The No-Makeup Makeup Masterclass

The glowing, healthy no-makeup makeup look is probably the biggest beauty myth in the industry: looking like you’re naturally beautiful barefaced actually requires time and a bevy of products to perfect your skin, brighten your eyes and define in all the right areas. While it’s an easy trend to embrace if your skin is radiant and blemish-free by default, for most of us the look - or, more precisely, the ‘non-look’ look – requires a little more effort.

Here, we asked makeup artist Lauren Gott, who’s worked with Anna Kendrick, Heidi Klum and Rooney Mara on how to achieve your best, “I just woke up this gorgeous” look, by brightening, concealing and enhancing your skin in a way that looks natural – while still providing enough coverage to feel confident.

Smooth Slate

“First, I wash my face with Fresh’s Vitamin Nectar glow powder, and exfoliate to get rid of dry, dull skin on the face and lips. I’ll follow up with a mist to tone the skin, and apply a moisturiser made with shea butter, which helps makeup become a second skin by sinking and gliding beautifully after applying.”
Base Camp

“For every day, use a tinted moisturiser like Chantecaille’s Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser or a non-tinted Dior Beauty Dreamskin Moist & Perfect Cushion. For glowing, dewy skin on camera, I use Giorgio Armani’s My Armani To Go Cushion Foundation or Clé de Peau Beauté’s Radiant Cushion Foundation, which are medium coverage, light and buildable. Most importantly for the ‘no-makeup makeup’ look, use powder sparingly on the T-zone only.”
The Cover-Up

“Use the warmth of your fingertips in a rapid, light, tapping motion to make the concealer seamlessly sink with your skin. I like Clé de Peau Beauté Radiant Corrector for coverage and YSL Touche Éclat for brightening or retouching – usually, a dab on the lower eyelid in the inner and outside corners does the trick.”
Bright Eyes

“I’m a fan of curling lashes regardless of whether mascara is used or not - it immediately opens up the eyes. I like spoolie mascara wands (with tapered ends and soft bristles) as opposed to silicon wands for creating the most natural lashes, such as Hourglass’s Caution Extreme Lash Mascara. I then comb through lashes after mascara to remove any excess. Nude eyeliner on the waterline also opens up and makes the whites of eyes look brighter, along with a pop of illuminator on the inner corner of the eyes and eyelids.”
Brow Strategy

“When it comes to natural but defined brows, you can opt for clear gel if your brows are full. For those who have fair brows, eyebrow pigment mascara wands work well. For those who lack brows altogether, use a brow powder with a wedge brow brush to feather in colour a shade lighter than the hair colour, followed up with an eyebrow pigment mascara.”
Give Cheek

“Cream blush is best for achieving natural, dewy, youthful skin.” As for where to apply it? “The apple of the cheek looks natural and flattering on almost everyone, from young to mature skin.” For lips, Gott suggests tints and balms for the most natural touch of colour. “The one I love is Dior Lip Glow Color Reviver Balm.”