The Secrets To A No Make-Up, Make-Up Look
Cruelty-free make-up artist Viorela Coman shares her top tips for an on-trend barely-there make-up look…
Know Your Skin Type
Knowing your skin type is essential to ensuring that your make up will last throughout the day. Cleanse and tone your skin before applying any make-up. I’d recommend Emma Hardie Moringa Light Cleansing Gel for any skin type or bareMinerals OIL OBSESSED™ Oil Cleanser followed by Mario Badescu Toners.
First Base
A great face of make-up starts with the appropriate base, so choose a good moisturiser and primer. For normal/dry skin: Magic Cream by Charlotte Tilbury or Skin Food by Weleda and Sukin Oil Balancing Mattifying Facial Moisturiser for combination/oily skin.
Apply Eye Cream
Dab with your ring finger for the least amount of pressure. Try the Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Eye Cream or Charlotte Tilbury Magic Eye Rescue.
Buff Up
Now that your skin is ready for the next step, start layering foundation on with a buffing brush to even out your skin tone. I use the Real Technique ones for a seamless application.
Prime Time
Primers are the layer that will hold your make-up together for the rest of the day. Among my favourites are the Delilah Under Wear Future Resist Primer and Ole Henriksen Banana Bright Face Primer.
Foundation Plus
Choose a medium coverage foundation with SPF to protect your skin from sun damage, this will help your make-up look as natural as possible. I love the IT Cosmetics foundation Your Skin But Better CC + Oil-Free Matte with SPF 40 for combination/oily skin types or Delilah Time Frame Future Resist Foundation SPF 20 for normal to dry skin types.
Concealer Next
Buff onto dark circles and if needed also on the blemishes, around the nose and wherever you need a bit of extra coverage. Also save the same concealer for the finishing touches of your make-up. Do not set your base with powder yet, leave this step for last.
Frame Your Face
Use a contouring cream/bronzer to bring out your cheekbones, making sure you don’t use too much – it’s a no make-up look, remember! You only need to emphasize the shades of your face, the ones that would naturally occur, take it easy with the nose contouring and all that instagram bravado, it’s not for everyone, especially if you want a super natural finish. Great contouring kits include; Anastasia Beverly Hills Stick Foundation – Contour or Hollywood Filmstar Bronze and Glow by Charlotte Tilbury.
Leave Blush For Last
Creams work like a charm because they look fresh on the skin and blend well on top of foundation. Try Illamasqua Cream Blusher, the colour pay-off is to die for and it is so long-wearing ! Otherwise, Anastasia Beverly Hills Blush Trio is a great choice.
Top Tips For Eyes
Curl your lashes for that lifting effect and add a dark brown liner on your all along the upper lash line to create the illusion of fullness. This will add extra definition to the shape of your eyes.
Blend a neutral shade in the crease line for that extra dimension and use an illuminating eyeshadow for the inner corner to open up your eyes. Go for a timeless palette like Anastasia Beverly Hills Soft Glam Eye Palette since you can use the neutrals and natural shades for day make-up and the bolder ones for going out. Sorted!
Apply a flesh coloured eye pencil along your waterline whenever you feel under the weather – this will lift the eye, getting rid of any redness and make your eyes look less tired (I swear by the nude eye pencil by Charlotte Tilbury!)
My desert island go-to product is always going to be mascara: brown looks very flattering on blonde ladies and black looks good on everyone else – my favourites are Full Fat Lashes by Charlotte Tilbury and Better Than Sex by Too Faced.
Lip Tricks
Moisturise with lip balm (Lip Care Translucent by Body Shop or Burt’s Bees Lip Balm), go over them with a lip liner to match your shade and fill in the shape (Rodial XXL Lip Liner and Charlotte Tilbury lip liners have a great texture). Pay extra attention to defining your cupid’s bow and then fill in the whole surface of the lip – this way your lipstick will have the perfect base to stick to.
Go over it with the closest shade to your lip you can find, as this is your perfect nude and is very flattering but natural looking. Dab a piece of tissue on top of your lips to take of the first layer of colour – this has a double purpose: it sets the lippie but also makes the application look so natural and beautiful.
Finishing Touch
Use a loose powder like the one from IT Cosmetics Pores No More or Laura Mercier one to set your T-Zone and use a tiny bit under the eyes to set your concealer in place in order to avoid the creases from the concealer that might appear later on.
Congratulations! You have done a great job in doing your own no make-up make-up!
*All products are cruelty-free
Words by @vior_ela
