Throughout my years covering beauty and skincare for fashion and lifestyle magazines, I’ve had the opportunity to learn the tricks of the trade from some of the world’s best celebrity makeup artists-icons like Charlotte Tilbury, Pat McGrath, and Mario Dedivanovic. I recommend watching the video and then referring to my breakdown below as you recreate the look yourself. The products featured in this tutorial are some of my ALL-TIME FAVORITES, and they’re all things I whole-heartedly endorse.
The Foundation of a Natural Glowy Look: Skincare Prep
Achieving a natural glowing look adds the perfect touch for an everyday appearance, an office-ready look, full glam slay, and even a big game makeup look as you support your favorite team. When done right, a natural glowing makeup look will leave you looking refreshed, put together, and as if you didn’t try too hard. Now for the catch: it’s kind of like the Goldilocks effect of wearing just the right amount of makeup- you have to know when it’s too little or too much.
A good natural makeup routine doesn’t actually start with makeup-skincare comes first. Moisturizer, in particular, is an essential step that helps prep your skin for makeup. The L’Oréal Paris RevitaLift Derm Intensives Micro Hyaluronic Acid + Ceramides Line-Plumping Water Cream is one great option for all skin types. It absorbs quickly, making it ideal for morning applications (especially when you’re short on time).
Apply a moisturizer, followed by an SPF. I like Supergoop! Superscreen Daily Moisturizer because it’s lightweight, hydrating, and also has sun protection.
Elemis Peptide 4 Eye Recovery Cream is great because it layers well underneath makeup.
Creating the Glowy Base
To achieve a natural glowing makeup look, you should first start with a primer. Your makeup can only look as amazing as the base that it’s built on- that’s why it’s so important to start off strong. To ensure that your look will last all day, smooth on a hydrating primer like FaceStudio Master Prime.
Priming your skin is ultra important if you want your makeup to last, and in some cases, it can even help cut down on the amount of foundation that you need to achieve even coverage. For a primer that promotes radiant-looking skin, try the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. Select the shade closest to your skin tone and smooth it over your face for instant hydration and a natural-looking glow.
Use a luminizer or brightening primer for a glowy base.
Applying Foundation and Concealer for a Seamless Finish
For natural makeup looks, you want a base product that works with your complexion, as opposed to trying to hide it. Give your skin a healthy-looking, soft-lit glow with this weightless skin tint. The formula, which comes in 16 shades, is made with reflective pearls, blurring pigments, and an 82% hydrating serum to give your complexion a second-skin finish.
This buildable, medium-coverage foundation provides a skin-like result, so you can keep your makeup looking natural. Reach for this tinted serum if you want natural-looking coverage with a consistency that’s inspired by your favorite skincare products. Infused with 1% hyaluronic acid, this hybrid formula leaves your skin feeling hydrated and looking visibly smoother and brighter with consistent use. It’s available in 14 shades and makes an ideal pick for anyone seeking a natural, luminous finish.
Pump your preferred foundation onto the beauty blender. Bounce the blender all over your face, and drag the product down to your neck.
For some of us, a tinted moisturizer might not cut it when it comes to coverage. When you’re wearing a light base, a full-coverage concealer can be really helpful for adding more coverage in the areas where you need it. Use a concealer sparingly on any problem areas and blemishes, but keep the rest of your base light.
Use an undereye brightener. I like to use Trish McEvoy’s Instant Eye Lift underneath my concealer for additional brightness.
Apply concealer in an upside down triangle shape. I also apply it down the bridge of my nose, on my chin, and in between my brows.
The Art of Baking and Setting
“Bake” your makeup with a setting powder. If you really want your foundation and concealer to stay put, using a “baking” technique is the best way to do it. Baking actually originated in the drag community-it’s done by letting powder sit on your face (for 5-10 minutes) while you apply your contour and bronzer, allowing the heat from your face to set the makeup.
With a big, fluffy brush, swirl Fit Me Loose Finishing Powder onto the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin to set makeup and absorb excess oil for long-lasting shine control. If you tend to be oil-prone, stash this in your purse for touch-ups throughout the day.
The "BAKING" Technique
Sculpting and Warming the Complexion
To keep your face looking as fresh and natural as possible, skip the contour and use blush to accentuate your cheeks and bone structure. We’re partial to the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush in shades like Dewy Worth It, Dewy Bright Pink, or Dewy Rich Coral. The liquid formulas boast buildable pigments that add a dewy, natural-looking wash of color to your cheeks to help pull your whole look together.
Try using a bronzing powder like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24H Fresh Wear Soft Matte Bronzer to further accentuate your cheekbones. The soft matte formula melts into the skin, so it won’t look cakey or emphasize texture. If you’d prefer a creamy formula, reach for the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer in a slightly darker shade than you’d normally use. This hydrating glow lotion with glycerin and shea butter adds luminosity for a healthy-looking, natural finish.
Apply your contour just beneath the cheekbones, on the jawline, on either side of your forehead, and on the sides of your nose. It’s important to note that “contour” and “bronzer” are two different things. Contour products usually have gray undertones, as they’re meant to mimic the shadows of your face. Bronzers are usually warmer and add an overall warmth/tan to your skintone. The best contour for beginners is Benefit Hoola Bronzer.
Use a big fluffy brush to apply your bronzer. Bronzer application can be less precise than contour-but don’t forget about your neck.
Boosting Radiance with Complexion Enhancers
Your skin should already be pretty glowy by this point, but a glowy natural makeup look needs, well, all the glow! To boost yours, grab a fan brush and pick up some Master Chrome Highlight powder, then dust it onto the high points of your face. Think: cheekbones, on the bridge of your nose, and Cupid’s bow. Depending on how much glow you’re going for, you can sweep the brush over your forehead and chin, too.
Top with a complexion booster. This step is completely optional, but for me it’s a must. Using my damp beauty blender, I apply Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter on my cheeks, forehead, nose, and chin.
Adding a hint of highlighter to your cheeks can help make your complexion look more natural. After all, bare skin usually isn’t completely flat-it has a natural rosy finish. After blush, we recommend applying a cream highlighter, like the L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Glass Highlighter Stick. The easy-to-apply stick format glides effortlessly over the skin, delivering a reflective, multi-dimensional glow in one swipe. Take your pick from six hues: three glass shades for a translucent finish and three glow shades for a luminous satin glow. If liquid highlighters are more your speed, try the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer.
Apply highlighter in a C-shape starting just above your brow and curving around to the top of your cheekbone. I tend to think powder highlighters stay put for longer, but if your skin is dry, you might want to use a liquid.
Enhancing Features: Brows, Eyes, and Lips
Fill in your brows with a pencil and/or brow gel.
Use a clear brow gel, like the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Up to 24HR Brow Lamination, to sculpt your arches into place. If you have any sparse areas, use a brow pencil to lightly fill them in.
Use your favorite eyeshadow. I’m not much of an eye-shadow gal, so I’m going to leave this step open-ended. Go with whatever shade you think compliments your eye color best.
As for eyeshadow, you don’t have to skip it altogether to get a natural look. Simply reconsider which shades you reach for.
Curl your lashes.
Apply mascara. For extra volume and thickness, you can start with a lash primer. The mascara I used in this video is Pat McGrath Labs FetishEyes Mascara and it is AMAZING.
Long lashes always complete your look, even if you’re going for something natural. The L’Oréal Paris Big Deal Buildable Washable Mascara offers endlessly buildable volume and length and is a favorite of ours for a natural makeup look.
Apply eyeliner. I like the way eyeliner looks in my waterline (rather than on top of my lid)-but do whatever works best for you.
Similarly, swapping out your usual black eyeliner for brown will help keep your eyes defined without appearing too overdone.
Perfecting the Pout
Finish with a lip liner and lipstick/gloss.
Tie your entire natural, glowy makeup look together with a plush pout. Using Color Sensational Shaping Lip Liner, trace slightly outside of the border of your lips. Then, add a few swipes of Lifter Plump Lifting Gloss over top.
To complete your natural makeup look, apply a sheer, hydrating lip oil like the L’Oréal Paris Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil in Cristal Clear. Brimming with hyaluronic acid and tripeptides, this non-sticky oil helps smooth your lips while making them appear visibly volumized. Another one of our go-to pout perfecters is the L’Oréal Paris Glow Paradise Lip Balm-in-Gloss Pomegranate Extract.
Finishing Touches and Variations for Natural Looks
Using a big fluffy brush, give your face a once-over. I like to make sure there are no harsh lines, and everything is blended in properly.
Lock your look in place with a lightweight setting spray, like the L’Oreal Paris Infallible 3-Second Micro Fine Setting Mist. Hold the bottle 6-8 inches from your face and spray it in a circular motion for 3-4 seconds for an easy, even application.
The "BAKING" Technique
Everyday Natural Makeup
Sometimes, a makeup routine is so good, you want to wear it every day. This natural, simple makeup look is exactly that. Start with a light-coverage foundation or tinted moisturizer. Then, apply a neutral eyeshadow (optional) in a soft, earthy tone. Use brown mascara for natural lash definition, then lightly fill in your eyebrows with a pencil or powder.
Wedding Guest Natural Makeup
Attending a wedding? We know just the look. Apply a natural-finish foundation, then use two matte brown eyeshadows (a light and a medium shade) to subtly define your eye shape. Softly define your lashes with mascara, then sweep on your favorite skin-toned lip liner and lipstick. Finally, blend a deep blush onto the apples of your cheeks.
Dewy Skin Trend
Dewy skin continues to be one of the biggest beauty trends, and we certainly aren’t mad about it. To incorporate the trend into your natural makeup look, begin with a dewy-finish foundation or skin tint. Then, apply a cream blush in a rosy hue to the apples of your cheeks.
Subtle Smokey Eye
Smokey eyes may seem reserved for glam makeup looks, but that doesn’t have to be the case. If your goal is to have eye makeup that looks natural, use a neutral-toned eyeshadow on your eyelids first, followed by a soft brown or gray eyeliner to define your lash line. Blend the eyeliner for a softer, smokey effect. Next, curl your lashes and apply a coat of brown mascara.
Sunkissed Glow
Whether you’re looking to brighten up your face in the midst of winter or need a vacation-friendly makeup look that won’t feel like “too much” on the beach, a glowy, sunkissed look will serve you well. Use a bronzer to add warmth to the perimeters of your face, then apply a peachy or coral blush to the high points of your cheeks. Keep the eye makeup simple with a light, shimmery eyeshadow.
Fresh-Faced Minimalist
This fresh-faced makeup look might just be one of the easiest ways to do your makeup. You can skip foundation and instead use a skin tint. Then, conceal any blemishes or redness, and apply a barely-there eyeshadow (or skip eyeshadow altogether). To finish, use a clear brow gel to groom your eyebrows.
Subtle Radiance
A little radiance can go a long way, and that’s the thesis behind this subtle look. After moisturizing, prime your skin with a thin layer of the L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer. Layer a dewy foundation on top, then blend a touch of cream blush onto your cheeks, and add a few light strokes of mascara.
Skin-First Beauty
This skin-first beauty look uses only a few products to help you look like a more groomed version of your natural self. Using your fingertips, apply a light layer of tinted moisturizer. Next, skip the pencil and use only a clear brow gel to tame your arches. Apply a touch of mascara and opt for a clear gloss for a barely-there, natural appearance. Last but not least, mist some setting spray across your face to lock it all in.
Soft Earth Tones
If you want a soft, natural makeup look, earth tones are endlessly flattering and always in style. To create this look, blend neutral eyeshadows across your lids, then use a brown kohl eyeliner to softly define your eyes.
French Girl Chic
Take inspiration from the French Girl beauty aesthetic with this chic look. To start, apply a lightweight foundation, then add a hint of peachy blush to the apples of your cheeks. Next, comb up your brows for a natural feel, and dab on a rosy-tinted lip balm with your fingertips.
Soft Glam Interpretation
A more natural take on the soft-glam beauty trend, this look uses shimmers and gold to add dimension. Apply a veil of a dewy-finish foundation, then subtly contour under your cheekbones. Gild your lids with a warm gold eyeshadow before curling your lashes and swiping on dark brown or black mascara. For a little extra definition, you can also tightline your eyes.
Natural Pop of Color
If you love colorful makeup but find that the nudes and beiges traditionally used in natural makeup looks aren’t vibrant enough for you, opt for soft oranges, pinks, and corals. On your lids, blend together soft orange and pink eyeshadows, then apply a peachy blush to your upper cheekbones.
Glamorous Yet Natural
This look proves it is possible to achieve glamorous yet natural-looking makeup. Apply a medium-to-full coverage foundation, then apply a soft pink blush to the tops of your cheeks. Next, skip the eyeshadow but apply winged eyeliner.
Minimalist Effortless Look
This look is about as minimal as it gets. Use a clear mascara on your lashes and brows, then apply a moisturizing lip balm for a truly natural and effortless look. You can stop there or add a touch of concealer if needed.
True No-Makeup Makeup
No-makeup makeup, natural makeup, and minimalist makeup may all sound the same, but they vary slightly in the amount of products used. This is a true no-makeup makeup look, as it takes your application back to basics. Keep your skin natural except for a little concealer, then groom your brows with clear brow gel. A light layer of mascara and a tiny amount of tinted lip balm are all you need to finish this almost imperceptible, no-makeup look.