While we love a full face of glam, it’s nice to switch things up with a natural makeup look from time to time. Natural makeup looks typically don’t include the likes of bold red lipstick or glittery lids, but they’re not quite as minimal as a ”no-makeup” makeup look, either. Basically, natural looks strike a balance that makes them equally suitable for everyday wear and special occasions.
The best part about achieving glowy, natural-looking makeup is that it’s simple with the right products and techniques. To help ensure that your makeup looks natural in the best way, we’re sharing some of our makeup tips, tricks, and favorite products below. Keep scrolling to learn how to do natural makeup for any event or vibe.
Beyond your base, you may also want to grab your everyday essentials: concealer, mascara, blush, bronzer, and lip gloss or lipstick. Some natural looks will use all of these, while others might only require a product or two. It all depends on your personal preference and the look you’re going for. With that said, keep in mind that most natural makeup looks tend to work best with cream or liquid formulas (rather than powder or overly matte formulas)—these products are generally more effective in creating a natural, dewy-looking finish.
The trick to achieving a makeup look that enhances your natural features is to use products that create a skin-like result. This will give the illusion that you’re bare-faced, even when you’re not. Using a makeup sponge can also help—when you use a damp sponge to apply your makeup, the finish should appear glowing, blended, and natural.
A natural makeup look doesn’t always mean fewer products or steps; it just means using lighter coverage, cream or liquid formulas, and a light hand. Here’s how to build a natural makeup routine, step by step.
A good natural makeup routine doesn’t actually start with makeup—skincare comes first. Moisturizer, in particular, is an essential step that helps prep your skin for makeup. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream is one great option for all skin types. It absorbs quickly, making it ideal for morning applications (especially when you’re short on time).
Priming your skin is ultra important if you want your makeup to last, and in some cases, it can even help cut down on the amount of foundation that you need to achieve even coverage. For a primer that promotes radiant-looking skin, try the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. Select the shade closest to your skin tone and smooth it over your face for instant hydration and a natural-looking glow.
Priming your skin is ultra important if you want your makeup to last, and in some cases, it can even help cut down on the amount of foundation that you need to achieve even coverage. For a primer that promotes healthy-looking, radiant skin, try the L’Oréal Paris Age Perfect Makeup Blurring Face Primer Infused with Serum. Or, if you’re prone to redness and uneven skin tone, reach for a color-correcting primer like the L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24 H Redness Eraser.
This buildable, medium-coverage foundation provides a skin-like result, so you can keep your makeup looking natural. With 47 shades organized by undertone, you can find the ideal match for your skin.
Reach for this tinted serum if you want natural-looking coverage with a consistency that’s inspired by your favorite skincare products. Infused with 1% hyaluronic acid, this hybrid formula leaves your skin feeling hydrated and looking visibly smoother and brighter with consistent use. It’s available in 14 shades and makes an ideal pick for anyone seeking a natural, luminous finish.
For some of us, a tinted moisturizer might not cut it when it comes to coverage. When you’re wearing a light base, a full-coverage concealer can be really helpful for adding more coverage in the areas where you need it. Use a concealer sparingly on any problem areas and blemishes, but keep the rest of your base light. We suggest the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Full Wear Concealer up to 24 H Full Coverage because it offers long-wearing, matte coverage with an ultra-pigmented formula.
To keep your face looking as fresh and natural as possible, skip the contour and use blush to accentuate your cheeks and bone structure. We’re partial to the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush in shades like Dewy Worth It, Dewy Bright Pink, or Dewy Rich Coral. The liquid formulas boast buildable pigments that add a dewy, natural-looking wash of color to your cheeks to help pull your whole look together.
Try using a bronzing powder like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer to further accentuate your cheekbones. The soft matte formula melts into the skin, so it won’t look cakey or emphasize texture. If you’d prefer a creamy formula, reach for the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer in a slightly darker shade than you’d normally use. This hydrating glow lotion with glycerin and shea butter adds luminosity for a healthy-looking, natural finish. Apply it to the areas where the sun might naturally tan your skin, such as your nose, cheekbones, and along your hairline.
Adding a hint of highlighter to your cheeks can help make your complexion look more natural. After all, bare skin usually isn’t completely flat—it has a natural rosy finish. After blush, we recommend applying a cream highlighter, like the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick. The easy-to-apply stick format glides effortlessly over the skin, delivering a reflective, multi-dimensional glow in one swipe. Take your pick from six hues: three glass shades for a translucent finish and three glow shades for a luminous satin glow.
If liquid highlighters are more your speed, try the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. You can wear the formula on its own, under foundation, or as a highlighter on the upper cheek and brow bones—making it a great tool to have in your natural makeup arsenal.
Long lashes always complete your look, even if you’re going for something natural. The L’Oréal Paris Big Deal Buildable Washable Mascara offers endlessly buildable volume and length and is a favorite of ours for a natural makeup look. However, you may want to consider reaching for the Black Brown shade versus our Black or Blackest Black shades since the color is a bit softer.
Similarly, swapping out your usual black eyeliner for brown will help keep your eyes defined without appearing too overdone. We suggest using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Grip Mechanical Gel Eyeliner in Brown Denim to add definition to your makeup look.
As for eyeshadow, you don’t have to skip it altogether to get a natural look. Simply reconsider which shades you reach for. Earthy browns, beiges, and creams are perfect for subtle, natural looks.
Use a clear brow gel, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Brow Lamination, to sculpt your arches into place. If you have any sparse areas, use a brow pencil to lightly fill them in. We recommend the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Definer Mechanical Waterproof Eyebrow Pencil—the ultra-fine tip and built-in spoolie are perfect for creating natural-looking brows.
To complete your natural makeup look, apply a sheer, hydrating lip oil like the L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil in Cristal Clear. Brimming with hyaluronic acid and tripeptides, this non-sticky oil helps smooth your lips while making them appear visibly volumized.
Another one of our go-to pout perfecters is the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss Pomegranate Extract. The lightweight gloss moisturizes and conditions while adding a wash of sheer, natural-looking color.
Once you’ve mastered the steps in our basic natural makeup tutorial, kick things up a notch with these 15 fresh-faced looks.
Sometimes, a makeup routine is so good, you want to wear it every day. This natural, simple makeup look is exactly that. Start with a light-coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer. Then, apply a neutral eyeshadow (optional) in a soft, earthy tone. Use brown mascara for natural lash definition, then lightly fill in your eyebrows with a pencil or powder. To finish, choose a nude or natural-toned lipstick or lip gloss.
Attending a wedding? We know just the look. Apply a natural-finish foundation, then use two matte brown eyeshadows (a light and a medium shade) to subtly define your eye shape. Softly define your lashes with mascara, then sweep on your favorite skin-toned lip liner and lipstick. Finally, blend a deep blush onto the apples of your cheeks.
Dewy skin continues to be one of the biggest beauty trends, and we certainly aren’t mad about it. To incorporate the trend into your natural makeup look, begin with a dewy-finish foundation or skin tint. Then, apply a cream blush in a rosy hue to the apples of your cheeks. To round out the look, use a subtle highlighter on the high points of your face before topping off your lashes with just a touch of mascara.
Smokey eyes may seem reserved for glam makeup looks, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If your goal is to have eye makeup that looks natural, use a neutral-toned eyeshadow on your eyelids first, followed by a soft brown or gray eyeliner to define your lash line. Blend the eyeliner for a softer, smokey effect. Next, curl your lashes and apply a coat of brown mascara. Keep your lips natural with a nude lipstick or gloss as the final step.
Whether you’re looking to brighten up your face in the midst of winter or need a vacation-friendly makeup look that won’t feel like “too much” on the beach, a glowy, sunkissed look will serve you well. Use a bronzer to add warmth to the perimeters of your face, then apply a peachy or coral blush to the high points of your cheeks. Keep the eye makeup simple with a light, shimmery eyeshadow. To finish, curl your lashes, apply mascara, and apply a lip tint or a sheer lip color in a natural shade.
This fresh-faced makeup look might just be one of the easiest ways to do your makeup. You can skip foundation and instead use a skin tint. Then, conceal any blemishes or redness, and apply a barely-there eyeshadow (or skip eyeshadow altogether). To finish, use a clear brow gel to groom your eyebrows.
A little radiance can go a long way, and that’s the thesis behind this subtle look. After moisturizing, prime your skin with a thin layer of the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. Layer a dewy foundation on top, then blend a touch of cream blush onto your cheeks, and add a few light strokes of mascara. A swipe of nude lip gloss in a shade only slightly darker than your natural lips will be the perfect finishing touch.
This skin-first beauty look uses only a few products to help you look like a more groomed version of your natural self. Using your fingertips, apply a light layer of tinted moisturizer. Next, skip the pencil and use only a clear brow gel to tame your arches. Apply a touch of mascara and opt for a clear gloss for a barely-there, natural appearance. Last but not least, mist some setting spray across your face to lock it all in.
If you want a soft, natural makeup look, earth tones are endlessly flattering and always in style. To create this look, blend neutral eyeshadows across your lids, then use a brown kohl eyeliner to softly define your eyes. Opt for bronzed cheeks to brighten your face and a coordinated, muted brown or burnt sienna on your lips.
Take inspiration from the French Girl beauty aesthetic with this chic look. To start, apply a lightweight foundation, then add a hint of peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks. Next, comb up your brows for a natural feel, and dab on a rosy-tinted lip balm with your fingertips.
A more natural take on the soft-glam beauty trend, this look uses shimmers and gold to add dimension. Apply a veil of a dewy-finish foundation, then subtly contour under your cheekbones. Gild your lids with a warm gold eyeshadow before curling your lashes and swiping on dark brown or black mascara. For a little extra definition, you can also tightline your eyes. Complete the look with a coat of peachy nude lip gloss.
If you love colorful makeup but find that the nudes and beiges traditionally used in natural makeup looks aren’t vibrant enough for you, opt for soft oranges, pinks, and corals. On your lids, blend together soft orange and pink eyeshadows, then apply a peachy blush to your upper cheekbones. Curl your lashes, swipe on a dark brown mascara, and dab on some coral lip tint with your fingertips to complete your warm sunset-inspired look.
This look proves it is possible to achieve glamorous yet natural-looking makeup. Apply a medium-to-full coverage foundation, then apply a soft pink blush to the tops of your cheeks. Next, skip the eyeshadow but apply winged eyeliner. Lastly, apply a glossy nude lipstick.
This look is about as minimal as it gets. Use a clear mascara on your lashes and brows, then apply a moisturizing lip balm for a truly natural and effortless look. You can stop there or add a touch of concealer if needed.
No-makeup makeup, natural makeup, and minimalist makeup may all sound the same, but they vary slightly in the amount of products used. This is a true no-makeup makeup look, as it takes your application back to basics. Keep your skin natural except for a little concealer, then groom your brows with clear brow gel. A light layer of mascara and a tiny amount of tinted lip balm are all you need to finish this almost imperceptible, no-makeup look.
Next Up: How To Use a Skin Tint for Natural-Looking Makeup
Photo Courtesy of L'Oréal Paris
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