Image courtesy of sofeminine.co.uk
Forget matte and forget glitter. This year is all about having luminous skin without the severity of matte foundations or the goopiness of glittery blushes. Clean, bright complexions with little color on the eyes and lips are this year’s go-to look for both day and night. Wearing barely-there makeup may seem a bit intimidating, especially for a nighttime look, but with these six simple steps you’ll be well on your way to getting a simple, clean and standout look without having to layer on the lipstick or shadow.
1. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. Be sure to remove all your makeup before bedtime. Choose a moisturizer that works well with your skin type. You can’t have beautiful, luminous skin without properly hydrating your face.
2. Apply concealer as needed. Green tones neutralize redness while beige tones define them. If you’re pale, use pink-toned concealer with light diffusing particles. Darker tone skin works best with apricot concealer to best illuminate skin.
3. When it comes to foundation, the same rule applies as concealer. Avoid cake-face (liquid foundation, I’m looking at you) and opt for a lightweight foundation with high absorbency (I live and die by Bare Minerals). Focus primarily on your T-zone, i.e. chin, nose, and forehead. Lightly spread outwards and blend well.
4. Now that your skin tone is even, it’s time to add a little color. Keeping with the theme of light-diffusing powder, use a light-infusing blusher to get the glow where you want it. Use a small amount of neutral or light-color bushes (pink/apricot) right on the cheekbones. One of my favorite ways of applying blush is blend it on my cheeks while smiling. It works, and makes me feel a little bit happier even on a Monday morning.
5. When it comes to the eyes, less is more. Use a lid primer to cover any discoloration. It’s great alone or used as a foundation for shadow. Sticking with the natural look, I wouldn’t recommend doing anything more than a simple primer or neutral color shadow. Apply mascara as needed.
6. Lips can make or break a look. I wouldn’t recommend a skin-colored lip, ever. Bring out your lips with a shiny gloss. You can play with soft peach and pink tones, which will give you a natural look without coming too close to your skin tone.
