How To Channel The No Makeup Makeup Look This Summer

What is the No-makeup Makeup Look?

The clean girl aesthetic, barely-there, no-makeup makeup… call it what you want, it’s all about creating a natural makeup look. Showcased by celebrities like Maddison Beer and Hailey Bieber, the no-makeup makeup look is all about highlighting your natural features and making you look healthy. The key points of this viral makeup trend are: glowy skin, a good blush and brows on fleek.

Your Skincare Routine Matters

Skincare is the foundation (no pun intended) of any natural makeup look, but even more so with the no-makeup makeup look, since you’re more likely to skip foundation, you want your skin to look its best. We like to choose ultra-hydrating skincare like the for that doughnut, glass skin look.

Don’t forget to apply your sunscreen, regardless of the time of year. We love Supergoop! Every.Single.Face Watery Lotion SPF 50, £30.00 for that dewy, healthy glow. Once you’re done with your skincare, time to get started on your makeup.

How to get the no-makeup makeup look

Step 1: Ditch foundation for a light base

The first step is to choose light coverage with a skin tint or a tinted moisturiser. If you’re used to a fuller coverage foundation, use a concealer, such as Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer, £28.00 to cover pigmentation or redness. In terms of lighter bases, we recommend trying out Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, £49.00 as the perfect ‘summer skin’ product. The key is to achieve that ‘makeup that looks like skin’ type of look. For the natural makeup lovers, we'd also recommend something like ILIA.

Step 2: Choose cream bronzer over powder

While we love a powder bronzer like the iconic NARS Laguna Bronzer, when it comes to creating a minimal makeup look, we prefer to use a cream formula. Cream bronzers are much easier to blend seamlessly into your skin. A crowd favourite is the Rare Beauty Warm Wishes Effortless Bronzer Stick, £27.00, which comes in different shades to suit all skin tones. We like to opt for a warm tone to give that sunkissed look – almost as though you’ve spent the day relaxing in the sun. If you like to contour, we love the Westman Atelier Face Trace Contour Stick, £44.00 for some extra dimension.

Step 3: Don’t skip blusher

Blusher plays a key role in the minimal makeup look as it gives your skin a natural, flushed finish. Cream blushes have been all the rage for the past year and plenty of brands have formulas that can be used on your cheeks and lips. Rare Beauty Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush, £24.00 is a bestseller and comes in a range of shades to suit all moods and preferences. Apply it to the apple of your cheeks and blend outwards, along your cheekbones. For a super natural finish, add a tiny dot of blush to the bridge of your nose.

Step 4: Fluff up your brows

Whether you’re going for a full glam or a minimal makeup look, brows are always a staple. Fluffy, laminated, thin, you name it… we’re in an era where all eyebrow styles are in, so go with what you’re the most comfortable with. The main thing is you want your brows to stay in place all day. A clear or tinted gel should help create that effect, like the soap brows, laminated look.

Step 5: Add a slick of gloss

Lip glosses and oils are proving very popular for 2023, and they provide the perfect finishing touch to a clean, minimal makeup look. We love that the latest formulas help to hydrate lips and provide subtle colour and shine without feeling sticky or gloopy. If you’re looking for something with more staying power, we’re big fans of the Rare Beauty lip oil. It has the longevity of a lip stain and feels super comfortable.

Step 6: Lock in your look

Even when you’re going for a minimal makeup look, you want to make sure you set everything in place, especially if the temperatures are high. The Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Makeup Setting Spray, £20.00 won’t let you down, especially during this warm time of the year. Opting for a setting spray with SPF is also a great shout as it's a convenient way to reapply sunscreen over makeup throughout the day too. Going from desk to dinner? Make sure you’ve got Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder, £52.00 in your handbag, it’s a no makeup makeup essential as it dials down shine and gives your skin a filtered finish.

Our final word on the no-makeup makeup look

No makeup makeup is here to stay, and we’re not sad about it. While we love a full face of makeup, we all have those days when we just don’t have the time or the energy to put that much effort into our beauty routine and the minimal makeup look works perfectly. It’s the ideal mix of a good skincare routine and barely-there makeup.