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An aesthetician’s guide to mastering a natural makeup look

by Aaron|May 27, 2025
Mastering no-makeup makeup: Our guide to natural makeup looks

Whether you call it a five-minute face, no-makeup makeup or low-maintenance makeup, we all love the idea of looking like our natural self, but better. Knowing what products to use and how to use them can make all the difference when it comes to makeup that looks natural. With some expert advice and a little bit of practice, anyone can master this look. Read on for our tips on:

How to do a no-makeup makeup look

What are the best makeup tips for a natural look? We asked Joey Lasher, LovelySkin Med Spa Team Lead and licensed aesthetician, to share her professional recommendations. Follow these five steps to achieve an easy makeup look in five minutes or less.

Step 1: Prep your skin with tinted moisturizer

For a no-makeup makeup look, you can start by forgoing foundation and instead opting for a tinted moisturizer. Our goal of this step is to blur imperfections, like uneven skin tone, without looking too heavy. The sheer, lightweight texture of a tinted moisturizer is up to the task.

Step 2: Camouflage redness or discoloration with concealer

If you’re satisfied with the finish of your skin after applying only tinted moisturizer, you can move on to Step 3. “If you’re still noticing dark under-eye circles, acne scars or other skin issues showing through, you can go in with some concealer in those areas,” Lasher says. “Apply a few dots of concealer under the eyes and directly on any other spots. Then, gently blend with your fingers or a makeup sponge.”

Step 3: Define your brows

Adding brow definition is the next step in your no-makeup makeup look. “Defined brows frame your face and make all the difference for a natural makeup look,” Lasher says.

You can apply a brow gel to your eyebrows using upward strokes to add a bit of color and shape simultaneously, or you can add natural-looking definition with quick upward flicks of a brow pencil, starting at the inner edge of each eyebrow and extending outward (watch this video for a brow pencil demo).

“Whether you go for a brow gel or pencil, I recommend choosing a shade that’s the same or just a touch darker than your natural brow color,” Lasher says.

Step 4: Add dimension with mascara

This simple makeup look skips eye shadow altogether, so a coat of mascara is all you need to finish your eye makeup. “You can’t go wrong with a basic black mascara. However, if you have fair skin and hair, I would opt for brown mascara instead for a softer, more natural look,” Lasher says.

Step 5: Add a natural flush to cheeks and lips

Because the goal of natural makeup is to look like you’re not wearing any at all, we recommend saving your favorite lipstick for another day. “One of my favorite ways to create a no-makeup makeup look is to use the same multitasking stain or tint on both the cheeks and lips,” Lasher says. For the most natural look, choose a hue that’s only a shade or two deeper than your natural lip color.

What makeup to buy for a natural makeup look

Are you ready to attempt your own natural makeup look at home? We’ve gathered some of our favorite products to use for a no-makeup makeup look.

Tinted moisturizer

For tinted moisturizers, a formula that includes sunscreen can help provide added protection against the sun’s damaging rays. “Wearing a sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or more that is also broad spectrum—meaning it provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays—is one of the best ways to decrease your risk of melanoma and prevent visible signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles,” says LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon.

Revision Skincare Intellishade Tinted Moisturizer SPF 45 is a favorite of LovelySkin co-founder Nancy Schlessinger. “Whether I’m doing a light no-makeup look or a full face of makeup, this tinted moisturizer is part of my daily routine,” she says. “I love that it provides some light coverage as well as sun protection, and it dries to a flattering dewy finish.” It also comes in a matte-finish formula as well.

Another option is a tinted face sunscreen such as Colorescience Sunforgettable Total Protection Face Shield Flex SPF 50, which comes in a range of shades and features tone-adapting pigments that provide just enough coverage while still looking natural.

Concealer

You can blur imperfections, like acne, post-acne scarring, dark spots and melasma, with Laura Mercier Real Flawless Weightless Perfecting Concealer. It has a serum-like liquid texture that provides natural-looking coverage without looking cakey. The doe-foot applicator makes it easy to dot on a bit of product wherever you need it most.

To specifically address dark under-eye circles for your natural makeup look, Glo Skin Beauty Under Eye Concealer offers medium to full coverage and dries to a semi-matte finish. Each concealer palette features two shades you can use separately or combine to create your own custom concealer shade.

If you’re looking for more concealer choices, you can check out our blog post on how to pick the best concealer for any concern.

Brow gel or brow pencil

The best brow gels and pencils not only add definition but also help fill in sparse spots in your brows. bareMinerals Strength & Length Serum-Infused Brow Gel helps create visibly fuller eyebrows with natural-looking pigment in shades ranging from taupe (a light tan that suits blondes and redheads) to coffee (a deep, almost-black brown).

If you prefer a traditional brow pencil, try Youngblood Mineral Cosmetics On Point Brow Defining Pencil. With a self-sharpening twist-up design, it provides smudge-proof, sweat-resistant color for up to ten hours. We love its built-in spoolie that helps smooth stray brow hairs after application.

Mascara

A classic black mascara, such as theBalm Mad Lash Black Mascara is an important staple to have on hand for all sorts of looks, including a five-minute face. This flake-free formula is water-resistant and helps lengthen as well as define lashes.

If you have blonde or red hair, opt for a brown mascara instead of black for your no-makeup makeup look. Ere Perez Natural Almond Mascara comes in dark brown and features a smudge-proof formula made with plant-based ingredients such as sweet almond oil, avocado oil and palm kernel wax.

Lip and cheek color

A combination product for both lips and cheeks will save you time when applying your no-makeup makeup look. “Some lip and cheek stains dry out skin, but jane iredale Just Kissed Lip and Cheek Stain has avocado oil and olive oil for a rich, moisturizing feel,” Lasher says. Shades range from the barely there pink of Forever You to the subtle peachy hue of Forever Peach.

Founded by a couple who moved to Central America as newlyweds to embrace a laid-back beach life, Mad Hippie is another brand that has mastered the carefree, low-maintenance vibe. Mad Hippie Cheek and Lip Tint features a balm-like texture and buildable pigment, so we recommend applying it with a light touch for the most natural-looking finish.

For cheeks only, we also love the natural flush of Osmotics Colour Verite Radiance Illuminating Blush. This lightweight liquid blush comes in one universal shade that flatters all skin tones and provides a touch of radiant shine.

VIDEO: For more pro tips, watch this video about how to create a natural makeup look for everyday wear with Jane Iredale products.

Do you have a special occasion coming up? You can learn how to pump up the drama and create a full glam makeup look on the LovelySkin Blog.

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About the Author

Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.

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