The No-Makeup Makeup Look

Skip the obvious makeup and focus on perfecting your skin, then add the smallest touches where they count most.

The no-makeup look is actually the hardest makeup to master because there's nowhere to hide—every choice has to be perfectly calibrated to your face.

1. Perfect your base. Start with a lightweight tinted moisturizer or BB cream that matches your skin exactly. Blend with damp fingers or a beauty sponge, focusing on evening out tone rather than covering everything. Spot-conceal only where you actually need it.
2. Warm up your complexion. Use cream blush in a shade that mimics your natural flush. Apply to the apples of your cheeks and blend upward toward your temples. The key is building slowly—you can always add more.
3. Define without defining. Brush clear or tinted brow gel through your eyebrows in upward strokes. For eyes, stick to one neutral eyeshadow shade close to your skin tone across the lid, or skip shadow entirely and just curl your lashes.
4. Add the finishing touches. Apply one coat of brown or clear mascara, focusing on separating lashes rather than building volume. Finish with a lip balm or sheer lip tint that enhances your natural lip color.