You know how sometimes you see celebrities (or even everyday women) with glowing, flawless, make-up free skin and you curse your mum, the weather, that chocolate bar you ate, and your life’s stresses for leaving you in a position where you can basically never look good without make-up?
Well, the truth is, those radiant, make-up free women aren’t make-up free at all. They’ve just learnt how to artfully use and apply products so that they look fresh-faced and completely au naturale.
And with a little help from us and celebrity make-up artist Bruce Grayson (he’s worked with the likes of Angelina Jolie and Katie Holmes), you’ll be able to nail that ‘no make-up’ make-up look, too.
HOW TO APPLY MAKE-UP FOR A NATURAL LOOK
TACKLE THOSE PORES
Enlarged pores could be your downfall when it comes to nailing a ‘no make-up’ beauty look, which is why Bruce says it’s essential to reduce the appearance of their size.
Let’s talk about what causes enlarged pores. According to Phil Marchant, Director Global Scientific Communications at P&G, there are a few things that contribute to enlarged pores. For one, pore size tends to get worse with age (it has to do with the loss in skin elasticity). Then, environmental factors – like UV exposure and radiation –can slow down exfoliation, which leads to the clogging of pores, and in turn, more visible pores. Oily skin is also a big contributor to clogged pores.
Now, how to deal with those enlarged pores? You can reduce the appearance of them by using an exfoliating toner after your daily cleanse. Olay Total Effects Pore Minimising Toner contains niacinimide, which helps to increase natural exfoliation, reduce oil production, and even boost skin elasticity. It also hydrates, so it’ll ensure your skin is super nourished!
UP YOUR SKIN HYDRATION
Bruce believes there is no better partnership than that of skin care and make-up. When your skin is cared for and well hydrated, your make-up will adhere to it better, leaving you with a glowing complexion. In fact, Bruce claims that if your skin is hydrated enough, there should be no need to delve into the world of highlighters and shimmers.
So how do you know if your skin is hydrated enough and ready for make-up? Bruce has a nifty little trick: press your palms to your cheeks. If it feels a little tacky and your palms grip to your cheeks a bit, you’re good to go. But if your palms come off your skin easily, you’re not quite there yet. If that’s the case, add Olay Regenerist Micro-Sculpting Cream to your skin care routine. The formula helps to stimulate collagen as well as firm and energise skin.
And what else does Bruce recommend when it comes to skin care? Be patient. We all want instant results, but sadly it takes time and commitment to make your skin reach its peak condition.
LAY DOWN YOUR BASE
As Bruce puts it, this look is all about transparency (good thing that freckles are so in right now!), so a CC cream is your best bet to keep your make-up looking fresh, radiant, and most importantly, like you aren’t wearing any at all. Why? CC creams have been formulated to even out skin tone (the ‘CC’ stands for ‘Colour Correct’), while giving skin a sheer finish and maximum moisture. To continue sorting out those pores, go for the Olay Total Effects Pore Minimising CC Cream, – it will have an almost airbrushed effect on pores, leaving your skin looking dewy and flawless.
But what if your skin needs a touch more coverage and evening out? Bruce recommends using the CC Cream as a primer (for the dewy factor) before applying foundation. Just don’t be too heavy-handed with your foundation – the more you layer, the less ‘no make-up’ your make-up will look.
ADD SOME COLOUR
Once your base is done, it’s time to add a flush of colour to your cheeks. Bruce suggests a cream blush – not only does it offer a dewy finish that’ll work with your base, but it’ll ALSO blend into your skin in a way that makes it look like the colour comes from within (kind of like you ran up a flight of stairs). If you really want the colour to look natural, mix it with a touch of your CC Cream
ENHANCE YOUR LASHES
Apply just one coat of lengthening and defining mascara to your lashes. You want just the slightest hint of pigment on your lashes so that they look long and luscious. Any more than one coat and you probably won’t get that same ‘natural’ result.
GROOM YOUR BROWS
Filled-in, groomed brows make SUCH a difference to your look. Use a pencil that’s a shade or two lighter than your natural brow hair and use gentle strokes to fill in any gaps and give your brows more definition. Also, try not to draw in your entire brow – that’ll look a little less “I woke up like this” than you’re aiming for.
CONCEAL
As for concealer, Bruce says to save it for last, and using it only where you need it. If pimples are your problem, don’t just conceal on the head of the pimple. Rather, lightly apply the concealer around the problem area and blend in. And for the best results, choose a concealer that’s a slightly darker shade than your skin tone.
For dark under-eye circles, Bruce suggests using a peachy-beige concealer, as this will counteract the darkness under your eyes and help you to look well-rested.
FINISH WITH SOFT LIPS
Because you’re going for a fresh, radiant make-up look, lightly dab on some lip balm to make sure your pout looks soft, nourished and supple.
Would you like to recreate the ‘no make-up’ make-up look? Do you suffer from enlarged pores?
