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Looks - Ultra Natural, The "I'm Not Really Wearing Makeup" Look

Despite spending most of my day with my head in the beauty realm, I honestly don’t find I wear full makeup as often as I used to. Maybe it’s because I’m busier, or maybe it’s because I’m lazier (I’m going with the latter), but nonetheless, I tend to go for a minimal face. There are even a few days (when my skin is being nice) where I will even go sans makeup altogether!

What exactly does the “I’m Not Really Wearing Makeup” look entail? I have discovered that with the right mix of products you can get that totally natural look and look good in it.

I used Studio Fix Fluid in NC30 applied in dabs using the 194 brush, then buffed in with the 182 brush. Sculpt sculpting powder to contour cheeks using the 168 brush. Select Sheer Loose Powder in NC25 applied using the 187 brush (stippling brush). Dior Skin Shimmer in Amber Diamond with the 150 brush on apples and high planes of cheeks. Espresso and Carbon eyeshadows to fill in brows with a 266 brush. I finished by wearing 3N lipstick with 2N lipglass on lips.

What do you need? Since we are not all the same shade of skintone, nor do we all own the same products, let me give you some more generic ideas as to what you need for that super natural look.

Find out…

For the face | Start out with a foundation that is lightweight but really evens out your skin. I have always felt like liquid does a better job than pressed powders, personally. Many achieve the look of flawless skin with mineral foundation, too! Conceal if you choose to (I generally just put a little extra Studio Fix Fluid over any trouble spots) with a product that is creamy and not drying. If you contour lightly, it helps to accentuate your cheekbones without calling too much attention to them; just enough to polish. Choosing a contour color is not actually that difficult; you simply need a product that is a shade or so deeper than your natural skintone. Try matte blushes or bronzers, or even products designed for contouring (e.g., sculpting powders). Apply a light dusting of loose powder to set your foundation so it doesn’t fade or move throughout the day. You want a blush/cheek color that is incredibly subtle, that’s “barely there.” I have found love in Dior’s Skin Shimmer in Amber Diamond; it gives me the perfect touch of bronzy-rose flush. I like to use a product with a modicum of shimmer in it, just to help highlight at the same time. Sometimes for extra punch, I use Margin blush underneath Amber Diamond. Some ideas… Well-Dressed blush, Springsheen blush, MSFs.

For the eyes | I opt for no shadow, but sometimes a dusting of a matte or semi-matte neutral shadow on the lid is nice. Even a matte contouring of the outer crease area can help to define the eye without making it look “done.” Normally, I would apply two coats or so of mascara (I didn’t in the photo, because I was planning to do a full makeup look later on), but I don’t line the eyes. Filling in brows really does polish a look for most, because not everyone has full, natural brows that are well-shaped and have no sparse spots. You want to choose a brow color that is a shade lighter or the same as your natural brow, as a rule of thumb. Going darker can often be too stark (which is why many artists do not recommend black as a fill-in color) and unnatural.

For the lips | I like nudes, neutrals, and light to medium pinks. If you want to truly stay in the “I’m Not Really Wearing Any Makeup” look, choosing light colored lipsticks gives your lips some color without drawing attention to them. Of course, with everything else so natural, this just might be the perfect time to use that Russian Red lipstick you keep stashed away!

58 Comments

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ilovecheese Avatar

Oohh..you look so glowy-pretty! Your cheeks draw attention – hey look sun kissed! Usually I have this look when I’m really really late and had no time for blush/eye-shadow. Still in search for the best foundation which can cover my acne scars without seeming like I’ve caked it up! MAC Studio Fix offers good coverage, can you suggest anything else? I’ve deep pitted scars – Do I need concealer as a rule?

Tanya Avatar

Ms. Cheese – have you looked into microdermabration? It really worked wonders for my acne scars. There is also lasar work done by a Derma which is a longer term solution for removal of scars. Its pricy but I did it and OMG did it work wonders on my skin.

Zsofi Avatar

Really natural yet beautiful,easy to do and it inspires me not to go to school without a totally bare face no more 😀 i used to do this because this way i could sleep a bit more in the morning.
i really like the way You wear your hair on this pic.
and i am delighted,that i’m not the only one,who’s skin is acting nice on some days,very bad on others….
sometimes i don’t even need makeup,sometimes i could cry when i look at my skin…

Christine Avatar

Definitely! I go barefaced if I’m REALLY pressed for time and the skin is “okay” on its own. I’ve been using a new shampoo, which I’m liking, so maybe that is helping the hair.

Oh, trust me, my skin makes me feel the same way. I call myself “pizza face” whenever it’s being mean to me.

Zsofi Avatar

“pizza face” LOL!!! :-DDDD i wish You never have a pizza face again!
stick with this new shampoo,Your hair is glossy,full of life.the word “split ends” really wasn’t invented for You 😀
this makeup makes the nice shapes of Your brows really obvious 😀

Lindsay Avatar

for my au natural look i usually use a mineralize that has no glitter or sparkly stuff (i.e. medium deep). I apply that all over with a large brush, then i shade by brow with texture, and apply three coats of zoom lash..

Tanya Avatar

I adore your natural look and really apprecite you adding variety to the site, its nice to see variety in color but I really dig this very different look.

Pia Avatar

Great natural look, Christine. Very natural yet made up. I was wondering, though, how do you decide on which SFF shade to choose? Do you go darker that your natural color or go lighter? The same with the choice of powder? I see that your powder is lighter than your foundation. Any guideline here?

The reason why I ask is I use select loose powder nc20. But when I went to MAC counter yesterday to try out SF powder/foundation, the MA said I should try NC35 as NC 20 will be too light on me. However, when I put it on, it’s still very light. NC40 looks better on me. I went home empty handed (powder wise as I still bought Avarice lg and bronze powder).

Your thought will be much appreciated.

Christine Avatar

Hey Pia!

Thank you so much 🙂

Actually, I’m NC30, based on when I got matched at MAC. Your foundation should be the same shade as your skin – probably go lighter rather than darker if there isn’t an exact match… My powder is a different color only because I bought it like, five years ago, and only started using it (and I figure, it’s only a slight difference, and I use it sparingly). Otherwise I’d have a matching one 🙂

Tonee Avatar

Nice make up, Christine! I use similar colors (Smashbox Soft Lights instead of Dior) and MAC Blot pressed powder when I do a “no make” up look. I love Touch topped with Revealing for a nude lip – haven’t tried N lipsticks and glasses yet.

LALALALALOVE Avatar

OMG I LOVE THAT LOOK!…I’ve been waiting for this for a long time LOL. I basically look like that everyday, but I never thought of using contour before=/.

Hannah Avatar

Hey! Finally, a more natural and do-able look that I can walk out in public in without looking like a nightwalker!!! I like the natural look, and you look so much prettier here. The fresh and natural look is my favorite look for you =)

Sara Avatar

you look GORGEOUS, with or without a lot of makeup.

this is a semi random question: the studio fix makeup i use is C2, what type of undertones does that mean i have? the sales person who was trying to find my shade picked that but when i wear it i feel like i am a slightly different shade than i am with out it.

sorry i know that was random but i know you can help me. 😀

cilla Avatar

omg, I love this look! thank you for putting this up, I found your site really helpful. this is my favorite look because of my daily circumstances and the convenience. I’m just starting to get into makeup, MAC mostly, and I love everything you have here!!

btw, for the eyeshadow, do you think something like soba, seedling, shroom from mac would be good for this natural look??

Michelle Avatar

I think You are Very beautiful. Keep up the good work!!! Also thanx soooooo much for your tutorials, I’m becoming a MACaholic,Teehee.

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