Au Naturel: 4 Steps to Barely There Beauty

Going au naturel doesn’t mean that you need to forego wearing makeup entirely. Instead, it means that you can step away from a lengthy application process and multiple layers. And this time of year, when we want our skin to breathe product-free more often, stripping your routine down to four easy steps allows your strongest features to shine without having to overuse concealer or blush. You’ll achieve a glowing face when you go back to basics with these natural beauty tips for barely-there makeup.

Step 1

Setting the stage for your minimal makeup look starts with a smooth, hydrated face. After your morning skin care routine, apply a moisturizing, oil-free primer as your base. Smashbox Photo Finish Hydrating Foundation Primer cools the skin, locks in moisture and evens skin tone–prepping your face for a lightweight foundation.

Step 2

Apply foundation mixed with your favorite moisturizer or a BB cream such as Kiehl’s Skin Tone Correcting & Beautifying BB Cream (one of my summer favorites) all over. Either works wonders at providing complete coverage without a thick, noticeable finish. Then, lock it all in place with Urban Decay de-slick Setting Spray.

Step 3

Unless you’re sticking with shades close to your skin tone, eyeshadow will likely throw off this entire look. Abandon your love of shimmers and mattes and focus on lining your eyes. A gel liner, unlike a liquid or pencil, will create definition without being dramatic–think Bobbi Brown Dark Chocolate Ink instead of black. Apply one coat of long-lasting mascara and move on to your next feature.

Step 4

You can use Benefit Benetint on your lips and sneak a bit on your cheeks if you’re dying for a rosy glow, or stick with one of the lipsticks in your stash for the ultimate barely-there natural lip. Using your ring finger, run it across a bright berry lipstick–collecting a small amount of product on your finger. Dab on your top and bottom lip gently, then rub together and dab once more. You’ll get more uses out of your essential lipsticks and finish your au naturel look with a soft tinted pout.

Good Luck!

<3 Mish