Makeup for Beginners Natural Look
The draw of natural makeup, charmingly dubbed 'no-makeup makeup' is hard to overlook in the modern beauty world. The Natural Makeup look is especially alluring for beginners because It feels less intimidating than more complicated makeup looks - and you would be right!
The days of full-on makeup looks being the standard, are past. Today, we are seeing more and more emphasis being placed on more natural, fresher-looking makeup.
Discover the beauty of simplicity with our 'makeup for beginners natural look' tutorial. Designed for those new to makeup, achieve a flawless, understated glow
It's often said, "less is more," and here at Red Apple Lipstick, couldn't agree more - particularly for beginners or young ladies starting to wear makeup.
You can' never't go wrong, or out of style, with a fresh and natural look. The natural makeup look is versatile, and ideal for beginners. It works perfectly well for a casual brunch or a formal event. It can look quite vogue.
What is a Natural Makeup Look?
The 'Natural Look' or 'No-Makeup Makeup' style is all about the illusion of effortlessness (which doesn't always mean it's really effortless). At its heart, it's makeup applied so gracefully that it appears almost invisible. It is achieved by using lightweight, sheer products that offer a touch of enhancement without overpowering or transforming one's natural beauty.
A Quick Look
- Enhances Natural Features.
- Appears Effortless.
- Doesn't Transform Features.
- Almost Invisible.
- Uses Less Makeup Products.
- Utilizes More Simple Techniques.
- Provides A Fresh and Radiant Appearance.
- Works Best Hydrated Skin.
This charming and radiant look is achieved by applying minimal makeup or doing a simple makeup routine using lightweight makeup products that have lighter coverage.
Lucky for you, this about defining features simply without changing or full-on sculpting. What I want in a natural makeup look or no-makeup makeup look is a perfect, everyday makeup. I want to look put together, naturally, without having to know every technique for makeup on the planet.
This look is ideal for makeup beginners who are just learning how to apply makeup. I know that when I was a beginner, I was not comfortable applying full-on, glammed looks. Great news! You can still achieve a flawless makeup look as they learn to improve your skills.
Essential Makeup Products Used In A Natural Makeup Look.
Just briefly I want to cover the "TYPES" of makeup products I use when making a natural makeup look. I'm not saying you need all of these, I am simply stating if you are going to use a product, use it like below.
Complexion:
- Foundation: Opt for lightweight, sheer to medium coverage foundations or tinted moisturizers that meld seamlessly with your skin. The goal is a breathable, luminous finish that lets natural skin texture (like freckles) shine through.
- Concealer: Used judiciously, it's dabbed only on noticeable blemishes, redness, or under-eye circles. The trick is to blend well and ensure it matches your skin tone perfectly.
- Setting Powder or Spray: A touch of translucent powder can be used to set areas prone to oiliness. However, avoid a completely matte finish. Dewy setting sprays can help achieve a fresh-faced glow.
Eyes:
- Eyeshadows: Lean towards neutral shades—soft browns, beiges, and creams—that are close to the natural eyelid color. The aim is a gentle enhancement, not a dramatic statement.
- Eyeliner: If used, it's applied finely, often in softer shades like brown or gray, steering clear of bold, graphic lines.
- Mascara: A coat or two lends definition to the lashes, but clumping or ultra-voluminous formulas are generally avoided.
- Brows: The natural shape is embraced, perhaps lightly filled if sparse, and set with a clear or tinted brow gel. No sharp edges; just well-groomed softness.
Cheeks:
- Natural Blush: A sweep of natural blush—think soft pinks or peaches—mimics the color your cheeks turn when naturally flushed.
- Bronzer/Contour: If used, it's applied with a light hand to softly define, not dramatically sculpt.
Lips:
- Lip Products: Clear balms, lip glosses, or nude lipsticks that are close to one's natural lip color are ideal. The lips should look moisturized and soft, not overly glossy or intensely pigmented.
Tools You Might Find Useful in a No Makeup Makeup Look:
- Beauty Sponge: For a well-blended, airbrushed foundation application.
- Eyeshadow Blending Brush: To softly blend neutral eyeshadows.
- Eyebrow Brush/Spoolie: Helps in brushing and setting eyebrows.
- Blush Brush: For a gentle application of blush on the cheeks.
- Lip Brush: For precise application of lip products, if desired.
- Powder Brush: Used lightly with translucent powder to set areas prone to oiliness.
Step by Step for the Perfect Natural Makeup Look
How is natural makeup done? For a natural makeup look, you should know some basic steps. These are similar to the steps to a basic makeup application because it will be similar to it, with just a bit of tweaking. So YAY, You're also starting to learn some makeup basics.
Matter of fact, we have a whole blog post about it, and it's a great first Makeup for Beginners' article, Makeup for Beginners: How & Where to Start, and you might also enjoy The Correct Order to Apply Makeup, 8 Steps Used by Makeup Artists.
Okay, Let's get going.
Skin Prep- Skincare is a First Step Must!
It all starts with skin prep. I want my makeup to look as flawless as possible, and a good skincare routine is crucial for a natural look. I Always do m y best to prep my skin, starting with a skincare routine.
Here is a simple and easy skin routine.
- Cleanse: Start with a gentle cleanser to ensure your face is clean and free from any impurities or excess oil.
- Exfoliate: (1-2 times a week) Use a mild exfoliant to slough off dead skin cells, making your skin smoother and ready for makeup.
- Moisturize: Apply a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer to hydrate your skin. This step is crucial for a fresh, dewy finish.
- Prime: A light application of a primer can help smooth pores and ensure makeup longevity. Opt for a hydrating or illuminating primer to boost that natural glow.
Cleanse First. Your skin should be cleansed and well moisturized. Use a moisturizer that suits your skin type. And also moisturize the lips with a bit of lip balm, like Rallye Balm.
For dry skin or mature skin, look for one that is both moisturizing and hydrating. If you have oily skin, an oil-free option would be best. Don’t forget to protect your skin from the sun's UV rays with some SPF. You can use a moisturizer that has SPF in it or apply a separate sunscreen after moisturizing.
A face primer is not a must, but it can help in prolonging the wear of your makeup. If you do choose to use one, just like a moisturizer, pick one that suits your particular skin type.
Foundation
Choose a lightweight foundation. The goal is to even out your skin tone without masking it. Blend using a beauty sponge or fingers for the most natural finish.
Can I Skip Foundation?
Yes you can. Instead of foundation, try something much lighter like a tinted moisturizer. Tinted moisturizers are perfect alternatives to foundation when going for a more natural, minimal makeup look or a no-makeup makeup look. Tinted Moisturizer provides just a sheer wash of color to even out the skin while giving the complexion a beautiful natural glow.
Other similar great options to use are a tinted SPF, BB Cream, or CC cream. Apply using your fingers, a foundation brush, or even a makeup sponge.
Add Concealer Only Where You Need It
You probably only need a little extra coverage and/or need to cover any dark circles and dark spot. Concealer is ideal for this!
Lightly dab concealer to the areas that need it, like under the eyes or on blemishes. Blend well, ideally with a damp sponge or your fingertip.
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If you do not have major issues and your skin tone doesn't really need any evening out, you could just spot-conceal any problematic areas and skip any other base product.
Add a Touch of Warmth to the Complexion
You want your complexion to look as natural as possible. A touch of warmth looks VERY natural, and almost all natural makeup looks are done this way. As if you have a touch of sun-kissed glow from some extra sporty time outdoors.
All you need is Sundrop Bronzer and a fluffy brush or powder brush like the Blush Brush. Using your brush, apply and blend Sundrop to the areas of the face where the sun would hit. This would be to the high points of the face- the forehead, cheekbones, down the top of the nose, and chin.
Apply Blush to the Apples of Your Cheeks for a Natural Flush of Color
Bronzer alone looks great for a no-makeup makeup look. Adding just a little bit of color with blush, though, to the apples of your cheeks does provide a natural-looking flush to the complexion.
If you do want to include it in your natural look, choose one of RAL's blush shade that closely matches the color your cheeks naturally get when they become flushed. Apply with a light hand using the Blush Brush. Do not apply too much, you just want to add a natural wash of color to the cheeks.
Start by placing the color in a patting motion. Gently pat the brush against the apples of your cheeks and continue to the temples. Then, blend the color and any harsh lines by taking your brush and moving it against your cheek in an oval motion, from the apple of your cheek towards the temple.
*Additional Tip
Cream blush is a great option for more natural makeup and no-makeup makeup looks. While Red Apple Lipstick does not offer cream blushes, you can use any lipstick shade as a cream blush. Simply dot on where you would place your blush and then blend it out with your brush.
Eye Shadow Application Tips
/wp:kadence/advancedheading wp:paragraphGo with neutral eyeshadow shades close to your skin tone. Matte beiges, soft browns, or neutral pinks are great choices. Blend well to avoid harsh lines.
~ OR ~ Skip the Eye Makeup! Define the Eyes Instead
You can totally Keep the eyes pretty simple. You can forgo the full-on eyeshadow, and instead just define the eyes using a bit of bronzer.
There are two options to do this. If you have oily eyelids, apply a bit of Prime Time Eye Shadow Primer first to keep the oils under control. Then apply either a base eyeshadow color to the lids before defining them or don't. You may need to experiment here.
A 'base color' is an eye shadow shade that is close to your natural skin tone and it can help 'set' the primer. You might like it, you might not.
Define the eyes by applying Sundrop Bronzer, using a blending eyeshadow brush like the Crease and Blend Brush, across the entire crease. Blend using windshield wiping motions. Build it up if you need, until you reach the depth you desire.
If you want a little more to the eyes, we recommend just darkening the upper lash line with a black eyeliner pencil. This will subtly make the eyes pop and give the look of naturally fuller lashes.
Add a Couple of Coats of Mascara to Make Your Eyes Pop
Applying one or two coats of The Lash Project Mascara for a beautiful feathery soft and long lash that looks natural. This mascara also helps to strengthen and maintain healthy lashes as it is also a lash serum, which makes it perfect for everyday wear and everyday makeup.
Need some makeup tips on applying mascara? Check out this very helpful makeup tutorial video, where Andrea shows the basics of mascara application.
Don't Forget Your Eyebrows
Do not neglect your brows. Your eyebrows should look natural, but well-groomed. I'm not suggesting you go the bushy route.
If they need to be filled in, using an eyebrow pencil or eyeshadow as a brow powder. These are the best choices for more natural-looking brows as mentioned in the previous Makeup for Beginners article.
Go for a Natural Lip Color with Lip Gloss or Tinted Lip Balm
For the lips, instead of a bold or bright color, go for a more natural lip. Choose a shade of lipstick that is close to, or similar, to your lips' natural coloring. You can also go for a lip gloss instead or even a tinted lip balm for a more natural and sheer lip color option.
Lipstick Shade Suggestions
Depending on your skin tone/skin color and your lips' natural color, the following lipstick shades are some great "Your Lips but Better" and "No-Lipstick Lipstick" options:
Audrey, Enchanting, Glow On, Mabel, Maven Mauve, Naughty, New York, Oh My Guava, Strawberry Lips, and Tempting. Any of these shades can also be worn as a lip stain for an even more natural finish.
Avoid Excess Powder & Set Your Face Makeup with a Setting Spray
Many like to set their base makeup with a translucent powder/setting powder, especially if they have oily skin. However, for a more natural look, you might prefer a spray.
I bet you are asking yourself "Should I set My Makeup?" Here's some food for though on the subject.
"Setting your makeup" can be beneficial. Generally the aim is longevity of the makeup OR combating oil skin (which can cause makeup to slip and slide, or breakdown, or get a shiny appearance). Getting rid of a "shine" is called "mattifying"
Powders magnify MORE than sprays. Sprays are MORE "dewey" than powders. There is no way for me to tell you which works better for you. You are wonderfully unique. Over time, try both.
I feel like for a "no makeup makeup" look, or a beginners natural look, the setting spray is the all-arounder that wins. It not only seals your makeup, but that dewey finish is so youthful.
Simply lightly mist the face with the setting spray.
If you would like to see another step-by-step makeup tutorial on a natural makeup/no-makeup makeup look, we have two available! A regular No-Makeup makeup look tutorial as well as a summer version of it.
Everyone can create a great natural no-makeup makeup look, even if you are not a pro. Whether you use higher-end beauty products or more affordable drugstore makeup, if you follow these tips, you will achieve a gorgeous (and flawless) natural-looking makeup application.
The beauty of RAL's products is that they are so natural looking, safe for the skin, and reasonably priced. They work perfectly to create any kind of look but especially those more natural ones. Which ones are your favorites, or which ones are you wanting to try?
Frequently Asked Questions:
How to do basic makeup for beginners?
This is an excellent question. It is very important to know a basic makeup application, and we have a whole article about it! Click here to head there.
What makeup should I start with first?
Before applying any makeup, you should always prep the skin. Start with cleansed and well-moisturized skin. You may also apply a facial primer to help prolong the wear of your makeup.
Once your skin has been prepped, you then want to start applying your makeup products. Start with your base makeup first. This is either your foundation, tinted moisturizer, BB Cream/CC Cream, and/or concealer.
What do I need for a basic natural makeup look?
You will need at least the following:
- a good skincare routine, including lip balm,
- makeup brushes,
- a lightweight, light coverage base product(s),
- bronzer,
- natural shade of blush,
- black eyeliner pencil,
- mascara,
- brow pencil and/or brow powder,
- a natural-looking shade of lip color, either lipstick, lip gloss, or tinted balm.
How do beginners learn basic makeup?
There are many makeup tutorials easily accessible to everyone. Red Apple Lipstick offers many articles that teach basic makeup techniques and many other makeup tutorials. You can even find two, in-depth, free video courses: All About the Eyes & Lipstick Like a Pro.