FACE
The No Makeup Makeup Look: Step-by-Step Natural-Looking Makeup
When it comes to makeup, we’re here for the bold looks: the bright cheeks, the mega gleamy highlighters, and volumized lashes that could take your falsies down a peg or two. But some days, your most radiant look is subtle and deceptively au naturel.
The no makeup makeup look is a day-to-night way to highlight your natural features. And it’ll have you out the door in seconds flat. If you’ve ever wondered how to achieve that “barely-there” balance, we’re sharing our go-to routine.
How to Achieve No Makeup Makeup Look
The secret to the no makeup makeup look is as simple as selecting the right products and learning how to apply them. Once you’ve found your routine, you can easily radiate a natural-looking glow every day of the week (and even layer on top for a bolder look!).
Here’s how.
Step 1: Start With Skincare
Every stunning makeup look relies a lot on the skincare routine that comes before it. To truly maximize your glow, make sure your face is cleansed, exfoliated, and moisturized, giving you a smooth, even surface to work with.
You can also use a smoothing primer like The POREfessional to help minimize the look of pores and fine lines and lock your makeup in place.
Step 2: Apply Your Foundation
Skin tone-matching foundation has played a not-so-small role in the no makeup makeup look. Of course, for your subtlest looks, you’re free to skip foundation altogether. But if you have the time and want to start with an even smoother canvas, reach for a natural-looking, nourishing formula like The POREfessional Foundation smoothing & blurring matte foundation with Niacinamide.
Step 3: Glow As You Go
Your next step? Achieving that subtle, radiant glow that defines the no makeup makeup look.
Dust a hint of bronzer all over your face or just on the high points (where you’d naturally tan first). Alternatively, you can also use bronzer to contour. While a full contour might be saved for a more dramatic look, a soft sweep on the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, and on the sides of your nose can create effortless definition.
For a soft matte finish, the Hoola powder bronzer will do the trick; for a creamy, buttery feel, the Hoola Wave Cream Bronzer Balm is your go-to.
To build on the sun-kissed effect (or achieve a wind-nipped look in cold weather), apply a touch of blush on your cheeks and nose, like a dot or two of our Benetint lip & cheek stain. (And don’t put it away just yet—spoiler alert, it comes back later!)
Step 4: Raise a Couple of Brows
With natural-looking sculpted brows, you can add subtle definition to your no makeup makeup look, and an ultra-fine pencil like Precisely, My Brow Pencil is just the tool for the job.
Draw short, light strokes to mimic your natural brow hair in sparse areas, then use the built-in spoolie to blend and brush out those gorgeous brows.
Step 5: Add Your Finishing Touches
An ever-so-subtle lip is the ultimate cherry on top of any no makeup makeup look, and that means it’s time for Benetint’s encore! That’s right, she does double duty as a cheek and lip tint. Keep it light and playful with a pink shade like Playtint or spice up the everyday with a reddish hue like Lovetint.
For a true “no-makeup” effect, we’d forgo eyeshadow altogether. But if you’re feeling like taking things up just a notch, some bronzers (like Hoola Wave) have a side hustle too: as a lowkey, toasty-warm eyeshadow. Dust a bit on your lids, then complete the eyes with a touch of subtle eyeliner or mascara (brown usually works best for no makeup makeup look).
An ever-so-light coat of liquid highlighter (like Dew-La-La) offers a natural-looking dewy finish that blends right in, especially if you skipped the foundation or blush earlier. Apply it to the high points of your face to catch the light just right.
Finally, don’t forget to set! A skin-friendly, translucent-finish setting spray like The POREfessional Super Setter will keep your products looking fresh for 24 hours*, so you can serve a no makeup makeup look with no worries about sweat or smudges.
Try the No Makeup Makeup Look for a Natural Look That’s Naturally You
The no makeup makeup look has stayed in fashion for a reason. It allows you to highlight the beautiful features that make you you, and its versatility makes it easy to go back to again and again.
No matter the occasion, trust no makeup makeup look to get you glowing with confidence.
*instrumental test on 30 participants
Sources:
Britannica. Why Did We Start Wearing Makeup? https://www.britannica.com/story/why-did-we-start-wearing-makeup
Harper’s Bazaar. How No-Makeup Makeup Revolutionized Beauty. https://www.harpersbazaar.com/beauty/makeup/a64471126/no-makeup-makeup-explained/