My bare bones basics for natural makeup looks are devoted to evening out my skin tone, covering up dark circles, filling in my brows, adding a little color to my cheeks and lips, and then doing whatever extra I can to brighten and open my eyes, which usually means incorporating a curl-holding mascara and a shimmery shadow on my lids and in the inner corners.
Yeah…I guess that’s quite a bit of makeup for an allegedly “natural look.” (“Air quotes.”) 🙂
Not everything here is necessary, of course. I switch things up all the time, depending on the clock and how far behind it I am, and how I’m feeling that day, but this is my general list. I can’t wait to read yours!
Basics for a “natural makeup look”
- SKIN: MAC Prep + Prime Natural Radiance, MAC Face and Body Foundation, NARS Pure Radiant Tinted Moisturizer
- DARK CIRCLES: MAC Prep + Prime Highlighter in Bright Forecast, MAC Pro Longwear Concealer and YSL Touche Eclat
- BROWS: Hourglass Arch, MAC Brun and Cork Eye Shadows
- COLOR FOR CHEEKS: MAC Give Me Sun Mineralize Skinfinish Natural, MAC Warm Soul Blush, MAC Cantaloupe Blush
- LIPS: MAC Subculture Lip Liner, and whatever nude gloss happens to be in my purse at the moment. 🙂
- EYES: Clarins Be Long Mascara (curl hold like WHOA), MAC Ricepaper Eye Shadow and MAC Woodwinked Eye Shadow
How about you? What are your staples/go-to bare minimum requirements for a natural makeup look?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Happy Thursday!
Gowthami says
March 20th, 2014 at 9:48 amColorbar BB cream, Maybelline cheeky glow creamy cinnamon blush, Nude lip liner, clear gloss with mascara! 🙂
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fresheyre says
March 20th, 2014 at 10:14 amHaha – I’m wearing it today ! Just seemed like a nice spring morning to go natural…
Stila Smudge Stick Waterproof Eyeliner in Metallic Umber – a beige bronze, Nars blush in Sex Appeal, a soft peach, Urban Decay eyeshadow from the Naked 3 Palette in Limit, a light dusty rose matte, and Nooner, a medium pinky-brown matte, Stila Forever Your Curl Curl Memory Mascara in Black (just a light coat !), and Yves Saint Laurent Rouge Pur Couture Vernis À Lèvres Glossy Stain – Rebel Nudes in 101 Nude Provocateur, a rosy nude.
Seems like a lot of products for a “natural” look but it takes a lot to make you look like you’re not wearing anything !
Hugs to Karen and Tabs as always ! 🙂
Savannah says
March 20th, 2014 at 10:17 amFor skin: mac prep n prime highlighting pen in light boost (under my eyes) and mac studio fix powder plus foundation ( I love the coverage and my skin hates liquid foundation so it works) after all is said and done I dust a bit of hourglass ambient powder in dim light all over the centre of my face
For cheeks: nars torrid ( for a coral glow) hourglass diffused heat ( for a warm pink glow) or mac peachy keen ( natural glow)
For eyes: I generally use ricepaper, wood winked, amber lights, shroom or arena. I do a thin line of black track or dip down on upper lashline and brush a bit of charcoal brown through my brows. I also love bare study paint pot just in my inner tesrducts. It’s perfect and looks so natural and beautiful. You should try it! Of course crap tons of whatever mascara I love at the moment goes on next.
For lips: I really like deelight cremesheen glass or a bit of Cosmo lipstick atop some lip balm 🙂
Sassa says
March 20th, 2014 at 10:42 amBronzer – Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base
Blush – Milani Luminoso
Shadow – Clinique Lot’s o Latte Chubby Stick
Mascara – Clinique High Impact Extreme
Lips – Clinique Lipgloss in Tenderheart
Hmmm, I never realized that Clinique took up such a large part of my natural weekend look!
Diana says
March 20th, 2014 at 10:58 amFace – Revlon Colorstay Foundation for Combination/Oily Skin
Mascara – any mascara that doesn’t have dramatic effects on my lashes
Lips – sunscreen and pastel lipgloss
Alison M says
March 20th, 2014 at 11:02 amHmm… This varies depending on my skin! But probably NARS or Sonia Kashuk Tinted moisturizer, NARS Radiant Creamy Concealers in Custard, Ginger, and Honey (there’s a whole lotta mixing until my skin sees some sun!) and NARS Light Reflecting Setting Powder. Then Tarte or Too Faced matte bronzer, Tarte Exposed blush, and Too Faced Spice Spice Baby La Creme Lipstick. The brows need NARS Bali for fill, I’ll wear theBalm Meet Matt(e) nude colors on my lids, and Milani Runway Lashes for mascara. As natural as I get, I still like volume for mah lashes!
Alison M recently posted … I’ve Got the Blues With Radiant Orchid
Bree says
March 20th, 2014 at 11:07 amI think we agree on most basics except I’ll reach for highlighter vs blush and lipgloss vs liner. Bronzer is my must have! I feel like it just adds a glow and helps to hide imperfections (especially redness). I’ll stick with a cream eyeshadow too just for a quick wash of color.
Lea says
March 20th, 2014 at 11:24 amI don’t own a lot of makeup and I only wear what I have – a dusting of Jane Iredale PurePressed Base in Warm Sienna, an eyebrow spoolie, and Nars Bilbao on my lips. This is the look I’m always wearing and it’s very important to me that it looks (and feels) like I have nothing on.
Tiffany says
March 20th, 2014 at 11:36 amFor a natural look I use:
Tarte Airbrush Powder Foundation
NARS Creamy concealer
NARS Casino bronzer
Benefit Rockateur blush
Tarte Emphaseyes brow pencil
Too Faced Better Than Sex mascara (LOVE!!)
Buxom Sugar gloss
This is basically my every day look.
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Kiss & Make-up says
March 20th, 2014 at 11:38 amA natural look? What is that? 😉 Seriously, I don’t do natural like ever… I try to keep my skin looking natural of course, and I don’t tend to go wild with my lip color either, but my eye make-up is always pretty bold.
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Kim says
March 20th, 2014 at 11:54 amHappy Thursday!! Tinted moisturizer, mascara and blush are musts for me. Anything else is a bonus!! 🙂
Rhea says
March 20th, 2014 at 12:13 pmTypically a bb cream, mascara, liner, and a gloss
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Ashley Celikay says
March 20th, 2014 at 12:16 pmWhen I’m going VERY natural I just use mac pro longwear concealer in problem areas, chapstick, highlight the inner corner of my eyes with benefit watts up and i curl my lashes.
Fancie says
March 20th, 2014 at 12:21 pmI don’t too much bother with eyeshadow or foundation because I’m lazy lol. But I like to use Anastasia Dipbrow, YSL gel liner for a nice cat eye, a pair of glam falsies, NARS Amdande radiant concealer, MAC Blunt blush to contour and a nice lippie.
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Majick says
March 20th, 2014 at 12:22 pmface: IT Cosmetics CC cream in light or medium (winter/summer) If I’m really dry I’ll use their new clear primer.
dark circles: IT Cosmetics bye bye undereye, or a brightener if I’m lucky that day
brows: bare minerals auburn at the moment, summer I’ll switch to strawberry because that’s the direction I’ll be going with the hair)
cheek color: IT Cosmetics vitality disk, bronzer/highlighter/coral blush (sometimes I foregoe the blush)
Lips: whatever sheer gloss I have laying around
Eyes: Smashbox lid primer to even out my lids and a dusting of sheer beige shadow to set it. UD Rockstar liner tightlined on the top lid and a light coat of mascara (nothing too volumizing or it looks weird).
Well, that’s the short of it. Wish I had more time and could remember all the names of the products I’ve been using.
Madeline Richmond says
March 20th, 2014 at 12:44 pmFace: Boscia Tsubaki Oil-it gives my skin a natural glow and it helps keep my oil at bay!
Dark Circles: Benefit Stay Don’t Stray, Smashbox BB Cream Eyes in Light, MUFE Full Cover Concealer
Cheek Color: Just a touch of NARS Orgasm blush and I alternate between NARS Albatross and Too Faced Snow Bunny for a highlight
Eyes: I usually grab Stila Kitten and put it around my inner corners and lids, with MAC Woodwinked in the Crease and sometimes Amber Lights on the outer half of my lid, with Urban Decay’s Crave eyeliner to tight line my upper lash lines and Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara.
Lips: Lately I have been LOVING Bare Minerals’ gloss in Smooth Talker! It is so beautiful! I also like to use Urban Decay’s Naked Super Saturated Lip Color.
brenda says
March 20th, 2014 at 2:01 pmArmani Luminous foundation,Estee Lauder Sumptuous Extreme mascara, MAC Tenderling Blush, MAC Brun for the eyebrows!
Katherine M says
March 20th, 2014 at 2:44 pmJust zit cover-up is about as natural as it gets for me when I want to look somewhat presentable to the public but not put on makeup. But when I do want to wear some makeup to enhance my features a little bit, this is what I use:
Bronzer – Usually Physician’s Formula for light/medium skin. I have an SPF 20 matte one and a more shimmery one for contouring the forehead, nose, and cheek areas.
BB Cream – I use just enough to touch up problem areas like my chin, around my mouth and my nose (if I get some zits). I like Garnier’s BB Cream meant for oily/combo skin.
Concealer (for zits) – Lately I’ve been loving Maybelline’s Age Rewind (it has a little puff on the tip for blending easily) because it covers zits and any scars very well and also has Vitamin C to help get rid of the spots during the day. It’s very easy to just swipe on, pat in place and go. And it wears all day without needing a touch up.
Cheeks – Nars Orgasm is my go-to for a natural looking glow that also highlights my cheekbones.
Eyes- If I feel like I need eye makeup, it’s pretty minimal. I like Sonia Kashuk’s Eye on Neutral or Moroccan Dunes palettes, or L’Oreal Infallible in Amber Rush for a quick neutral look. I will use UD 24/7 in Bourbon and one coat of whatever mascara I have handy to complete it.
Chris25 says
March 20th, 2014 at 2:46 pmFor a very, very natural look, it’s MUFE Full Coverage Concealer #12 under my eyes, NARS Creamy Concealer in Caramel on my face, Clinique Stay Matte Powder in Stay Golden, Korres Natural blush and Revlon Colorstay Ultimate Suede Lipstick in Catwalk. If I do my eye makeup, it’s shades like NARS Cyprus, NARS Fez or the NYX Nude on Nude Natural Eye look palette with some brown liner and mascara.
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Vivian L. says
March 20th, 2014 at 4:00 pmI also love my Pro Longwear Concealer in NC15, applying with a lip brush just to dot over any imperfections I might have easily and dark circles, after I apply a thin layer of my Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer Light just so everything stays put and matte. Than, after applying both of these things, I dust over very evenly my Make Up For Ever HD Powder all across my T-Zone. Then, I go to my cheeks and either dust on Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in “dollface” or rub in NYX Cream Blush in “Tickled”. Then, I highlight the tops of my cheeks, the bridge of my nose, and above my eyebrows with Shu Uemura Stage Performer Instant-Glow. And finally, I apply Smith’s Rosebud Salve onto my eyebrows, gliding a spoolie through those unruly hairs and dab it on my lips for some sheen. I normally don’t wear a lot of eye makeup dayly, especially because I feel too tired, but sometimes I curl my eyelashes with Tarte’s eyelash curler and apply Urban Decay Super Curl Curling Mascara. It truly works wonders!
Jennifer says
March 20th, 2014 at 4:51 pmLaura Mercier tinted moisturizer in nude, however I’m out and have been using Smashbox BB Cream in light, which is a tad too light.
Benefit Erase Paste
Nars blush in Orgasm
And any number of lipglosses I have rolling around in my lip product bag or cosmetic bag or makeup drawers or stuffed into coat pockets and purses:) Usually, Smashbox Halo or Nars Orgasm or Bobbi Brown in Petal Pink or Korres lip butter in Jasmine
kwmechelle says
March 20th, 2014 at 10:58 pmMAC brow crayon in Spiked, MAC Studio Finish concealer in NC50, Benefit’s They’re Real mascara, & maybe MAC Freshbrew + Chestnut lipliner. Oh, I’ll also dab a little Cover Girl Queen Collection Natural Hue foundation in Golden Honey on my lidsto keep the oil/shine at bay.
And when I want a really minimalist approach, I skip the nude lippie & wear WnW clear gloss for mega shine 🙂
Anna says
March 21st, 2014 at 5:30 amSkin: Chanel Aqualumiere Beige 10
Brows: Mac automatic Spiked
Mascara: Clinique’s High Lengths
Lips: Chanel liner nude (don’t remember the number) + Elisabeth Arden’s 8 hours lip balm.
That’s all for the natural morning routine!
Karen, I’ve been following your blog for quite a long time but I’ve never commented so far. I’d like to tell you your work is fantastic, you look always amazing and from what I’ve seen from your video you seem to be a very nice person.
A hug from Italy.
Anna says
March 21st, 2014 at 5:34 amAargggghhhhh, forgot the most important of all:
CONCEALER: Dior Hydra LIfe BB Eye cream, color 01, couldn’t live without it.
That’s really all!
Danielle says
March 21st, 2014 at 5:37 amI definitely go pretty natural most days. NARS Tinted Moisturizer is also my top recommendation for anyone who wants natural looking skin. I wear it almost everyday!
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K says
March 21st, 2014 at 10:13 amSkin: I build layers of Revlon Colorstay Combo/Oily in any areas of redness, under eyes, eyelids, lightly blend into neck.
Blush: whatever is rosy–even a lipstick I love–patted and smudged into cheeks.
Eyes: either skip shadow or sweep on a simple nudey netural shade – rose gold, peach, champagne, buff. Contour and/or line with a dark plum brown/matte black. Finish with couple coats mascara.
Light contour with a touch of bronzer (Summer only.)
Lips: Revlon Lustruous Lipgloss in Supernatural , Revlon Lip Butter in Peach Parfait or Berry Smoothie, or just lip balm with a smudge of rose-gold eyeshadow pressed into it.
Sometimes I skip everything but the foundation and lipgloss.
Iris says
March 21st, 2014 at 9:02 pmMine is mark That’s Brilliant Face and Eye Luminizer (for my eyes), a translucent powder, Hex Potions Lip and Cheek Tint (as a blush), Lucky 107 Cosmetics eyeshadow in Frisky, and Lucky 107 Cosmetics Easy Peasy Lemonsqueezy lip gloss.
Joanna says
March 22nd, 2014 at 7:45 pmThe Balm Betty Lou mantizer, Smashbox hyper lash, laura mercier illuminating tinted moisturizer and lipgloss with a pinkish undertone. Have you ever tried the MAC prep + prime highlighter? I am thinking of trying it out.