With the exception of using statement colors, no woman really wants to look like she’s wearing makeup, especially in the summer. While it would be wonderful if we could all wake up looking flawless and composed in the morning, most of us need a little help along the way. Summertime is one of the worst seasons for makeup; lipsticks melt, foundations become cakey on the skin, and perspiration leads to uneven tone. A ‘no makeup’ makeup look can work with, not against, your skin tone to create an easy summer appropriate look.
The most important thing to remember when applying a ‘no makeup’ makeup look, especially in the summer, is that you want all of the products on your face to be one blended layer. If you layer moisturizer, primer, foundation, and concealer onto your skin, they will wipe off easily and not react well to extreme temperature changes.
How much makeup you end up wearing relies completely on the quality of your skin. If you have very clear and even skin, a normal sunscreen would be enough preparation. For most of us though, we need a bit of coverage to even out the skin tone. A tinted moisturizer with SPF such as Laura Mercier’s Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20 – Oil Free $42 will hydrate the skin, without added shine, and provide all the skin care benefits of moisturizer with the added bonus of sheer coverage. Instead of a highlighter or illuminator, opt for a sheer light-reflecting concealer to lighten any areas of pigmentation on the skin. You must always remember with ‘no makeup’ makeup that you don’t want to use anything that doesn’t look like it would naturally happen to your face. This means no glitter or shimmering products. Clinique’s Airbrush Concealer Illuminates, Perfects $19.50 is perfect for this look as it will lighten any darkened areas and should be enough to cover any minor blemishes. If necessary, use a thin eyeliner brush and stipple with a more opaque concealer to cover any larger marks, but remember to blend the product well into the skin.
For your cheeks and lips, take your color cue from the color of your natural blush. You want to enhance your natural tones without drawing attention to them. A cream combination lip and cheek product such as Bobbi Brown’s Pot Rouge $24 has a sheer finish and when applied lightly with the fingertips will give you that matte flushed look that looks completely natural. If you have more bronze tones in your skin, or have a slight tan from the summer sun, add a touch of bronzer such as NARS’ Bronzing Powder $33. This is not the time to contour as you want your face to look as natural as possible. A finishing powder such as Make Up For Ever’s HD Microfinish Powder $30 can help to even out any remaining texture issues while mattifying any shine. If you want to apply mascara or eyeliner, do so thoughtfully and sparingly. Curled eyelashes can often do wonders to open the eye and you won’t have to worry about any makeup running. If you do choose to use eyeliner, use a more neutral tone such as brown, for tanned or medium skin tones, or grey for blonde, to fill in the lash line on the upper lid. This will make your eyelashes appear thicker without your eyes looking harshly lined.
Photos: IMAXtree
