Bare-faced Beauty How-To

A.k.a. How to Look Like You’re Wearing No Makeup by Wearing Quite A Bit of Makeup! 🙂

Last week, I posted this photo on IG, and friends on Facebook asked for a tutorial of sorts on how to get the no-makeup makeup look. It actually doesn’t take that very long, I say 10 minutes or so. But you do need quite a bunch of products…which is funny as you’re supposed to look like you’re not wearing any makeup. 😀 (I’d meant to post this over the weekend, but Wendy Williams, haha. I love her! She has a stand-up show this Halloween that I’m so wishing to see!)

Anyhow, the bare-faced look basically is an effort to enhance every feature in subtle ways that provide a compounded, prettifying effect. It’s making skin appear smoother and even toned; allowing cheeks to pop; defining one’s arches to elegantly frame the face; making lashes appear lusher, and eyes more wide awake. It’s the little touches, and here’s how I did this round:

1) I started with a few pats of Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer in Medium ($22, laurageller.com) using my ring finger for the lightest touch. The key is to dab and blend until product “disappears,” versus rubbing and swiping.

Laura Geller Real Deal Concealer in Medium, $22

Contrary to what I’d always written as a beauty ed, these days, I no longer set my concealer with loose or pressed powder. I prefer the dewy finish, especially when layered over a base of fast-absorbing argan oil. And, if you pick a good, full-coverage concealer such as this one, it’ll stay put.

2) Nars Illuminator in Orgasm ($30, narscosmetics.com) is a fantastic liquid highlighter that features a super-fine shimmer that never looks glittery. When applied from cheek to cheek, under the eyes, and over the nose,  instantly lights up my complexion, making it appear dewier, fleshier—in a good way.

NARS Orgasm™ Illuminator, $30

3) Before I even apply eyeshadow and liner, I now begin the rest of my makeup routine at this point with my eyebrows. (I believe this is a Shu Uemura makeup trick I learned a while back). It sets the tone for the rest of the look, and if, like me, you get your game-face ready at your desk and all of a sudden see an email that needs a reply, stat, you can stop right there and still look put-together…just by having polished brows!

I am loving the combination of Benefit Instant Brow Pencil in Medium and Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel in Medium/Deep ($20 and $22 respectively; benefitcosmetics.com) to fill a hairless spot on my right arch and leave my eyebrows looking super-groomed. Plus, the gel leaves a soft, rose-petal scent that makes applying it so pleasant.

Benefit Instant Brow Pencil in Medium, $20

Benefit Gimme Brow Brow-Volumizing Fiber Gel in Medium/Deep, $22

4) My go-to, makeup bag must-have eyeshadow all these years has been Prestige Loose Shimmering Shadow in Jump ($4.95, prestigecosmetics.com), a pale glimmery beige. For this look, I reached for Planet, a bronzier nude, and applied it from the base of my lids up to the crease.

5) Now, now, now…if I have one beauty regret, it’s not hoarding Sue Devitt Eye Intensifier Pencils in the most flattering shade, Tanzania, before the brand went out of business. The pinky-copper pigment, for some reason, simply made my dark brown eyes POP; I used to get compliments all the time, literally, whenever I had this liner on. So I’ve been on the lookout for its dupe since.

Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Trio in Warm Nudes, $11.95 for the set

Oddly, nobody makes the exact same shade, although the Copper and Bronze tips in Physicians Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Eye Enhancing Kohl Kajal Eyeliner Trio in Warm Nudes ($11.95, physiciansformula.com) come close. (Note to PF Product Development folks, nine words in a name is WAY TOO LONG! :D) I also layered Sephora Collection Jumbo Liner 12HR Wear in Brown ($14, sephora.com) with the kajals.

6) To emphasize my top lash line, I worked black liner close to the base, curled my lashes, and applied a coat of Lancôme Grandiôse Wide-Angle Fan Effect Mascara ($32, lancome-usa.com).

Tweezerman® ProCurl Lash Curler ($20, sephora.com)

Lancôme Grandiôse Wide-Angle Fan Effect Mascara, $32

7) As for lip color, it appears that I didn’t have anything on in this shot, but I’m going to talk about the BEST nude lippies and these super-awesome lipsticks in my next post. Stay tuned!!!

Product images courtesy of Sephora and featured brands.