I was taught to apply “the opposite of beauty” to create certain special effects when attending makeup artistry school. Just wearing the wrong undertone lipstick can look bizarre against certain skin tones. Once you know the basics of what looks natural and what doesn’t, you’ll be on your way to creating a radiant natural makeup look!
Beauty from Within
Beauty starts with internal health. Exercise, adequate rest and a balanced diet of structured water, protein, veggies, fruits, and carbs are imperative. Dehydration shows on your face and is often the top cause for wrinkles, sallow and lackluster skin tone. Dr Perricone and Dr Murad are two doctors with advanced expertise in dietary guidance for the skin. I recommend a deep dive into their skin health findings.
Makeup often has a bad rap as being unnecessary or unhealthy. If you stick to healthy brands and maintain your natural skin health, you can support a clear complexion and protect your epidermal layers. There are external aggressors in everyday environments like the sun, pollution, and other damaging irritants. Applying foundation will act as a protective layer.
Finding the right foundation may be a little tricky because testers are just about obsolete. Ask for free samples or in-store color matching at department stores, local spas, health food stores, cosmetic boutiques, or dermatologist offices. Apply a stripe of foundation color from the center of your cheek down to the center of your neck. If the color disappears, then it’s yours!
Natural makeup can still be striking and enhance your beauty without damaging the skin.
Photo by Maria Orlova: www.pexels.com
Healthy Cosmetics Start Here
If you want to start taking better care of your skin, but still use makeup to enhance your unique features for special events, then consider looking at natural makeup. Not only is natural makeup healthier for the environment, but they’re also healthier for your skin as they don’t contain potentially harmful ingredients that change and alter the natural pH of your skin. There is a misconception that natural makeup isn’t as effective as cosmetically produced makeup, however this is not the case.
As natural and sustainable products become the focus of more individuals, advancements have been made in various cosmetic fields, including makeup. This means that it’s possible for you to get the same quality makeup, in a natural format instead of artificial.
Let’s have a look at how you can start using natural makeup.Find Your Undertone
Undertones Are: Warm, Cool, or Neutral
Determine Your Undertone:
Vein Color
- Blue/Purple = Cool
- Blue/Green = Neutral
- Green = Warm
Jewelry Preference
- Silver = Cool
- Gold = Warm
- Both = Neutral
Hold a bright red, orange or yellow cloth up to your face. Mirror check!
- Warm Undertone Yellow/Red Skin looks alive
- Cool Undertone Blue/Pink Skin looks unnatural
- Neutral Undertone Warm & Cool Not a problem!
Determining your skin tone is critical for applying flawless looking natural makeup.
Photo by Anna Shvets: www.pexels.com
Tools of the Trade
Achieve a flawless look for your natural makeup with proper application tools. Sustainable tool suggestions are synthetic fiber brushes and a Beauty Blender. Both are washable and reusable. All brush types with synthetic cruelty-free fibers are widely available.
Here are the tools you need for various makeup applications:
- Liquids Foundation Brush
- Cremes Beauty Blender
- Loose/Compact Minerals Buffing foundation brush. Dampen brush for full coverage
- Compact Foundation Buffing foundation brush. Dampen brush for full coverage
- Concealers Concealer Brush
- Eyebrow Powder Small Stiff Angled Brush
- Eyebrows Eyebrow Brush & Comb
- Eye Shadow 1 Small Fluff Brush. 1 small Rounded Brush
Preparation
Before applying foundation and concealer, prepare your skin with a cleanser, toner, and moisturizer; face, neck and decollete. Foundation is the base of your natural makeup look, and the consistency is up to you; sheer, medium, or full coverage. Formulas are available in liquid, mousse, creme, loose or compact minerals, powder and airbrush formulas. Beauty Balm BB or Corrective Creme (CC) help boost your radiance and rebalance color.
Color Correcting
You can color correct a skin condition like redness with a yellow-based foundation or CC creme to cancel out the red tone. Sometimes staying in your color tone is not the right choice because you need to alter or add a youthful apricot warm tone with BB creme. Blend corrected colors well at the neckline and down the neck for a seamless result. Apply finishing powder or minerals to set the creme and remove any shine.
About Concealer
Concealer will cover minor imperfections on the face and around the eye area. These products have dense pigment content and work best underneath foundation. If needed, dab concealer on top of your foundation before setting with powder.
Foundation Tips
Apply liquid foundation in a downward motion (due to hair growth direction). Blend well around the edges and down to your neck to avoid demarcation lines. Cremes and liquids need to be set with a final dusting of minerals or setting powder. Apply mineral foundations in a circular motion to warm up mineral content and help with adhesion to skin.
Avoid the under-eye area when applying heavy powder foundations or minerals. Apply concealer under the eyes and dab with a tissue to remove extra oils. Minerals are micronized for cosmetic use, the finer the mill, the more silky and natural the finish. Some minerals have added cornstarch and fillers, which may look bulky on the skin, especially under the eyes.
Blush and Bronzer
Natural looks generally accent your features, not change them with dramatic shadowing. I usually add a pop of blush on the apples of the cheeks and bronzer around the facial area. Think of where the sun would warm up the skin for natural makeup placement. Try a wide-angle fan brush or large buff brush and add a light touch of color to the cheeks for blush. Blend out with your foundation brush. Steer clear of thin blush brushes that can cause streaks instead of pops of color.
Bronzer is applied with a buffing brush in the shape of a “3” or “E”, depending on what side of the face you are on! Start at the forehead center and lightly dust down to the cheek, back outwards and down to the chin. You can add a light splash of bronzer under the brow bone also. For details on natural eye makeup, please visit my article, “How to Start Using Natural Eye Makeup.”
Use a buffing brush for all over blending if necessary.
Eyes to Behold
Eyebrows frame the face, and they need to be brushed, shaped and tamed. Brow powders look natural and are water-resistant. Sometimes brow sticks can look penciled in if not applied correctly. Choose one hair shade lighter to your undertone color for pencils and powder. A light coat of dark brown and black mascara on the top and bottom lashes will accentuate your eye color and bring your eye makeup into beautiful balance.
Lips – the Final Touch
Lip color is the final step. Staying true to your undertone, select a matte, sheer, or glossy lip color. Neutral shades will look more natural and are wardrobe friendly. Lip liner has a low oil content pigment and will last longer on lips. For a natural long-wear look, go beyond lining the lip and fill in the entire lip area. Top with a light nude lipstick, gloss, or tint—alternatively, long-wear lip products and lip stains that will last for hours.
Try a few natural makeup basics for a more glowing, radiant YOU!
