Not only does a thick foundation inevitably turn my chin into an open invite for acne, but by the end of the day, everything has caked, sweated, and pilled off to the point where I wish I’d just kept my face bare to begin with. Luckily, there’s a happy medium between full glam and wearing nothing but skincare: soft natural makeup. According to Pinterest’s Annual Beauty Trend Report, searches for this glam inspiration have increased by 105 percent over the past year, with glowy skin and delicate washes of color leading the charge.
The idea is to enhance your natural features with strategically placed products and pops of color, rather than covering your precious face in layers upon layers of powders and foundations. Ahead, I’m breaking down celebrity-inspired natural makeup looks, along with the tips and tricks to recreate each one yourself. Nothing says natural makeup quite like dewy skin to create a satin-like finish that accentuates the high points of your face and lets all your other makeup glide on with ease.
Load up on glow-inducing skincare and primer, then opt for a lightweight skin tint rather than a heavy foundation to get the effortless look. For a softer take on the classic cat eye, keep the flick short, extending no more than half an inch past the outer corner. Use eyeshadow to softly blend out the wing for a diffused finish, rather than creating a sharp point.
For a natural flush that mimics the rosy cheeks you get from a sudden surge of embarrassment, sweep a pink or rose-toned blush across the apples of your cheeks. Keep the rest of your glam minimal and let the blush do the heavy lifting. Skip the heavy hitters like bold eyeshadow and sculpting bronzer, and let your lips take center stage instead.
Opt for a glossy pink or a deep berry red for a pop of color that still feels delicate. If you want to add a little edge to the eyes without committing to a full smokey shadow look, a soft and smudged liner is the way to go. Add a bit of definition along the lower lash line or go for a diffused cat eye to make your eyes pop while keeping the rest of the eyes minimal.
Jasmine Hyman is the Assistant Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan, where she writes about the latest beauty trends and must-have products. Her most prized beauty possessions are a meticulous skincare routine and salon blowouts. You’ll also likely find her in bed reading a good book or endlessly scrolling TikTok (spoiler: it’s usually the latter) while listening to Harry Styles’ entire discography on repeat.
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