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Mastering the no-makeup makeup look is the ultimate beauty feat. Unlike party makeup looks, which emphasize expression, glamour and experimentation, the no-makeup makeup look is all about playing up your natural beauty without looking like you spent hours in the mirror. Think natural-looking skin, a fresh, dewy glow and a plump, luscious-looking pout. Achieving this effortless look takes a bit of effort—but with these simple tricks, you can pull it off with ease. 

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Begin with well-cared-for skin.
A flawless-looking complexion starts with taking care of what’s underneath—your skin. Be diligent with your skin care routine and consistency will pay off. For healthy skin, we recommend a daily skin care routine that includes cleansing, toning and moisturizing using products best suited for your skin type. Add in a sprinkling of self-care treatments, like a weekly exfoliating session and face mask. Lastly, don’t forget to give skin an extra boost (when it needs it) by applying a serum before your moisturizer. Now you’re ready for no-makeup makeup!

It’s prime time for your natural makeup look.
Facial primers come in a variety of formulas– from mattifying primers for oily skin, to hydrating primers for dry skin, and color-correcting primers to soften imperfections and help even skin tone. Unless you have an oily skin type, we highly suggest kicking off your no-makeup makeup with a hydrating primer.

Go for a lightweight foundation.
Gone are the days when “good coverage” meant layers and layers of heavy foundation. Some of the most popular foundations in the game today have a lightweight and airy texture, yet are still buildable so you can get as much or as little coverage as you’d like. For your nude makeup look, try a foundation that gives skin a moisture boost while still allowing your unique freckles and beautiful imperfections to shine through. Pro tip: for the most effective application, use a fluffy foundation brush or sponge to create a perfectly blended, yet dewy complexion.

Choosing the right foundation is key to achieving a natural look. We suggest opting for a medium-coverage formula, which is just enough to cover redness and imperfections, but won’t make you look overly made up. Most importantly, choose a light, breathable formula that doesn’t feel too heavy on your skin.

Try fmg Cashmere Compact Powder Foundation, which delivers a soft-focus matte finish that covers everything you want to hide, but still looks and feels light on the skin. Your skin will look visibly smooth and supple all day long.

If you’re looking to enhance your skin tone, rather than cover it, opt for a tinted moisturizer like fmg Magix Tint Radiant Tinted Moisturizer. It tints, blurs and moisturizes, giving skin a radiant-looking, natural glow.

Conceal only necessary spots.
Next, apply concealer just where you need a little extra coverage, like red areas around the nose, blemishes or under-eye circles. No need to go overboard. Our tip for hiding a spot: use a small, flat brush with synthetic bristles so you don’t lose too much of the product when blending. For dark circles, your fingertips work best–they create natural heat that helps the product sink right in. To help your concealer stay all day, apply a lightweight face powder on top, using a small brush.

Add some highlights.
To take your no-makeup look to the next level, add a little highlighter! fmg Colors of LOVE Glow Balm Illuminating Stick is your perfect fix for a subtle glow that looks like it came from within. Plus, it’s portable so you can throw it in your bag for a glow on the go. Be conservative with the amount you apply, only adding it to necessary areas, like your upper cheekbones and Cupid’s bow. Also be sure to nix any formulas with glitter. They will make you look like a you’re ready for a fancy party—which is not the exactly the goal of the no-makeup makeup look.

Shift into neutral on your eyes.
Found-in-nature eyeshadow shades are universally flattering and add the perfect touch for your natural makeup look.

Try fmg Glimmer Eyeshadow Quad in Maven, Goddess, or Siren, featuring four dimensional universally flattering shades for a natural and alluring eye look. And neutrals don’t have to be boring—these palettes come with a range of finishes from smooth mattes and dimensional satins to multi-faceted glitters. Mix and blend them together or use an individual shade for a monochromatic moment.

Blush up.
Blush can make or break a no-makeup makeup look. You don’t want it so light that your complexion appears washed out, but you also don’t want it too bright and bold. Instead, choose a middle ground, like a rosy-pink blush. To keep your blush looking natural, stick to liquid and cream formulas and be sure to apply them lightly.

Natural-looking brows frame the face.
If you have brows that can’t be tamed, you’ll love the natural makeup look. Here, the idea is to go wild. Simply use a brow gel and brush your brows upward for your boldest brows yet.

Switch to brown mascara.
Go easy on the mascara, as caked on black mascara will look too harsh for a natural makeup look. If you have naturally dark lashes, there’s no need to reach for the mascara. For lighter lashes, use a brown mascara which suits the nude makeup look. Brush on a few wipes of a brown-colored mascara like Avon True Color SuperExtend Nourishing Mascara in Brown Black.

Don’t forget to curl your lashes for a wide-awake look.

Go (pinky) nude on the lips.
If you have naturally plump and deep-colored lips—leave your pout naked with a touch of gloss. Otherwise, use a lightweight lipstick in a neutral pink shade for a subtle pop of color. We love fmg Cashmere Essence Lipcream, the only lipstick in the U.S. with a Bio-Retinol core, which provides anti-aging and antioxidant benefits while coating lips in gorgeous color. A pretty pinky-nude shade like Day Dreamer or Honey Mandarin will perfectly punctuate your natural makeup look.

The no-makeup makeup look takes a bit of practice, but once mastered, you’ll find it’s an effortless, fresh look that you’ll always go back to.