The go-to of models, makeup artists and influencers alike, natural makeup looks remain at the forefront of our feeds and saved tutorials. You know the look – a glowing and hydrated complexion, brightened eye area, flushed cheeks and a just-kissed, natural pout.
To nail natural looking makeup, your skincare base is as important as the makeup products you opt for. Hydrated complexions can’t be faked – so in this guide we’ll walk through how to make makeup look like skin with the right prep alongside foundations, concealers and blush that make skin pop.
Using minimal makeup, you can up your game with natural makeup looks for day or night that’ll have those around you complimenting your skin instead of your makeup.
Natural makeup 101
Because light makeup is used here, we’re going to kick your skincare prep and application techniques up a notch. They’ll be doing the heavy lifting in place of full coverage products. Natural looking makeup is achieved by applying the right products with the right makeup brushes and blending them in via step-by-step methods. This ensures that each product blends seamlessly with skin’s natural tone - without disappearing. For makeup that looks like skin, follow our 5-step routine below.
Step 1: Skincare prep
The secret to brightened, natural looking makeup is inner glow. Applying makeup that looks like skin requires a healthy, hydrated base, as this will make the best canvas. Before makeup application, nourish skin with essential radiance-boosting moisture. Skincare routines tailored to your skin type and concerns will yield the best results. We suggest allowing your skincare steps each a minimum of 30 seconds to absorb into skin before layering and allowing skincare to melt into skin before applying primer. Also essential to healthy skin is giving it time to rest – so ensure you always remove your makeup at the end of the day.
Step 2: Ace your base
Okay, so now how to make makeup look like skin? To achieve natural makeup that looks like your own complexion enhanced, opt for products that promote an even skin texture without heaviness. Three steps are all you need for a glowing base:
Primer: This skin prep superhero creates an even and poreless canvas for your makeup products to blend with and cling to. A primed base also helps your natural looking makeup remain in place all day. For hydrated and even skin, Bare With Me Hydrating Jelly Primer is formulated with cucumber and aloe extracts.
Tint foundation: Medium to buildable coverage formulas go a long way towards creating makeup that looks like skin. Bare With Me Tint Foundation is available in 24 shades to blur seamlessly with your skin tone. The vegan formula is packed with skincare ingredients like glycerin and niacinamide to illuminate complexions from within. To apply, it’s helpful to start with less and build up as needed. Start in the centre of your face and slowly blend out, using a soft foundation brush like Total Control Drop Foundation Brush. Don’t forget to match the tone to your neck – no foundation lines here!
Concealer: With a strategic hand, light makeup application can still brighten and correct where it needs to. Bare With Me Concealer Serum combines the targeted support of serums to address concerns like redness and blemishes with a brightening concentration of pigment to lighten up and conceal. Dab product to the under eye area and wherever else you like, blending with a sponge or brush. For bright, natural makeup, we suggest concentrating concealer at the inner and outer corners of your eye and bridge of your nose.
Step 3: Add warmth
For radiant, natural looking makeup, give your complexion a flush of colour and add warmth next. We love cream blush formulas for minimal makeup looks as the texture melts into a natural blend. Sweet Cheeks Soft Cheek Tint is our creamy whipped blush which diffuses out perfectly for a second skin feel. To enhance the flushed cheek glow, you can also apply blush underneath your foundation.
Next, your bronzer adds depth and helps to contour and define. California Beamin’ Face & Body Bronzer provides an airbrushed, tanned glow. Using Pro Powder Brush, start on the outer edge of your forehead (again, we suggest going in with minimal makeup and building up as desired). Then focus on your cheekbones, along your jaw and the bridge of your nose for a softly glowing, warm complexion.
Step 4: Plump that pout
Natural makeup looks aim to reflect light, and a glossy pout helps to add dimension to radiant complexions. You can use your lip makeup of choice here – like lipstick, lip gloss or liquid lipstick – but aim to keep the tones neutral and natural. With your skin tone and undertone as a guide, select a your-lips-but-better nude, sticking to browns, muted pinks and brick tones. If opting for lipstick, use a lip liner in a similar shade to accentuate your natural lip shape and seal in the product for all-day perfection.
Step 5: Set & seal
Setting spray is key to makeup’s longevity, and minimal makeup is no exception. Now that you’ve nailed flushed cheeks and bright eyes, lock your light makeup look in with a hydrating makeup spray. Bare With Me Prime. Set. Refresh. Multitasking Spray is formulated with aloe and cucumber extracts to add extra radiance to your look whilst sealing everything in place.
Loved this guide? Perfect your eyebrow makeup with our step-by-step brow guide next.
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