How To Flawlessly Achieve The "No Makeup” Makeup Look
They say sometimes you gotta fake it until you make it.
It's taken me quite some time to achieve “clear" skin, and even now it's still a work in progress. But now that I'm happy with the way my skin is looking, I've been perfecting the “no makeup" makeup look, and I have some tips on how you can achieve it too.
The key is choosing a concealer the same color as your skin as opposed to a lighter shade that you would normally use to highlight. I recently found a concealer by Smashbox that blends into my skin for a near perfect match, making it appear as though I have nothing on. It covers my dark circles and dark spots from picking pimples, and really evens everything out.
Now, let's get into the essentials that you need. Starting with the skin, I use NARS Skin Optimal Brightening Concentrate and the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream concealer. I follow up with my Anastasia Brow Wiz Pencil in “Brunette" finished with the Anastasia Brow Gel and coat my lashes with Lancome's Hypnose Drama mascara. To compliment clean skin, I love to rock a bright red matte lip. My signature is the NARS matte lip pencil in “Dragon Girl," but lately I've really been into the brick red shade in “Cruella."
Here's a step-by-step tutorial for you beauties.
Step 1
After moisturizing, apply the NARS Optimal Brightening Concentrate on areas where the sun would naturally hit your face. Dab little dots on your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, your chin, and middle of your forehead. Blend evenly.
Step 2
Next, take the Smashbox Camera Ready BB Cream and apply under your eyes, around your nose to conceal any redness, and on any dark spots or problem areas. Blend using your ring finger in gentle tapping motions to gently push the product into your skin for a flawless finish.
You should get a result similar to this:
Step 3
Manicured brows are so important to really pull this look off. I get mine threaded, then softly fill sparse areas in with my favorite brow pencil, the Anastasia Brow Wiz in “Brunette". To keep my brows in place, I'll follow up with the Anastasia Brow Gel. Any clear brow gel, including drugstore brands, are sufficient enough to use and still get the job done!
Step 4
Because this look is simple and clean, you need a few coats of mascara to give you that open doe-eyed effect. To make my lashes appear fuller, I start with one even coat, then apply an additional two coats in an “up and out motion" just to the outer corners.
Bonus:
If you want to add some drama, top off your fresh face with a yummy pout. Go bold or go nude, both are winners. Matte lippies are really in right now, and my go-to this Spring has been NARS “Cruella". It's a beautiful brick red that looks great on darker skin tones.
Tip: Always exfoliate and apply a light balm before you apply your lip color to keep your pout hydrated and smooth.
Now get out there and flaunt that newfound “I woke up like this" skin of yours. You're killin em babe
What are some of your favorite products to use to get that no makeup, makeup look?
Originally posted on McKenzieRenae.com.
- How to Do Natural Makeup | Real Simple ›
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- No-Makeup Makeup: How To Achieve A Natural Look | Glamour UK ›
- The Best No-Makeup Makeup Kit Ever | Allure ›
- 10 Products to Achieve the Elusive No-Makeup Makeup Look ›
- How to Do No-Makeup Makeup the Easy Way | StyleCaster ›
- How to Nail the No-Makeup Makeup Look Once and for All | Byrdie ›
ItGirl 100 Honors Black Women Who Create Culture & Put On For Their Cities
As they say, create the change you want to see in this world, besties. That’s why xoNecole linked up with Hyundai for the inaugural ItGirl 100 List, a celebration of 100 Genzennial women who aren’t afraid to pull up their own seats to the table. Across regions and industries, these women embody the essence of discovering self-value through purpose, honey! They're fierce, they’re ultra-creative, and we know they make their cities proud.
VIEW THE FULL ITGIRL 100 LIST HERE.
Don’t forget to also check out the ItGirl Directory, featuring 50 Black-woman-owned marketing and branding agencies, photographers and videographers, publicists, and more.
THE ITGIRL MEMO
I. An ItGirl puts on for her city and masters her self-worth through purpose.
II. An ItGirl celebrates all the things that make her unique.
III. An ItGirl empowers others to become the best versions of themselves.
IV. An ItGirl leads by example, inspiring others through her actions and integrity.
V. An ItGirl paves the way for authenticity and diversity in all aspects of life.
VI. An ItGirl uses the power of her voice to advocate for positive change in the world.
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Rihanna Talks Shedding Expectations And Finding Balance As A Mother
Since becoming a mother in 2022, Rihanna has defined parenthood by her terms and hopes to pass that sense of autonomy on to her children.
For Vogue China’s April cover story, Rihanna shared her perspective on raising her two sons with A$AP Rocky, and how she hopes to preserve her children’s uniqueness, devoid of societal expectations.
"The most beautiful thing...is that [children] come into the world with their own individuality and sincerity, without any logic or conformity,” she told the publication. “Which usually makes you feel that you must fit into a certain group."
The “Work” artist, known for her trendsetting style and captivating persona, expressed her desire to support children in fully embracing their individuality and encouraging them to be whoever they want to be. "It's really beautiful to see and I want to continue to help them navigate that and make sure that they know they can be whoever they want to be,” she says.
She continues, “They should embrace it completely, because it's beautiful, and it's unique. I love them just that way."
From shattering music charts to shaking up the beauty industry, Rihanna has forged a path that has since created the “dream” life we see today. One that she says has made her parents proud of.
“I’m living my dream,” she continued. “My parents were very proud of that because they just wanted me to be happy and successful. So, I think the key thing is to find some kind of balance. Yes, balance is important. Do this and you get the best of both worlds. You can write your own life the way you want, and it will be beautiful. Sometimes, you just need to let go of everyone’s expectations and start living your own story.”
Rihanna, who shares sons, RZA, 23 months, and Riot, 8 months, with rapper A$AP Rocky, recently shared her vision for expanding her family in the future in Interview Magazine.
When stylist Mel Ottenberg asked about the number of additional children she hoped to have, Rihanna replied, "As many as God wants me to have.”
"I don't know what God wants, but I would go for more than two. I would try for my girl,” she adds. “But of course, if it's another boy, it's another boy."
Featured image by Neil MockfordWireImage