1. Begin with a good cleansing regime; treating the skin is one of the most important parts of a no makeup look. If the skin’s not right nothing else will work. A hydrating cleanser will not only cleanse, but it will also nourish, condition and soften the skin.
2. Boost hydration levels for a fresh looking complexion. Prepare the skin with a weightless serum that arms the skin with a powerhouse of anti-aging and anti-oxidant ingredients for longer lasting freshness.
3. Re-texturise your skin so your foundation doesn’t have to work so hard. Use a leave-on treatment mask to soften and blur uneven skin texture. Work a little over the skin focusing on dehydrated areas.
4. Invest in specialist primers, as not to prime is a crime! Each area of the face has different needs so prescriptive priming will minimize the need for coverage and result in a more polished and natural makeup look.
5. The first point for definition or colour must be the brows; brows frame the face and lift the eyes, so from here you might not need to apply much more to the face. For softer definition, sculpt your brows with an eyebrow pencil or for stronger impact try a brow gel.
6. Awaken the eyes with a rich coat of mascara. Like brows, mascara guides you as to how much more to apply to the face. A good coat of mascara gives the illusion the eye is lined, lifted and can make the eyes appear larger.
7. Conceal and correct discoloration on and around the eyes, nose and mouth before applying your foundation. These areas are within the ‘feature focus’ area of the face – the triangle of features made up of the eyes, nose, and lips – where the eye is first drawn; perfect these areas and you may not need further coverage!
8. One of the simplest tips for achieving a no-makeup look comes down to foundation application… or lack there of! Avoid using too much base on areas where you don’t actually need it, like the forehead and the cheeks. Instead, start in the feature focus area and blend outwardly for an undetectable finish.
9. Add a little life to the face with a cream blush. Creams will mimic your skin’s natural texture, and therefore contribute to your ‘no-makeup’ cause. Don’t skip this step, it will pull everything together and leave you feeling (and looking) alive.
10. Give your lips some love to polish up your look. Nothing says incomplete like dry, chapped and lifeless lips. Try a tinted lip balm for ease quick and easy application that stains and treats in one.
What’s your best makeup advice for applying foundation? Tell us in the comments below.
