There’s a lot to love about layers when the temperature outside falls. But sometimes less is more. No-makeup makeup is the effortless beauty trend that has taken the beauty world by storm of late. While smokey eye makeup and bold red lips are always a treat for a night out or a fancy event, the new everyday staple is simple, natural makeup. Rather than packing on layers of product, the key to looking fresh-faced and flawless is actually using less product and simpler application techniques to enhance your natural features. Follow our guide to no-makeup makeup, including what it is and how to achieve it.

What is no-makeup makeup?

Minimalist makeup is exactly what it sounds like — minimal products and minimal application. The no-makeup makeup trend involves effortlessly enhancing your natural features with fewer products and using simple application techniques. While heavy makeup looks have dominated the beauty space in the past, more recently, light makeup looks that allow natural beauty to shine through have become all the rage.

What products do you need for a no-makeup makeup look?

One of the best parts of incorporating a no-makeup makeup look into your beauty routine is that you need far fewer makeup products to achieve it. With just a few makeup staples, you can create a well-put-together everyday look that is fit for all occasions. When it comes to natural glowy makeup, think of hydrating skin prep, lightweight formulas and long-lasting products. This might include a moisturising base, a primer, a lightweight foundation, some colour for the cheeks, mascara, brow gel and a tinted lip balm to finish it all off.

Step 1: Prep your skin

While having high-quality makeup products is essential for a flawless face, skincare is another crucial element we must remember. Before foundation or a primer, applying skincare will ensure that you are creating a hydrated base for makeup application. Applying face makeup without adequate skincare prep can lead to skin flaking and dryness and will also dampen the glow of your skin. Our bestselling Advanced Night Repair serum is perfect for a boost of hydration and would sit nicely under any foundation. Then, apply our Revitalizing Supreme+ Youth Power Soft Creme Moisturizer to lock in the moisture.

Step 2: Ace your base with a primer

No-makeup makeup is all about lightly layering products, starting with a primer. Applying a hydrating primer will help create a smooth and even base for your makeup products and also helps your makeup stay on longer throughout the day. Our Futurist Aqua Brilliance Watery Glow Primer is formulated as a refreshing gel cream offering a dewy glow finish.

Step 3: Apply a lightweight foundation

We’d recommend opting for a lightweight sheer foundation to achieve a minimal makeup look. It’s always better to start sheer and slowly layer your foundation to avoid looking cakey. No-makeup makeup is all about looking clean and effortless, so you want to avoid anything too high-coverage that will appear thick on the skin. Our Double Wear Sheer Long Wear Makeup is buildable and moisturising, providing the perfect sheen to your skin.

Step 4: Add a burst of colour

For a beautiful flush of colour to the cheeks, add a touch of blush. If you want to achieve a natural makeup look, blend your blush outwards and up onto the temples. This will make it look like you are glowing from within. Our Pure Color Envy Sculpting Blush makes things easy with an all-in-one blush and brush combo.

Step 5: Build a subtle glow

Next, add an extra layer of glow to the high points of your face. Highlighting is the final step in sculpting your face and adding dimension. A good highlighter is one of the most important parts of no-makeup makeup, as it accentuates your bone structure and adds a little something to your foundation. Use our Bronze Goddess Highlighting Powder Gelee and enhance your entire makeup look.

Step 6: Naturally enhance your lashes

Accentuating the eyes helps to pull a minimal makeup look together. Finding a formula that separates your lashes at the root and does not clump is essential in creating a more natural makeup look. Enhance your natural lashes by using our Double Wear Zero Smudge Lengthening Mascara. This smudge-free formula lifts and lengthens your lashes, instantly adding drama to the eyes.

Step 7: Shape your brows with a clear gel

Brows frame the face, so it’s important to shape them properly. Use a clear brow gel, like our Volumizing Brow Gel, perfect for taming and styling your brows with precision.

Step 8: Hydrate & moisturise your lips

You can’t forget the lips. No-makeup makeup might not involve bold, colourful lipstick, but it does not mean we ignore the importance of the lips in a makeup look. Finish your look with one swipe of our Pure Color Envy Color Replenish Lip Balm. Featuring our barely there pigment, this lip balm is just what you need to round out your minimalist look and maintain hydrated, healthy-looking lips.

Doing a full face of dramatic makeup can be a lot of fun for an evening out but can sometimes feel tedious or too difficult for everyday wear. If you’re trying to freshen up your daily look, no-makeup makeup might be just the thing to try. Enhance your natural features while feeling effortlessly chic when leaving the house. Why not give it a go?