The real trick to a flawless foundation is taking care of your skin. Finish your usual skincare routine by hydrating your skin with your favorite moisturizer. Spot treat hyperpigmentation, acne scars and dark undereye circles with a cream foundation—it will give you full coverage where you need it, and you can blend to even your complexion with sheerer coverage for the rest of your face. I like to use Cover FX Total Cover Cream Foundation ($42, available at coverfx.com) and blend with It Cosmetics 'Heavenly Luxe' Compexion Perfection Brush #7 ($48, available at itcosmetics.com).
The key to no makeup, makeup is skin that looks fresh and dewy. This lightweight moisturizer absorbs into the skin easily without leaving an oily residue. It also doubles as an anti-aging product by boosting collagen and incorporating other skin goodies like retinol and my personal favorite, hyaluronic acid. I love to use Rilastil Micro Moisturizing Fluid as a moisturizer and a base to blend my foundation so my skin has a healthy, dewy glow.
$59, available at rilastilusa.com
Create natural shadows to sculpt your face using a contour powder two shades deeper than your natural skintone. Lightly coat that tip of your contour brush and tap the brush handle against your wrist to remove the excess. Using a single stroke, swiftly trace the contour of your cheekbone from your ear to the base of your cheekbone using Nars Contour Blush in Gienah ($42, available at nars.com). Then, highlight the high plains of your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose and the bow of your lip using Jay Manuel Beauty Bronzer in Foreplay ($34, available at hsn.com). My favorite brush for highlighting and contouring is It Cosmetics 'Heavenly Luxe' Angled Brush #10 ($38, available at itcosmetics.com).
Swirl your blush brush in a rosy hue and tap the handle on your wrist to get rid of excess. Apply a sheer dusting of color to the apples of your cheeks. For a natural flush my blush of choice is Becca Mineral Blush in Latana ($32, available at sephora.com), applied with IT Cosmtics 'Heavenly Luxe' French Boutique Blush #4 ($34.50, available at itcosmetics.com)
If your lashes look too full or if your mascara is a bit clumpy, it will throw off your "au natural" look. Instead of a volumizing mascara, opt for an all-in-one that will lift, separate, lengthen and volumize. for prefectly lush lashes, I like to use Bobbi Brown Everything Mascara ($26, available at bobbibrowncosmetics.com) For the ultimate guide to mascara application, check out How To Master Feathery Lashes.
Barely-there makeup means you'll need a hint of color on the lips. For lips that look fresh and a bit dewy, I love CK One Color Shine Lipstick in Naked ($12, available at ulta.com) To unsure that my lips are moisturized and lipstick-ready, I apply Tokyo Milk Dark Femme Fatale Lip Elixir in La Vie en Rose No.42 ($7, available at sephora.com) before I go to bed as an overnight moisture treatment and wipe it off in the morning when I wash my face.
