There are some who wouldn’t be caught dead in public without makeup and then there are some who refuse to wear makeup and prefer the natural look.

Some people have told me that they like to let their skin breathe. Well don’t worry about that! There is a lot of skin on your body, let the rest breathe! Your skin is nourished from within and will not suffer as long as you make sure to cleanse it at the end of the day.

But you can actually create a natural look using makeup. That way, you can have that clean, fresh look while still being able to disguise those flaws that you (and probably only you!) dislike.

So let’s have a basic lesson on how to apply makeup to create a fresh and natural look.

Natural makeup techniques.

We will look at foundation (foundation), concealer, powder and blush this time and in part 2 we will see how to apply eye and mouth makeup.

In the case of applying makeup, the term “less is more” definitely applies! If you’re going to enjoy a big night out on the town that’s different, wear your shimmery eyeshadow, lippie, and shimmery mascara. You can also put on a little more foundation to create a perfect palate on which to “paint” your masterpiece!

But during the day, whether you’re at work, home, or shopping, you don’t want to look like Coco the clown! Too much makeup can actually look very aged.

So, let’s start with a really clean face. For the day use a moisturizing sunscreen or sunscreen. If your skin is oily, use a non-greasy one, if it is very dry, use both moisturizer and sunscreen.

The makeup base (or foundation) comes in many types, liquid, stick, cream, etc. This is mostly a matter of preference, although “solid” stick or foundation generally has better coverage and will hide things like broken veins almost completely. Liquid foundations have lighter coverage and will give a more natural look.

If your skin is oily, compact dry foundations work well, or opt for an oil-free liquid foundation. Dry skin like cream foundations that give a dewy ‘dewy’ look.

Make sure the foundation you choose matches your skin color as closely as possible. Don’t try to create a darker tan with your foundation, there are bronzing powders created especially for this. Step out of the store when selecting different colors and make sure they look good in natural light. It is best to try on the jawline rather than the wrist.

Don’t buy pre-packaged foundations at the supermarket, you won’t be able to try them on!

Concealers are great for that natural look, you can cover blemishes and broken veins with a concealer without having to use heavy foundation all over your face.

Concealers also come in different forms, but they all do the same job. You can buy them with sunscreen built in and also with antibacterial additives if you want. Try to find one a little lighter than your skin tone.
Apply the concealer to the area you want to cover. Don’t rub hard or it will disappear into your pores. Make sure it is well mixed and has no “tide marks”.

Now dot the base on your face. Use the most transparent one you can. Don’t use too much at first, you can always add more.

Mix very well. Some makeup artists recommend a damp sponge, but fingers work just as well. Be sure to blend into the hairline, the sides of the face, around the nose, and particularly along the jawline. Don’t just stop at the jaw, your face will look like a mask. Just blend it until there is nothing left before your throat, that way you won’t stain your neck with makeup.

Powder is optional, but I like to use it as it “sets” the makeup and absorbs excess oil. Press the powder onto your face with a puff, or you may prefer to use a powder brush. After a couple of minutes, brush off the powder with light downward strokes.

Next, apply the blush. Apply this lightly to the apple of your cheeks and towards your temples. Don’t put too much on your brush, you can always go over it again. If you are using a cream blush, apply it before powder. Apply dots to the apple of your cheeks and blend up to the temples. Mix very well!

Now my special advice. Place a cool, damp (not wet) cleanser on your face and press very gently. this will give the whole face a fresh look – Magnificent!

Copyright 2005 Wendy Owen