No one wants to look overdone when lounging in the sun. But that doesn't mean forgoing all makeup! The right shades will blend into your skintone, making you look like you've put on nothing at all.
Celebrity makeup artist Nick Barose should know. Famous for creating natural looks on A-listers like Anne Hathaway, Scarlett Johansson and Hilary Duff, Barose believes a woman should look like herself after she's done applying blush and gloss.
"Everybody needs a little bit of something," Barose told IFT today. "But often less makeup - and the right amount - will actually make you look younger." So how can you achieve a barely there look in your own home?
Follow Us
Just follow Barose's five simple rules:
1. Replace your foundation with oil-free tinted moisturizer: Sounds easy, right? Well, it may be trickier than you think. "Sometimes tinted moisturizers can be too sheer. So you need to look for something that can be layered or mixed with your foundation in a few spots," Barose says. He also recommends going for a moisturizer in a slightly deeper tone than your foundation. "That way, skin will look warm and you won't have to wear as much."
His favorite: Jouer Luminizing Moisure Tint SPF 20 Oil-Free because it "goes on like skin."
2. Invest in sponges and brushes: Do not, under any circumstances, use your fingers, cautions Barose. "It will look blotchy," he warns. "Instead, use a sponge and be sure to blend cream blush around the edges so it leaves no trace." After that, lightly dust powder blush in a similar shade on top to tone down the shine.
His favorite: Estee Lauder Pure Color Blush. The great thing, says Barose, is that "it's not too matte or shimmery. So it's believable as your actual cheek color."
3. Look for colors with a subtle sheen: Most people associate barely there makeup with flat, nude tones. But Barose says lipsticks that are too matte will make the skin look pasty. You also don't need to go super-light. Look at the color of your lips when you wake up. Recreate that shade or one shade lighter.
His favorite: YSL Rouge Lipstick because "it's not too nude and has a slight sheen."
4. Avoid extra-thick mascara: The trick is looking for a smaller wand that "just coats the lashes instead of applying chunks of volume," Barose explains. "Sometimes if you wipe the wand with a paper towel you won't get too much product." Shades of brown will also look softer than a jet black.
His favorite: Clinique High-Definition Mascara
5. Start light and go from there: "Remember, you can always add more if you feel like you don't have enough," Barose advises. "Most people are used to applying makeup in a certain way. Just keep an open mind." We know we will.
