As easy as a “no makeup” makeup look sounds, sometimes this is one of the hardest looks to achieve because you want everything to blend so seamlessly and perfectly that you just look like you have healthy, glowing skin with nothing on. Below is a break down of all the products I use in a no makeup makeup look and how to apply them for a flawless finish. Just remember, with all products, less is more! By Holly Harnwell
Step 1 – Skin
Skin is quite an important step in achieving the perfect “no makeup” makeup look. Make sure your skin is well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and make sure you have exfoliated so that you are working with a smoother surface. Any dry skin or rough patches can cause makeup to build up in those areas and look cakey so we want to avoid this as much as possible.
Step 2 – Moisturiser
Always moisturise the skin well before applying makeup, especially for a no makeup makeup look. I always recommend the Embryolesse cream under makeup as it is super hydrating and sinks in to the skin nicely creating a perfect base for your makeup. If you like a dewy/balmy finish to your skin, I like to add the Glossier glow drops or weleda skin food cream on the cheekbones and sides of the face to give some extra glow. I tend to avoid the tee-zone as we don’t want to look too oily, just super glowy and fresh.
Step 3 – Light Foundation
A “no makeup” makeup look can be done either without foundation, or a light coverage foundation if you feel like you need a little extra coverage or want to even out your skin tone. My favourite products to enhance the skin without looking like you are wearing anything is the Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion drops or the Dior Backstage Face And Body foundation. Both of these products are super light in texture and offer a glowy skin like finish. Apply either of these starting at the centre of the face and blending out over the entire face and down the neck. This should give you a nice glow and even colour over the face and neck. If you don’t like using foundation, skip to step 4.
Step 4 – Concealer
Concealer plays a big role in creating that perfect skin finish when it comes to the no makeup makeup look. Concealer can help brighten up the under eyes, cover any redness or blemishes and create even skin texture for a flawless finish. This is probably one of the most important steps in creating the perfect “no makeup” makeup look. Choosing the right concealer is going to make a huge difference. Make sure your concealer is matched to your natural skin colour. Even if it is a touch lighter than your foundation, it will brighten and freshen up your face.
My favourite concealers that I find blend flawlessly into the skin for that second skin finish are the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer, the Kosas Revealer Concealer or the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Concealer. Start by dabbing the concealer in the inner corners of your eyes and your under eyes. Use a finger to press the product into the skin and blend on to your cheekbones and down the sides of your nose. Some people like to use a brushes but I believe the warmth of your finger really helps press the product into the skin for a smoother finish and less wastage of your product. Add a little more concealer to the sides of the nose, around the nose, a touch on the chin and centre of the forehead. When these areas of the face are concealed correctly, it makes the whole face look flawless without looking like you are wearing makeup.
If you put too much coverage on the higher parts of the face such as the upper forehead, on top of the nose or a lot on the cheek this is where you will be able to notice coverage so in a no makeup makeup look, we want to keep the coverage in these areas to a minimum.
Step 5 – Bronzer
Some people find that a “no makeup” makeup look can make you look washed out as you don’t have the colour from foundation to warm up the skin. This is where bronzer will be your best friend. It can help shape the face and add a sunkissed healthy glow. My favourite Bronzer is the Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick. Definitely worth the investment as it goes on super smooth and blends easily. Apply the bronzer to the top of the forehead around the hairline, just under the highest parts of your cheekbones, a touch on the apples of your cheeks and a touch on the bridge of the nose for that sun kissed look. You can also use this to contour your eyes and nose. Once applied, use your finger again to blend the product into the skin. A beauty blender is also a good option but wiping with a brush will generally cause the bronzer to move and go patchy which we definitely don’t want.
Step 6 – Highlight
When it comes to the no makeup makeup look, we want the skin to look hydrated and glowy. Highlighters can help add to the glow however you want to choose a more balmy highlight rather than a sparkly highlight as we dont want to see sparkles sitting on top of the skin. My go to for this type of look is the Westman Atelier Lit Up stick or the Mecca Hydra Cheek Tint and Illuminating Balm. A paw paw cream or natural shea butter will also do the trick. Use the balm to highlight the tops of the cheekbones and blend up the sides of the cheeks to the temples.
Step 7 – Blush
Once we have finished our base, blush is an absolute essential for bringing colour back into the skin and tying in the rest of the makeup for that healthy glowy finish. When doing a “no makeup” makeup look, I like to use a balmy blush as it adds a dewy glow and wears like second skin. My go-to blush for this is the Stila Convertible Colour Cream in Colour Camilla for a neutral or Peony for a rosy finish. Apply this to the apples of the cheeks blending up the cheekbone. I also like to add some around the temples and a touch on the nose again for that sunkissed finish.
Step 8 – Brows
With a no makeup makeup look, you want the brows to look tidy but definitely not overdone. If you are blessed with good brows, just gel them up and you are good to go! If you need a little fill in, use a small tipped pencil such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow wiz as you will get more precision. The best way to shape your brows without overdoing them is to start by drawing a fine line just under the brow, like lining your bottom lip. You can also overdraw a little if you need to correct the shape. Once this is done, fill in any obvious gaps and then brush the brows up until the line is blended. This should give the brows shape but not too much colour so they still look natural. Gel the brows so they are set in place and you are good to go!
Step 9 – Eyes
I like to keep the eyes super minimal for a no makeup makeup look. You can either leave them bare, or if you do like a bit of definition, one of my favourite products is the Mac Paint Pot in colour Groundwork. It is a cream eyeshadow that is so natural you can hardly tell you are wearing anything. It just adds a bit of definition to the eye. Apply this to the eyelid and blend into the crease. You can also add a touch to the bottom lash line. Finish with a touch of mascara.
Step 10 – Lip Balm
The only last step is to keep the lips hydrated to tie in our healthy glowy no makeup makeup aesthetic. Any lip balm will do the trick but my absolute favourites are either the Dermal Therapy Lip Balm which is great if you tend to get dry lips or the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask which is super plumping and hydrating. Apply to the top and bottom lip and you’re all set!
About Holly
Holly Harnwell is one of Australia’s top hair and make-up artists who has worked on Australian Fashion Week and campaigns for the likes of David Jones, Cotton On, Portmans and Supre just to name a few. She has also worked with influencers including Rozalia Russian, Jessie Murphy, Steph Claire Smith and Brooke Hogan. Holly specialises in the “no make-up look”, where she excels in creating flawless skin and accentuating natural features.
ele Note – in articles where a product is linked, ele may receive a small commission at no cost to readers, however all products linked and referred to have been reviewed by the ele team and are truly recommendations we love.
As easy as a “no makeup” makeup look sounds, sometimes this is one of the hardest looks to achieve because you want everything to blend so seamlessly and perfectly that you just look like you have healthy, glowing skin with nothing on. Below is a break down of all the products I use in a no makeup makeup look and how to apply them for a flawless finish. Just remember, with all products, less is more! By Holly Harnwell
Step 1 – Skin
Skin is quite an important step in achieving the perfect “no makeup” makeup look. Make sure your skin is well hydrated by drinking plenty of water and make sure you have exfoliated so that you are working with a smoother surface. Any dry skin or rough patches can cause makeup to build up in those areas and look cakey so we want to avoid this as much as possible.
Step 2 – Moisturiser
Always moisturise the skin well before applying makeup, especially for a no makeup makeup look. I always recommend the Embryolesse cream under makeup as it is super hydrating and sinks in to the skin nicely creating a perfect base for your makeup. If you like a dewy/balmy finish to your skin, I like to add the Glossier glow drops or weleda skin food cream on the cheekbones and sides of the face to give some extra glow. I tend to avoid the tee-zone as we don’t want to look too oily, just super glowy and fresh.
Step 3 – Light Foundation
A “no makeup” makeup look can be done either without foundation, or a light coverage foundation if you feel like you need a little extra coverage or want to even out your skin tone. My favourite products to enhance the skin without looking like you are wearing anything is the Westman Atelier Vital Skincare Complexion drops or the Dior Backstage Face And Body foundation. Both of these products are super light in texture and offer a glowy skin like finish. Apply either of these starting at the centre of the face and blending out over the entire face and down the neck. This should give you a nice glow and even colour over the face and neck. If you don’t like using foundation, skip to step 4.
Step 4 – Concealer
Concealer plays a big role in creating that perfect skin finish when it comes to the no makeup makeup look. Concealer can help brighten up the under eyes, cover any redness or blemishes and create even skin texture for a flawless finish. This is probably one of the most important steps in creating the perfect “no makeup” makeup look. Choosing the right concealer is going to make a huge difference. Make sure your concealer is matched to your natural skin colour. Even if it is a touch lighter than your foundation, it will brighten and freshen up your face.
My favourite concealers that I find blend flawlessly into the skin for that second skin finish are the Hourglass Vanish Airbrush Concealer, the Kosas Revealer Concealer or the Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Radiant Concealer. Start by dabbing the concealer in the inner corners of your eyes and your under eyes. Use a finger to press the product into the skin and blend on to your cheekbones and down the sides of your nose. Some people like to use a brushes but I believe the warmth of your finger really helps press the product into the skin for a smoother finish and less wastage of your product. Add a little more concealer to the sides of the nose, around the nose, a touch on the chin and centre of the forehead. When these areas of the face are concealed correctly, it makes the whole face look flawless without looking like you are wearing makeup.
If you put too much coverage on the higher parts of the face such as the upper forehead, on top of the nose or a lot on the cheek this is where you will be able to notice coverage so in a no makeup makeup look, we want to keep the coverage in these areas to a minimum.
Step 5 – Bronzer
Some people find that a “no makeup” makeup look can make you look washed out as you don’t have the colour from foundation to warm up the skin. This is where bronzer will be your best friend. It can help shape the face and add a sunkissed healthy glow. My favourite Bronzer is the Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick. Definitely worth the investment as it goes on super smooth and blends easily. Apply the bronzer to the top of the forehead around the hairline, just under the highest parts of your cheekbones, a touch on the apples of your cheeks and a touch on the bridge of the nose for that sun kissed look. You can also use this to contour your eyes and nose. Once applied, use your finger again to blend the product into the skin. A beauty blender is also a good option but wiping with a brush will generally cause the bronzer to move and go patchy which we definitely don’t want.
Step 6 – Highlight
When it comes to the no makeup makeup look, we want the skin to look hydrated and glowy. Highlighters can help add to the glow however you want to choose a more balmy highlight rather than a sparkly highlight as we dont want to see sparkles sitting on top of the skin. My go to for this type of look is the Westman Atelier Lit Up stick or the Mecca Hydra Cheek Tint and Illuminating Balm. A paw paw cream or natural shea butter will also do the trick. Use the balm to highlight the tops of the cheekbones and blend up the sides of the cheeks to the temples.
Step 7 – Blush
Once we have finished our base, blush is an absolute essential for bringing colour back into the skin and tying in the rest of the makeup for that healthy glowy finish. When doing a “no makeup” makeup look, I like to use a balmy blush as it adds a dewy glow and wears like second skin. My go-to blush for this is the Stila Convertible Colour Cream in Colour Camilla for a neutral or Peony for a rosy finish. Apply this to the apples of the cheeks blending up the cheekbone. I also like to add some around the temples and a touch on the nose again for that sunkissed finish.
Step 8 – Brows
With a no makeup makeup look, you want the brows to look tidy but definitely not overdone. If you are blessed with good brows, just gel them up and you are good to go! If you need a little fill in, use a small tipped pencil such as the Anastasia Beverly Hills brow wiz as you will get more precision. The best way to shape your brows without overdoing them is to start by drawing a fine line just under the brow, like lining your bottom lip. You can also overdraw a little if you need to correct the shape. Once this is done, fill in any obvious gaps and then brush the brows up until the line is blended. This should give the brows shape but not too much colour so they still look natural. Gel the brows so they are set in place and you are good to go!
Step 9 – Eyes
I like to keep the eyes super minimal for a no makeup makeup look. You can either leave them bare, or if you do like a bit of definition, one of my favourite products is the Mac Paint Pot in colour Groundwork. It is a cream eyeshadow that is so natural you can hardly tell you are wearing anything. It just adds a bit of definition to the eye. Apply this to the eyelid and blend into the crease. You can also add a touch to the bottom lash line. Finish with a touch of mascara.
Step 10 – Lip Balm
The only last step is to keep the lips hydrated to tie in our healthy glowy no makeup makeup aesthetic. Any lip balm will do the trick but my absolute favourites are either the Dermal Therapy Lip Balm which is great if you tend to get dry lips or the Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask which is super plumping and hydrating. Apply to the top and bottom lip and you’re all set!
About Holly
Holly Harnwell is one of Australia’s top hair and make-up artists who has worked on Australian Fashion Week and campaigns for the likes of David Jones, Cotton On, Portmans and Supre just to name a few. She has also worked with influencers including Rozalia Russian, Jessie Murphy, Steph Claire Smith and Brooke Hogan. Holly specialises in the “no make-up look”, where she excels in creating flawless skin and accentuating natural features.
ele Note – in articles where a product is linked, ele may receive a small commission at no cost to readers, however all products linked and referred to have been reviewed by the ele team and are truly recommendations we love.
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