10 Things You Should & Shouldn't Do For Flawless Natural Makeup

Source: Stephane Cardinale /Getty Images

If you had told us two years ago that we’d opt for no-makeup makeup over a freshly caked face, we wouldn’t have believed you. But here we are lusting after natural, glowing skin, feathered brows, and minimal makeup vibes. Plus, since we’ve been WFH and focusing on our skincare routine more than ever, our skin is healthier and more radiant.

As you’d expect, we’ve learned all the best tips and simple hacks that allow us to achieve no-makeup makeup in five minutes flat. Here are 10 dos and don’ts for perfecting this look…

DO Prep Your Base

We all know flawless skin starts with a smooth canvas, and gentle exfoliation is the best way to get there.  The WISHFUL Yo Glow Enzyme Scrub, $39, is our fave exfoliator for smoothing, evening, and giving your skin that natural glow. Alternatively, swap out a scrub for a gentle AHA toner like the COSRX AHA/BHA Clarifying Treatment Toner, $23. Once you’ve gently retextured your skin, it’s time to add layers of hydration!

DO Hydrate Your Skin

Any makeup artist will tell you that plumping your skin with a hydrating moisturizer, serum or face mask is the secret to glowing, healthy skin. If you have time for a sheet mask, our WISHFUL Thirst Trap Cocoon Mask, $9, is the ultimate skin hydrator that’s packed with soothing aloe vera and hydrating sodium hyaluronate, and niacinamide to brighten and protect. We’re also obsessed with the Alpyn Beauty Serum Plantgenuis Survival Serum, $68, as it leaves our skin looking dewy, healthy, and hella-radiant thanks to its powerful combination of skin-brightening ingredients. For more amazing serums, check out the skin-enhancing serums celeb MUAs couldn’t work without.

Source: Tristan Fewings/Getty Images

DO Use Cream Products

No-makeup makeup is all about healthy, glowing skin and the easiest way to achieve that is by using cream products. The right cream product will melt into your skin and blend seamlessly, evening out uneven tone and brightening, without looking cakey.

DO Keep it Monochromatic

A monochromatic palette (when your blush, eyes, and lip color are all within the same color family) will instantly elevate your no-makeup vibe and enable you to create a polished, harmonious look. In fact, it’s super easy when it comes to a no-makeup makeup look. If you’re using powder products, simply use a soft wash of your blush or bronzer powder on your lids as an eyeshadow. Alternatively, if you’re using a cream blush, dab a small amount onto your lips and even along your eyelids for a dewy, monochromatic look.

Do Brush Up Your Brows

Laminated, feather brows have dominated 2020, and they’re the ultimate no-makeup brow style. The quickest way to achieve a lion brow is using a tinted or clear brow gel like the Benefit Cosmetic 24-HR Brow Setter Shaping & Setting Gel, $24. The super-strong formula sets brows in place all day without flaking or feeling like glue. Once you’ve created the shape, feel free to fill in any sparse areas with your fave pencil, creating tiny hair-like strokes to keep the look natural.

Source: Rosdiana Ciaravolo/Getty Images

DO Use a Blender

Dewy skin gives such a healthy and fresh appearance. To achieve this look, it’s important to opt for a radiant skin-finish foundation (not a matte formula) and a damp makeup sponge to apply your foundation. Just soak your sponge in water and squeeze out any excess before you apply your foundation – this works so well because it gives such an airbrushed, lightweight look.

Tip: If you have freckles on your nose and cheeks, bounce a clean part of your makeup sponge over the top of your cheekbones and the bridge of your nose to pick up excess product and allow your freckles to peek through.

DON’T Pile on Foundation

When creating no-makeup makeup, choose your foundation wisely. Look for something that offers light to medium coverage and apply it sparingly onto the skin. Our new go-to is the Huda Beauty #FauxFilter Skin Finish Foundation Stick, $39, as it leaves your skin looking so radiant and healthy while still achieving that filtered finish. Tinted moisturizers are another great option as they’ll hydrate your skin while evening out skin tone. Check out our fave tinted moisturizers here.

If you don’t have a light-to-medium coverage foundation, you can DIY your own using your current foundation and a drop of your fave moisturizer or face oil. Simply mix one pump of foundation and one pump of moisturizer onto a mixing tray, and apply to your skin using a damp sponge or your fingers.

DON’T Skip Blush

A soft rosy glow is one of the most important elements of a no-makeup makeup look. Our faves right now are the Freck Cheek Slime, $18, as it’s super pigmented, easy to blend, and lasts all day long, and the e.l.f Jelly Pop Flush Blush, $6, which has a unique jelly texture that melts into the skin so you can layer it for a natural flush or an intense pop. Check out more amazing cream blushes here.

Source: Presley Ann/Getty Images

DON’T Forget Your Lips

For an everyday no-makeup makeup look, opt for a hydrating lip balm that’ll leave your lips feeling super juicy and soft. Our go-to is the Huda Beauty Silk Balm Hydra-Plumping Lip Balm, $21, as it’s really hydrating and has a subtle blushed-pink shade that looks gorgeous on everyone. We’re also obsessed with lip stains as they don’t smudge on our mask, which is a must RN!  Plus, you can use them on your lips and cheeks for a monochromatic vibe. The Victoria Beckham Beauty Bitten Lip Tint, $36, has become our daily staple.

DON’T Go Heavy on the Eyes

As much as we love eyeliner and false lashes, for a no-makeup makeup look, simply add definition to your eyes using a nude-for-your eyeshadow or bronzer and a few coats of mascara. We love to use our bronzer for our eyes by taking a small fluffy brush and working it into the crease and along the lower lash line to contour.

For more makeup tips, check out our dos and don’ts for flawless Zoom makeup.

Disclaimer: Every product we review has been independently selected and tested without bias by our editorial team. We never take payment to review products, however, some brands allow affiliate links, so we may earn a commission if you purchase a product by clicking on one of our links.