I'm feeling pretty comfortable wearing minimal makeup as opposed to a full face every so often (or maybe it's the fact I'm so busy at the moment...) Today I'm sharing with you the products I reach for when I'm going for a fresh, 'no makeup' makeup look. Obviously I'm not saying to put all these things on your face at once as that would kind of defeat the purpose! I just wanted to show a few different options for various tastes, needs and skin types.
Base
I'm all about the flawless base so even on those low-maintenance days when I have ten minutes to spend on my makeup, a good half of that goes on my base. I think when that's right, everything else comes together!
Nars Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturiser | £29.50 | post
My first option is hydrating but not overly dewy. I really love this stuff; it gives that nice coverage whilst still looking like skin. I feel like it evens out my skin tone, covers any redness but still looks so natural! There's something really healthy, radiant and glowing about the finish, without a hint of shine.
Cover FX Mattifying Anti-Blemish BB Gel* | £35 | post
This is the alternative for more oily and blemish prone skin. It really saw me through last summer as it didn't turn into mess in the heat and kept any sun-induced breakouts at bay. It definitely has more coverage than the Nars but still feels extremely lightweight on the skin. The finish is matte but it isn't overly drying and isn't going to cling onto or settle into anything.
Sephora Pro Airbrush #55 | $34 | post
This is by far the best brush for applying light and/or more fluid bases. I much prefer it to using a sponge or my fingers as well. In just a few swipes it applies my base flawlessly and really helps to get that natural skin-like look.
Bourjois Radiance Reveal Concealer | £7.99 | post
If you can find a shade in the meagre selection then definitely pick this up! I love it as a very light peach-toned corrector. It isn't a full coverage but the shade of this really helps to cancel out my dark circles (which is the main thing that needs concealing for me) whilst still being so lightweight.
Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer | £7.99
To add a little extra converge and brighten the under-eye area further; I then go on with this (in the 'upside down triangle' formation). The texture is really light and fluffy and gives a nice coverage whilst looking and feeling so natural. It's nice and hydrating, as well as being brightening (though it only comes in two shades!) You can also easily take this along your cheekbones, the centre of your forehead and down the middle of your nose as a natural highlight because it blends so easily.
YSL Touche Eclat | £25 | post
Instead of or as well as; I really like the YSL Touche Eclat. It's very light coverage but has light-reflecting particles which make it so luminous and brightening. I tend to use it under my eyes to eliminate and dark tones but like with the Maybelline, you can also use this to highlight the face naturally.
Real Techniques Setting Brush | £6.99
By far my favourite brush for applying under-eye concealer is the Real Techniques Setting brush. It just seems to blend everything out seamlessly in seconds! The bristles are fairly tightly packed but it doesn't buff the product into the skin too much, which I think is the secret of the natural look.
Urban Decay Naked Skin Concealer | £17.50 | post
Once I'm done with under my eyes I cover up any blemishes with the Urban Decay Naked Skin concealer. I really love the texture of this as it's so light, fluffy and not at all drying but delivers on the amazing coverage.
Vichy Dermablend Powder* | £15
If I'm going for a slightly more dewy look then I limit myself to setting my t-zone and under my eyes with a little translucent powder. I'm really liking using a loose formula and this really is translucent (unlike those powders that claim to be but makes your face look white under flash photography). I find this traceless and not caky in the slightest on my skin. It isn't anything too matte - it just takes away a bit of that shine and makes sure nothing moves throughout the day.
BeautyBlender | £16
To make sure the all the concealer (any any highlighting) is blended in properly and looks as natural as possible - I bounce over everything with a damp makeup sponge. I use this technique with the Vichy powder to set under my eyes and my t-zone too.
Avene Thermal Water Spray* | £9
I'm such a fan of this refreshing, hydrating facial spray. whether it's for a pick-me-up during the day or just to finish up my base for that natural, fresh look. If you have dry skin and want your base to look nice and dewy then definitely finish up with this.
Cheeks
On those natural, low-maintenance days when I'm in a rush or just don't want to spend ages on my makeup (even I have those days!) I go for a cream formula on the cheeks, dabbed on with my fingers.
Rosie for Autograph Cream Blush English Rose Flush | £14
I can honestly say I'm enamoured with this blusher! The shade is a classic, timeless rose that's not too vibrant but has enough colour to it that it brings my face to life. It isn't a thin, greasy formula; it's a little thicker in texture than most. It has a slight dewiness but it's not patchy and doesn't 'move around' on my skin throughout the day.
KIKO Velvet Touch Creamy Stick Blush in 02 Golden Peach | £7.90
I love love love this cream blusher formula - it applies so well and lasts like no other on my combination skin. It doesn't have much of a dewiness to it but it's very pigmented and applies so evenly. The shade is a natural nude-peach with a very slight, fine gold sheen running through it. If you usually find cream formulas don't work for you and make you look like a shiny mess then definitely give this a go!
ColourPop Cheek Shock Blush in Between the Sheets | $8
My final blusher option is another one that's great if you're not really into dewy cream formulas. This is almost like a mousse texture and has serious colour payoff. Between the Sheets is a matte dusky pink/mauve nude shade that looks so pretty and effortless. (Side Note: read my post here on how to ship this brand to the UK).
Topshop Glow Pot Highlighter in Gleam | £9
If you fancy a shimmery highlight then you can't really go wrong with this gorgeous champagne-gold. It has such a pretty sheen to it and looks dewy (but not greasy) and natural on the skin.
Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Poured in Opal | £30
I was always a little underwhelmed by the liquid version of this but really loved the shade. However the cream formula is my perfect natural, dewy, low-key highlight. I love the shade as it's a gorgeous pearly colour that's not too warm or too cool, which is why I think it looks so natural. It really adds that glow to the skin without being all sparkly or too greasy.
Eyes
For the lids I tend to go for kind of bronze-champagne shades. I find shimmer shades tend to work best for me as a wash of colour with my Zoeva 227, even though technically speaking I think mattes probably look more natural. I usually reach for a cream formula as it looks like you made so much more effort than you did! However there are also a couple of powder options that do the trick just as well.
Maybelline Colour Tattoos in On & On Bronze and Creamy Beige | £4.99 each
I'm a huge, huge fan of the Maybelline Colour Tattoos! I've tried high-end formulas several times the price of this and these still one amongst my favourites. I tend to just use my fingers to apply these as it's literally a case of 1 swipe + 2 seconds blending = done! Personally I think the shimmer shades work the best and of course my favourite is the stunning, dewy On & On Bronze. It just goes with any neutral makeup look so I can reach for it without thinking. I also do like the shade Creamy Beige as a matte option as it's a really natural brown-taupe that's not miles away from my natural skin tone (I actually use this a lot as a base for powder products). These are honestly so creamy but very opaque and pigmented. Once they set they aren't going to budge until you remove them (I promise!)
Clinique Chubby Stick Shadow Tint for Eye Ample Amber | £17
I actually picked this up a few months back but never really used it. As part of my Beauty Spring Clean I dug this out to see if it was going to be one that could be given a new lease of life or if it was one for the blog sale/pass on to female relatives pile. As you may have guessed by its inclusion here; it's the former! This is a gorgeous warm amber-bronze shimmer that I love as a sheer wash of colour across the lids. I like the formula too as it doesn't crease on me.
ColourPop Super Shock Eyeshadow Sunset Blvd | $5
This has to be one of my favourite low-maintenance eyeshadows! It's much more sheer and light than something like the Maybelline Colour Tattoos but that's sort of why I love it! It's a kind of golden-champagne-bronze shimmer. I really like that although it's fairly light and sheer, it still doesn't crease or wear away. I even tried this without a primer and it still lasts really well, which makes it a winner in the effortless stakes for me.
H&M Eyeshadow in Act Your Beige | £4.99
I'm really impressed with all the H&M single eyeshadows I've tried (though I'd advise skipping the palettes) but my favourite has to be Act Your Beige. The texture is really nice and silky as well as delivering a good level of pigmentation. It has a really subtle sheen of shimmer that's nothing too glittery and I love the golden-beige colour.
MAC Pro Refill Eyeshadow Pan in All That Glitters | £10
I'm honestly obsessed with this eyeshadow! Although my allegiance is now more towards Makeup Geek than MAC, this shade will always have a special place in my collection. It's such a gorgeous nude-bronze shade that looks really multifaceted on the lids.
For liner and lashes I gear down my usual look a little. I'm honestly a winged liner girl through and through, but I forego it if I'm going for a low-key look. It's all about trying to naturally accentuate my lash line and getting my lashes nice and fluttery. My eyes are definitely the first thing to vanish when I'm wearing minimal makeup so I do still like to get some definition.
Zoeva Graphic Eye Pencil in Mute* | £7
This charcoal matte shade is perfect for tight-lining if you want something that's more natural and less harsh than black. I love the creamy, pigmented formula of these and best of all they don't smudge or fade!
Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smog | £15.50
I pretty much use this every time I wear a warm-toned eye look (i.e. every single day). It has a really subtle metallic sheen and is a warm brown-bronze-gold shade. I like to use this on the lower waterline to add a bit of natural definition. I do much prefer something like this to a matte brown liner as I find those can look a little dated on me.
Maybelline Lash Sensational Mascara | £7.99
I won't bore you too much as this is of course my holy grail mascara! It gives volume without clump, amazing length and serious curl. Plus it doesn't smudge on my eyes or flake during the day.
Max Factor False Lash Effect Mascara | £10.99
This is definitely a lengthening and separating mascara as opposed the volumising, which is surprising given the chunky wand. It does take a little time to build this up but I love the natural, fluttery look it gives.
L'Oreal False Lash Sculpt Mascara | £7.99
This mascara has seriously grown on me. I liked it when I first tried it but now I've returned to it a month later, I think it's a 'love'! The wand means you can really get down into the base of your lashes and this gives you such an amazing curl and serious length! I also like how it gives a nice, natural bit of volume without being overly thick.
Lips
For me - minimal makeup means a sheer lip in a nice warm nude! I especially love a formula that's going to hydrate my lips at the same time.
Clinique Chubby Stick Intense in Curviest Caramel | £17
As you can probably tell: this has been very well-loved! It's just the perfect pinky-nude-brown lip colour that you can throw on and go. I find it really flattering and hydrating on the lips. I also much prefer the formula and pigmentation of the Intense version compared to the standard Chubby Sticks.
Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments in Fresh Honey and Fresh Petal | £19 each
When first bought these, I instantly regretted it - how good could a tinted lip balm really be? I thought I'd got caught up in having to buy them there and then and had made a mistake buying two! Well, as soon as I tried them, I realised they were well worth the hype and I pretty much use one or the other of these at least once a week. The formula is so nourishing that it's even amazing just as a lip balm. They're more pigmented than you might expect too - they add a really pretty wash of colour. Both the shades I have are pretty similar however Honey is more brown-toned and Petal more pink. However there's not much in it so you probably don't need both unless you use them as often as I do!
What are your favourite 'no makeup' products?
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*DISCLOSURE - PRODUCTS MARKED WITH AN ASTERISK ARE PR SAMPLES/GIFTS. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. PLEASE VISIT MY DISCLOSURE PAGE FOR MORE INFORMATION.