisturizer or cc cream, but I typically just use concealer on my under-eyes and spot conceal blemishes. For an all over base I love It Cosmetics CC+ Cream or Ilia Beauty’s Super Serum Skin Tint, and my new favorite concealer for a minimal look is the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer. It looks just like your skin and is easily buildable without looking cakey.
Warm up your face (if you want)
I don’t always use bronzer for a no makeup look, but in the winter when I’m looking particularly pastey I will. I typically either use my normal cream bronzer, the Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate palette with a fluffy brush, or a skin finishing powder in a shade slightly darker shade than my skin. This helps your face look warmer without being too harsh or dark. My favorite is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light.
Use the same products on your lips & cheeks
Using a cream blush on your cheeks and lips not only cuts out an extra product, but it makes the look cohesive. If you’ve been following me for a while, you know I love my cream products for how seamlessly they blend into the skin. The same goes for a cream blush. It will move with your skin and give you a natural looking flush. My two favorites at the moment are the Fenty Cheeks Out Blush or the Milk Makeup Lip + Cheek stick.
Add some glow
When it comes to highlight for a minimal look, you don’t want to use anything super shimmery or glittery. Balmy type of highlighters work well for this look. It isn’t always practical, but I like to use Vaseline or the Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream. If you’re using creams underneath, it doesn’t tend to disrupt the makeup underneath, just keep in mind to use the ointment very sparingly. For something with more staying power, try the Makeup by Mario Master Secret Glow.
Brows
If you have fuller brows like me, a tinted brow gel should work just fine. I love Glossier Boy Brow or Benefit Gimme Brow. If you need more definition, opt for a fine pencil or a brow powder and focus in the sparse areas or where you need definition.
No makeup makeup looks aren’t as simple as you think lol. Although this seems like a lot of steps, once it becomes a daily routine you can be ready and out the door in 5-10 minutes. Do you still go full glam daily, or are you going for more natural looks? Let me know in the comments.
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