Ways to Look Natural in Makeup

Even if you are on the go between home, work, school and soccer practice, you can still achieve a natural, effortless look in a hurry. Select light, sheer colors that match or accent your skin tone, and stick to the basics. Experiment with different shades and brands until you find the combination that works for you. With a bit of practice, you show off your flawless face without the appearance of heavy makeup.

Match Your Skin Tone

Cover up imperfections and blemishes with a concealer that matches your skin tone. Attempting to alter your skin tone with makeup creates a mismatched look between your face and neck. Choose a mineral makeup for a light, natural coverage, and be sure to blend the it just under your jaw line. Stick to a thin layer of foundation.

Stick to Earth Tones on Your Eyes

Accent your eyes with shades of brown, beige, gold, plum or taupe. Always keep things simple. Skip the eyeliner completely, and apply navy, gray or dark brown mascara directly to your lashes. If you do choose to wear eyeliner, choose a shade of brown or gray, instead of black.

Lighten Up Your Lips

Apply either a nude or a natural sheer pink shade to enhance your lips. Skip the lip liner, and opt for a sheer gloss to add shine to your lips instead.

Choose a Natural Blush Color

Blend your blush down the apples of your cheeks in a color that matches the earth tones on your eyes. For an even more natural look, use a color that matches your cheeks after light physical activity. Choose a cream or powder for quick and easy application.

Apply Makeup in Natural Light

Applying your makeup in a poorly lit bathroom can easily lead you to mismatch your makeup with your skin tone or overdo it on the lipstick and eye makeup. Apply your makeup in a well-lit space, preferably with natural sunlight. If you are stuck with a dark bathroom, make sure to check your work in natural light before heading out the door.

Take Care of Your Skin

Clean your face daily with a gentle cleanser, and moisturize with a product containing sunscreen. Taking good care of your skin will reduce the need for so much concealer or foundation to cover up blemishes or redness from sunburn. When you're going for the natural look, less is more.

Photo Credit

• makeup image by Alexander Zhiltsov from Fotolia.com