How to do 'no makeup' makeup!
The nude look is very flattering and natural but it can be hard to pull off without an army of stylists. Eve Cameron reveals the secrets
Natural makeup with sheer, luminous skin, pale lips and lightly defined eyes and brows is a very flattering look for all ages - but how easy is it to pull off in real life?
Nude makeup is deceptive. It might appear to be nothing more than a dab of foundation and slick of mascara and lip gloss, but don't be misled, it's more involved than that, especially when you're not a flawless teenager any more.
Creating the canvas
Foundation and concealer, applied beautifully, are key to this look. Don't underestimate the importance of good skincare to the way makeup looks either – a canvas of exfoliated, ie smooth and moisturized, skin will always make base look better. Foundation should match your skin exactly and is designed to even out your skintone. That's why you don't have to use it all over your face if you feel you don't need to – it could be you just need it around the nose and cheeks for example.Nude makeup is deceptive. It might appear to be nothing more than a dab of foundation and slick of mascara and lip gloss, but don't be misled
A damp makeup sponge will blend a fine layer over your skin, whilst a foundation brush tends to give more coverage. Fingers are fine too. For luminous skin, go for a moisturising foundation or tinted moisturiser, rather than a matte, oil-free coverage says Bobbi Brown Beauty Team Artist, Alberto Esteban. Look out for formulations with light reflective particles too to make your complexion look fresh.
Once your base is on, look to see where else you need to conceal. For patches of redness or pigmentation choose a heavier cover-up that matches your foundation and pat it on with your fingers. Blemishes are best covered using an opaque concealer applied with a concealer brush. Makeup brands Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown and Laura Mercier all have great concealers to suit all skin tones, including black and Asian. For dark circles under the eyes, opt for a creamy or liquid concealer so it won't look cakey or emphasise lines. Read Eve's top tips on using concealer.
Adding colour
With a made up face, it's essential to put some colour and definition back in, otherwise you'll look flat advises Maybelline's makeup artist Fiona Jolly. She suggests using blusher under the cheekbones to shape the face and recommends Maybelline's Dream Mousse Blushers as their texture makes them easy to work with.
Use a light wash of eyeshadow over the lids, matte or slightly shimmery, choosing from neutral shades such as soft browns, browny pinks and even purple, which works as a neutral and flatters most colourings. And remember, while it's not strictly part of the nude look, mascara does help to define and therefore open your eyes. Brown looks less made up than black.
Don't forget to groom your brows, either with a brow powder or pencil to darken and define them or by stroking a clear brow gel through them. This might be the natural look, but there's nothing back-to-nature about it – it remains quite polished.
The nude lip
Many makeup artists create the natural lip look by using concealer patted over the mouth and then applying a nude lipstick shade or clear gloss. For a little more colour, a light pink, apricot or peach lip tint or gloss looks pretty too.
