Products to master the 'no makeup' makeup look

If you prefer to keep your makeup simple, the trends are falling in your favour.

'No makeup' makeup is all over TikTok, with beauty creators putting together stunning, glowy looks made to look like they're not wearing products. While it's obvious that they are, you get the point: pared back but pretty and glowy, and also perfect for summer.

We spoke to makeup artist Max May on how best to achieve this look, and his favourite products for creating 'no makeup' looks.

NOTE: Prices are accurate at time of publishing.

The base

For the base of a 'no makeup' look, May suggests mixing in some skincare.

"I love mixing a serum into my foundation to sheer out the product for more minimal coverage," he explains.

"What's even better is if it has light-reflecting pearls, like Estée Lauder's Futurist Peptide Power Serum Primer – the pearls attract and reflect light, making the skin look perfected even though there is less product."

Estée Lauder Futurist Peptide-Power Serum Primer

$98 on Sephora

May also recommends swapping out your foundation for a concealer.

"Be more conscious of where you apply it, rather than covering your entire face," he advises.

"I find that doing the eyes and lips first helps me control the amount I use, as the face already looks more complete, and I don't feel the urge to apply too much like I would if I started with the base.

"The key product for this is the YSL Touche Éclat, as it's super radiant and sheer. It attracts and reflects light, making the skin look more perfect with less product," he tells us.

Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Concealer

$79 on Sephora$79 on YSL Beauty$79 on Myer

However, If you do like to use a higher-coverage base, these are some of the tinted moisturisers, 'veils' and 'skin screen' products that'll still give you a 'no makeup' look.

Naked Sundays BeautyScreen Peptide Foundation Tint

$54.95 here

Airyday Golden Glow Dreamscreen

Get yours for $51

Ultra Violette Daydream Screen Tinted Veil

$55 on Sephora

'Blonzing'

Blush and bronzer are the next essentials for a 'no makeup' look. While you can opt for a bronzing product and a blush product, you can get the job done by 'blonzing', a Max May term.

"Blonzing ... is when you create a sun-kissed flush high on the cheeks and across the bridge of the nose with a Tuscan, toasty bronze blush – like what you would get on holiday," he explains.

"There's something about it that, even when used over full-coverage foundation, gives the illusion of more natural-looking skin.

"The colour is key for this technique – I use Nude by Nature's Virgin Blush. It works on many skin tones and is the perfect mix of blush and bronzer to imitate a Mediterranean sun-kissed flush."

Nude By Nature Virgin Blush

$24.95 on Adore Beauty

'Glow drops' are also popular for achieving this look, which you can get in the form of blush or bronzer from a range of brands.

Naked Sundays CabanaGlow Mineral Luminizing Blush Serum

$45 here

Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Dewy Liquid Blush

Get it for $27 on Sephora

Ultra Violette Queen Screen Super Glow Drops Bronzing

$45 on Adore Beauty

MCo Beauty Super Glow Bronzing Drops

Get it for $32

Finishing touches

May also recommends creating freckles or beauty spots, which give a low-coverage look.

"If you already have them, you definitely want to bring them back at the end of your makeup routine," May shares.

"It will give the illusion that you have nothing on your skin. My go-to product for this is the NYX Lift & Snatch Brow Tint Pen in ash brown – everything from the felt tip to the colour, to the hold gives the most perfect faux freckles you've ever seen."

NYX Professional Makeup Lift and Snatch Brow Tint Pen

$26 on Asos

Lastly, you can complete the look with a lip balm or tint. A lipstick will likely be too bold and throw the look off, but a gentle, glowy product will keep on theme.

Ultra Violette Sheen Screen Hydrating Lip Balm

$15 on Sephora$27 on Adore Beauty

Naked Sundays Glow + Go Lip Oil

Yours for $30

Bondi Sands Lip Balm Juicy Watermelon

Just $6.95 here

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