6 Easy Steps to Achieving a Natural Makeup Look, No Skill Required
The term “natural makeup” is thrown around more often on TikTok than the name Alix Earle, but what does it really mean when it comes down to it? When I think of natural, I think of the no-makeup makeup look. It’s for those days when you don’t want to look totally bare, but barely-there. We’re talking fresh, dewy skin, perfect brows, and just enough mascara to make you look like you got a full eight hours of sleep last night.
We know this trend can be a bit confusing, so we tapped makeup artist Morgan Leigh to break down exactly how to achieve this look like the pros.
About the Expert:
Morgan Leigh is an NYC-based makeup artist and representative of KITE BEAUTY.
How to Achieve a Natural Makeup Look
Step 1: Start With a Perfect Base
Skin prep is so important when it comes to natural makeup looks. “This means well cleansed skin and a great moisturizer that you’ve massaged into your skin,” explains Leigh. “It’s so important to have a canvas that is ready for seamless application of all products to follow.”
First, grab a gentle exfoliating cleanser like the Facial Cleanser by DR. BRANDT SKINCARE that uses salicylic acid and tea tree oil to unclog pesky pores, so makeup application goes on smoothly and seamlessly.
Step 2: Prime the Skin
Next, laver on a moisture-locking cream like TATCHA’S Dewy Skin Cream, which is a favorite of Leigh’s, on to the skin. If you prefer to use a primer, skip moisturizer and use a hydrating primer like The Hydrating Primer by SHADES BY SHAN. Note: Don’t forget to let your moisturizer of choice sink into the skin for a minute or two before moving on to the next step.
Step 3: Reach for Buildable Skin Coverage
Leigh loves buildable foundations and skin tints for the coverage step of this look because you can easily reapply them as needed throughout the day without over drying the skin or making the skin look cakey. We’re big fans of the Tinted Face Oil Foundations by KOSAS for their velvety, hydrating formulas and their blurring, light coverage.
Step 4: Curl the Lashes
Curling your eyelashes before applying mascara is a great way to, well, use less mascara, says Leigh—adding that “this will brighten and wake up the face.” Leigh loves the Tweezerman eyelash curler, but says any will do.
Step 5: Swipe on a Few Coats of Mascara
We love mascara for a lot of reasons, but for this look, it’s a must to keep the eyes looking big and awake. Leigh loves the Liquid Lash Extensions Mascara by THRIVE CAUSEMETICS because it achieves that au natural look without clumps and too dark of pigment. It also has volumizing fibers that coat every lash and take them to sky-high lengths.
Step 6: Final Touches
To finish off this look, you can dab on a bit of cheek color with your fingers. We love the Ready to Bounce Cream Blush by TRESLUCE BEAUTY because of its super-smooth, cream-to-powder finish that blends into the skin seamlessly. Then, for the final, FINAL touches, dab on a little of your favorite illuminizer and lip balm or gloss, and you’re ready to go. Remember, less is more, so if you’re going to go all out on a lip color, take the blush down a notch and vice versa to even out the placement of pigments and keep things looking more natural.
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