How to pull off the “no makeup” look (even if you don’t have flawless skin)

The “no makeup” look is all about flawless skin and defined yet natural-looking brows. Makeup artist Tamryn Jefferies is going to help you pull it off, even if you don’t have a perfectly clear complexion.

Prep your canvas 

After you’ve applied your daily moisturiser, it’s time to prime. “Anything with optical diffusers in it will help blur the look of fine lines and pores and that’s a great start,” says Tamryn. 

Next, if you’re very pale but feel washed out as opposed to radiant, skip out on heavy foundation and add a sheer veil of colour with a tinted moisturiser or BB cream. “You want to look natural – that means matte and free of intense-looking highlights, crazy contours and shimmer,” she explains. 

Conceal and reveal

If you’re concerned about a particular flaw, Tamryn suggests covering up that area only – not the skin you’re happy with. “Apply a little concealer to anything you want to cover up, things like dark under-eye circles, pimples and pigmentation,” she says. “You can then buff it in using a blending brush and set it with a little translucent powder.”

Eyes alive

Few women are blessed with naturally perfect brows, so if yours are gappy or very thin, you can fill them in. “For a natural look, comb your brows into place using a spooly brush and then define them using a brow powder in a shade that matches their colour or a bit darker. A powder is buildable and a lot softer-looking than a pencil or liquid,” says Tamryn. 

Don’t bother with eyeshadow – just move straight on to two slicks of a mascara that will lengthen or curl your lashes but doesn’t promise “ultimate XXL drama”. If you’re fair, Tamryn suggests you opt for dark brown as it’ll less harsh and more natural-looking than black. 

Colour up! 

The colour that your cheeks turn after a few minutes on the treadmill will be the same as your most natural shade of blush. Find it in the beauty aisle and sweep it onto the apples of your cheeks. “Again, you don’t want anything shimmery. Nobody sparkles when they blush!” says Tamryn. 

“To add very natural-looking tint to your lips, choose a lip stain or balm that’s no more than two shades darker than your natural lip colour. These will look a lot subtler than an opaque lipstick or high-shine lip gloss.”

IMAGE CREDIT: 123rf.com