As summer sets in, the heavy contours, cut crease eyeshadows, flashy highlights, and dense coverage foundations look and feel out of place. Summer makeup has always been preferably lighter and more natural looking. Instagram style heavy makeup is replaced by soft dewy looks that look natural. This barely there makeup is called “Skin work” in professional makeup circles, and also referred to as hyper-natural or no-makeup makeup.
The challenge is to apply makeup with a light hand and in such colours that the makeup enhances your natural look and it doesn’t appear that you are wearing any product at all. As long as you follow a good clear skin regime, you too can easily rock this latest summer beauty trend.
What is Skin Work?
Everyone has different underlying tones in their skin. When you go for skin work, you have to work with the shade naturally found within your own face. These include the tones caused by the shadows on your face like your cheekbones, eyelids, and lashes. These naturally found shades are called your tonal shade spectrum. Basically, you omit darker and more unnatural colours from your makeup palette like bright reds and other dramatic hues.
Instead you select more natural and neutral shades like taupe, brown, and peachy nuances. To select the best colours for your face it is advisable to observe your face in bright daylight to see the different shades clearly. Look around your eyes, lips and cheeks, and pinch your cheeks lightly to find your natural shade of blush. You should choose these or similar shades for your makeup when you go shopping.
Here is how you can achieve the no makeup look in a few simple steps.
Step 1: Foundation
Choose a colour nearest to your skin tone. When you are selecting the colour for your foundation put dabs of closest shades on your face and look at it in broad daylight with a mirror. The one that disappears in the sun is the one you should use. Liquid foundation works best and then you should buff a mineral or powder foundation over it to create a soft complexion that looks really natural. Applying the product with your fingertips achieves the best natural result.
Step 2: Concealer
For concealers you should select a shade that is one or two shades lighter than your foundation. This will achieve a brightening effect that will look natural. Choose concealer in the form of a liquid or soft matte cream. A beauty blender or makeup sponge is best for this purpose. You should use the concealer under your eyes, on the sides of your nose, and in the middle of your chin. You should also use a little setting powder over the central panel of your face. This will eliminate any shine. You can also spritz a little toner or facial mist all over your face to hydrate and ensure the finished look maintains a dewy effect.
Step 3: Blush
There are many colour options available for blush, but for a no-makeup look either choose the shade of your natural blush which you can determine by pinching your cheeks and observing the shade in sunlight. Alternately a blood coloured hue is a safe choice as it is universal colour that looks good on everyone.
You should choose cream or mousse blush options as they blend well and look more natural. Use a fluffy brush and buff it on the apples of your cheeks. Then use a non-shimmery neutral bronzer under your cheekbones to warm and shape your face without making it look too contoured.
Step 4: Lips
Skin work isn’t limited to just the foundation or base. For your lip you should opt for lipsticks in shades only slightly deeper than your natural lip colour. Then lightly blend the outer edges to make it less harsh and more natural. Then use a nude shade on top to make the lips look naturally tinted.
Step 5: Eyes
For eyeshadow you should select neutral shades that are a tiny bit darker than your natural skin colour and lightly blend it around the crease of your eye. Use a small brush, stroke on the colour in an arc in and around the crease making sure you leave the centre of the eyelid clear. You can then tightline your eyes if you wish and finish with a light coat of non clumpy mascara.
Step 6: Eyebrows
Don’t overdo the eyebrows. To create a convincing brow, brush the eyebrow downwards and use a fine tipped marker or brow pencil to make small strokes where your brows may be sparse. This will build up your brow shape without over defining them.
