How To Do - Barely There Make Up

This time last week on the Blog our resident hair and beauty expert Jenn Edwards was talking us though the latest make up trend of barley there make up. The natural look has certainly made a come back and Jenn gave us a review of her top 10 make up products that give that barely there look.
Today Jenn is back to tell us how to create the look for ourselves!

I’ll pass you over to Jenn………..

On the blog today It’s all about bare faced beauty, and we’re not asking you to lock away your makeup bag! If you missed our earlier blog post, you can catch up here to discover my top 10 cosmetics to get you looking fresh, youthful and wow.
The ‘no Makeup’ makeup look is definitely on trend and it’s a breath of fresh air to see people looking less made up. We’re seeing less air brushing on the glossy’s too which is great news but, that doesn’t mean we want to see eye bags, pimples, age spots and sallow skin on the front cover of Vouge either. With this trend in mind cosmetic companies are using new technology to develop innovative lines of cosmetics aimed at giving us flawless complexions without the heavy ‘masked’ effect.

If though, like me, there’s no way on this earth you’d leave the house without makeup then this step by step guide will teach you how to cheat.

STEP 1 – PRIME

To start, apply a makeup primer to a cleansed face avoiding the delicate eye area.
Primers serve as a layer between your skin and foundation to create a more even surface and increase the longevity of your foundation, but todays primers do so much more than this which is why I think they’re worth the extra faff.
I love Smashbox Photo Finish Primer. This award winning original formula made it into my top 10 but Smashbox have an extended range aimed at problematic skins.
Another favorite is Clarins Instant Light Complexion Perfector which works wonders on dull, tired, complexions.
Primers for Oily skin have very mixed reviews. What works wonders for one person does nothing for another. I recommend Bobbi Brown Blotting papers which are a vital part of my professional kit.

STEP 2 – BASE

For those of you that are blessed with issue-free skin you may wish to skip this step altogether, having discovered great results with a primer alone, but for the majority of us a little coverage is non negotiable.

Barely there coverage
Tinted moisturizers are becoming increasingly popular as an alternative to foundation. I love Nars Pure radiant tinted moisturizer which comes in 11 different shades.

Light coverage
If you haven’t yet discovered the world of BB creams then here’s the low down; This versatile skin care/makeup hybrid promises to do the job of five or six other jars and tubes: moisturizer, primer, sunscreen, skin treatment, concealer, and foundation in one.
So, perfect for the lazy bums right? and, of course, the busy bees with little time for beauty. I’d say I fit both categories which is why I’m so in love with Garniers Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream.
There are tons of highly rated BB’s out there such as Dr.Jart+ Premium Beauty Balm, Estee Lauder Daywear BB, and Omorvica Complexion Perfector BB at a whopping £80 but Garniers multi award winning BB gets my vote because, at under a tenner, it’s an absolute steal.

Medium coverage
If your not willing to ditch the foundation then these fabulous foundations are perfect for a natural dewy glow – Dior Capture Totale Serum Foundation, Yves Saint Laurent Le Teint Touche Eclat or Shiseido Radiant Lifting Foundation.

To apply, use a sponge applicator or brush like Bobbi Browns Foundation Brush and blend well, Paying extra attention to the edges to make sure there are no visible lines. It’s imperative that you get the color perfect when using tinted moisturizers, BB’s, or foundations so test in natural day light along your jawline. It should disappear onto the skin with no visible edges.

STEP 3 – CONCEAL

Under Eyes
whether you suffer from dark circles or not, using the right under eye concealer can lift your features, perfect your skin tone and disguise fine lines and wrinkles too.
The first step in choosing a suitable under eye concealer is to look for one a shade or two lighter than your skin tone. It will blend with the darker color under your eyes to create a more natural color that matches your current skin shade.

One of of the best undereye concealers on the market is the Bobbi Brown Corrector kit, This peach tinted concealer is perfect for dark circles under the eyes as it counteracts the blueness (orange/peach is the opposite of blue on the color wheel, therefore the colors balance each other.

Never use blemish concealer under your eyes as this is thicker, creamier, and to heavy for the delicate skin under your eyes. Use a brush or sponge when applying concealer to cover under eye circles, because the oils from fingers tend to wipe away makeup. Apply a little powder over the covered area to ensure that the concealer stays put.

Blemishes
Apply a creamy concealer to the blemished area only using a concealer brush. Lightly blend the outer edges until they blend seamlessly with the rest of the skin. Ensure that the color is a perfect match to your own skin tone otherwise the blemish will stand out rather than dissapear. Laura Merciers secret camouflage concealer is worth every penny.

STEP 4 – SET

A light dusting of finishing powder will help keep your foundation in place and will give a softer finish but remember, real skin is never matte so only powder areas that get oily throughout the day. Guerlain Meteorites Perles Finishing Powder sits proudly in my top ten but I also love Bareminerals Illuminating Mineral Veil and it’s a bargain at £20. A little goes a long way!

If your prone to dull or dry skin, spritz your face with a facial mist like Mac Fix + spray to prevent any cakiness and to keep your skin looking dewy and fresh.

STEP 5 – BLUSH

To get the most natural healthy glow, opt for a cream blush like Mac Cremeblend Blush or Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge. Using your fingers, apply three dots to the apples of your cheeks only and blend towards the temples.

STEP 6 – EYES

Brows
Natural eyebrows never look penciled in. So ditch your eyebrow pencil and use a powder that matches with your hair color instead. Apply with an angled brush and blend with a clean mascara wand or brow brush to soften the look. If you have a fuller brow use a Brow Gel like Illamasquer Las and Brow Gel to tame and shape your brow.

Lashes
Skip eyeshadow and eyeliner and really work on the mascara to make your eyes look bigger. Work the wand right into the roots of your lashes and lift as you go. Eyelash curlers are a great little invention but be sure to use them before you apply mascara or you could end up damaging your lashes. For a non drying, clump free, lash try Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara.

If you must wear eyeliner, keep the line thin and stick to softer colors like brown or grey.

STEP 7 – LIPS

Forget lip liner. Instead use a tinted lip balm only to add subtle pop of color and shine. I wouldn’t be without my Burts Bees Tinted Lip Balms for ‘just there’ color and softness that lasts all day and they don’t break the bank either. Dior addict Glow Balm seems to be stealing the top reviews which claims react directly with the unique chemistry of each woman’s lips before releasing its color ingredient.

The key is to concentate on correcting your complexion and minimizing imperfections with out overloading. Avoid highly pigmented products and keep color to a minimum choosing shades which are closest to your own natural tones.

If you love the natural look and have discovered your own little secrets, weather it be tips or products you love, please share with us in the comments box below. I’d love to hear from you.