The Normal Girl's Guide to Makeup

Skin

Cheeks

Eyes

Lips

"No Makeup" Makeup - the normal girl's bread and butter. The whole point of "No Makeup" Makeup is to apply makeup in a way that looks so natural, people may not think you have any on. For an everyday look, I love this approach because it focuses on simply enhancing your natural features (which my mom always insisted was the entire point of makeup). This is also a great approach for younger girls just starting out in makeup, or those who can't wear a lot of makeup due to the restrictions of their job.

Today, I brought my wonderful model Sloane back to demonstrate one of my go-to "No Makeup" Makeup looks. It's all about natural, but even-looking skin, soft eyes, and neutral lips. Read on to learn about the products that helped us achieve this look!

Skin

For base, the best products for a "No Makeup" Makeup look are those that provide light coverage and aren't too matte, mimicking the natural finish of your skin. This one by Urban Decay, the Naked Skin One & Done, looks beautiful and even, but also lets Sloane's skin shine through. I wrote more about this product in a previous blog post, if you want more information! We also applied a tiny bit of Maybelline Fit Me Concealer in the shade "Fair" under her eyes and on any spots.

Because Sloane doesn't have very oily skin, I only applied a little bit of powder (Urban Decay De-Slick Mattifying Powder) on her t-zone. For blush, it's best to choose a color that mimics your natural flush, so we went with the Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in "Exposed." In a "No Makeup" Makeup look, I usually skip bronzer, but we did apply a little bit of highlighter on her. The Smashbox L.A. Lights Blendable Lip & Cheek Color in "Hollywood & Highlight" is a cream stick formula, which can be much more natural looking than powders. It reflects the light without being glittery at all!

Eyes

The eyes are a very important part of the "No Makeup" Makeup look. They need to be defined, but it is very easy to go overboard and out of the realm we're aiming for. One of my Four Favorites from last month, the Burberry Eye Colour Silk in "Pale Barley," is the perfect tool for this look. I used it to softly define her eyelid up to the crease. Eyeliner never looks very natural, so I skip it for these looks!

Mascara is also an easy one to go too heavy on in a "No Makeup" Makeup look. The key is finding a formula that does the opposite of what you usually want; it can't be too lengthening, voluminous, or curl-holding, or it won't look natural. Instead, look for one that gives your lashes more "fluffy" or "fluttery" definition that could almost pass for your real lashes. The Covergirl Clump Crusher mascara is my everyday go-to for bottom lashes, but it also achieves the exact look I'm going for in this look when applied to both the top and bottom.

We also filled in Sloane's eyebrows just a bit, only on the very sparse parts. For that, I used my trusty NYX Micro Brow Pencil in the shade "Taupe," and set them in place with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Gel.

Lips