Makeup can be a lot of fun to wear, but the warm summer weather and having to wear a mask may dampen your enthusiasm for it. When the air is hot and humid and half your face is covered, the last thing you might want to do is pile on layers of heavy makeup. However, you might still want to look presentable and cute. Enter the “no makeup look.” With a few easy steps, you can look naturally beautiful, perfect for warm summer days. Here’s how:
Prep Your Skin
Properly prepping your skin is key to making the “no makeup look” work. Since you’ll be wearing less layers of makeup and no foundation, you’ll want to make sure your skin is in its best condition. Invest in high quality organic beauty products to nourish and balance your skin, so you can avoid unsightly blemishes and breakouts.
Start with thoroughly cleansed skin, and follow up with a moisturizer to create a smooth, clean canvas. Apply moisturizer right after cleansing, while your skin is still damp, to keep your skin hydrated for longer. A lightweight antioxidant moisturizer will keep your skin well-hydrated while adding an extra layer of protection from environmental factors.
Don’t forget to wear sunscreen! You should wear sunscreen every single day, not just in summer. The sun’s powerful rays can wreak havoc on your skin and cause all sorts of skin problems like sunburn, dark spots and fine lines and wrinkles.
Choose a lightweight sunscreen that doesn’t give a noticeable white cast, to avoid looking pasty. Make sure it has an SPF of at least 30 and broad spectrum protection to keep you shielded from UVA and UVB rays. A good sunscreen can double as a makeup primer and prep your skin for makeup.
Skip the Foundation
You want your skin to look like skin, so avoid covering it up in layers of thick foundation. Instead, use a concealer sparingly, and only on areas that need evening out. Use a small, flat synthetic brush to cover redness and spot-conceal any blemishes, as well as to cover up dark undereye circles. It’s important to blend well to avoid obvious streaks or an uneven skin tone. Finish with a light dusting of translucent setting powder only over areas where you applied concealer.
Groom Your Brows and Lashes
Neat, strong brows and lashes frame your face beautifully and can instantly make you look more put together and wide awake. Brush any stray brow hairs in place with a spoolie, and fill in sparse areas with a long wearing eyebrow pencil. Don’t be too heavy-handed with the eyebrow pencil; you don’t want your brows to look obviously drawn in. Keep them tamed with one coat of clear or tinted brow mascara.
Eyeliner can make you look too made up and unnatural, so skip this step and just curl your lashes you open up your eyes. Put on one or two coats of clear or black mascara, and make sure to brush out any clumps.
Minimal Color
Cream blush or a good lip and cheek tint are perfect for the “no makeup look,” as they can add a bit of color to your complexion without ever looking too harsh or made up. Lightly dab cream blush on the apples of your cheeks and across the bridge of your nose for a sunkissed flush. You can also use your fingers to apply a bit of cream blush to add color to your eyelids for a trendy monochromatic look. Finish off with a lip tint that is close to the natural color of your lips.
And that’s all there is to it! You don’t need to be a professional makeup artist to pull off this look; it’s quick, easy and can make a huge difference to your appearance. You can be out the door and ready to face the world in under ten minutes!
