When the concept of no-makeup makeup — in other words, makeup that looks like you’re wearing next to nothing — took the world by storm a few years ago, it was a revelation for many. After years of wearing either a full face of glam or nothing at all save the occasional swipe of mascara, no-makeup makeup presented itself as the happy-medium, offering just enough coverage to look polished without the time or effort of a full makeup routine.

Think of it as the epitome of a natural makeup look, which explains why it has universal appeal. “I’m drawn to this style of makeup because of how simple it is to apply and the way it makes me feel,” says makeup artist Misty Spinney. “I have a few basic steps that I will do depending on my mood and the amount of time I have.”

To her point, the beauty of the no-makeup makeup look is that you can customize it based on your time and the result you’re after, so it’s not a one-size-fits-all routine — unless you want it to be, of course. 

With that, here’s how to get it for yourself.

What does “no-makeup makeup” mean?

For the uninitiated, the no-makeup makeup takes a less-is-more approach. “This translates to a fresh face with a skin-forward and radiant look,” says Spinney. “You want skin to feel luminous but not be covered up so much that you lose your natural features. Instead, you feel like a subtly amplified version of yourself — with the emphasis on feeling like yourself.”

While no-makeup makeup products may already be a part of your makeup capsule collection, the secret to executing it is as much in what you *don’t* use as much as what you do. If you want to skip foundation and just define the brows and eyes, then go for it. Or, if you’d rather even out skin tone with a complexion base and add a touch of lip color, that works, too.

What you need to get the look

Below, we’ll walk you through the basic routine. Once you have that down, you can explore different approaches to make it your own.

Prep your skin

As with any makeup look, it always begins with skincare. 

“Moisturize your skin, and add a face serum, an eye treatment, or other nourishing skincare products you love,” says Spinney. (Need to put together a skincare routine? We’ve got you covered with the basics.) 

Since no-makeup makeup leans minimalist, keeping skin healthy and radiant can be a game-changer.

Apply your base

If you want to blur discoloration or conceal a zit with a base, such as foundation or tinted moisturizer, the process is straightforward. “Apply a spot of foundation to each section of your face — forehead, cheeks, chin — and blend with a foundation brush by making small circular motions around your face and blending down onto your neck,” says Spinney.

She then recommends using clean fingers to gently tap your skin, explaining that “the warmth of your fingers will help set the foundation and blend with the natural oils of your skin.” It makes for the most seamless, and therefore the most natural-looking, finish. 

Not sure what will work best with your skin tone or type? No sweat: Just take the 3-minute NakedPoppy assessment to find what works best for you.

Get your glow

Bronzer can give skin a sun-kissed look, if that’s your thing. “Apply either a cream or powder bronzer around your hairline on top of your forehead, your temples, the hollows of your cheeks, along your jawline, and on the sides of your nose,” says Spinney. 

The formula will determine the application. If you’re using a cream bronzer, such as RMS Beauty Buriti Bronzer, Spinney says, “blend with your fingers and then diffuse lines of demarcation with a brush.” Got a powder, like Vapour Bronzing Powder? If that’s the case, “apply it with a fluffy brush and blend lines of demarcation with your foundation brush,” she says.

Find a flush

A pop of color can lend skin a believable fresh-from-the-gym look. “Apply blush to the apples of your cheeks and blend up towards your temples using a blush brush, making small upward circular motions,” says Spinney.

Then, she adds, “dab a small amount of the blush using your finger into the creases of your eyes to match the pop of hue where your skin naturally gets flushed.” Try Lily Lolo Pressed Blush, which features fade-proof pigments that last all day.

Add highlighter

Highlighter, which catches the light and gives skin a lit-from-within glow, is a regular in Spinney’s routine. She recommends tapping it anywhere light naturally bounces off the skin, such as the upper cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, on the inner corners of the eyes, on the brow bones, and on the cupid’s bow of the lips.

For a simple no-makeup hack, she likes to “blend any lines of demarcation over your blush by re-tapping the leftover blush onto the apples of your cheeks and blend up towards your temples.” 

You can get the best of both worlds with Kosas Color & Light: Creme, which pairs highlighter with a corresponding blush.

Turn to the details

While no-makeup makeup doesn’t require details (for example, a colorful eyeshadow) you can pick one or a few to top off your look. “Apply a light eyeliner, like a soft charcoal or light brown, to the lower and in your upper lash line,” says Spinney, who then follows up with a coat of mascara.

Lip color? It’s a cinch: She recommends applying lipstick with your finger, then blotting it with a tissue and following with a lip balm for a natural-looking tint. Or just swipe on Rituel de Fille Enchanted Lip Sheer, which delivers a hint of color with a pop of moisture, courtesy of jojoba oil.

Set it and forget it

Last but not least, leave skin with a dewy sheen via a spritz of face mist, such as Kari Gran Rose Hydrating Tonic. Then, “gently roll a crystal roller over your makeup,” says Spinney. “This will set and blend everything beautifully.”

While we ~technically~ listed a few steps, you can pick and choose what you want to make the no-makeup makeup look your own — so no pressure to do them all. Think of them as a guide, not a rulebook. “Sometimes I apply a serum and highlighter, and that’s it,” says Spinney. “Other days, it may be a brow gel, soft eyeliner, blush, bronzer, and highlighter over a light foundation — and variations in-between. Once you have a basic routine down, it’s fun and easy to explore different approaches to what feels beautiful and fulfills the no-makeup makeup vibe.”

All that matters is that the lineup you create makes you feel the best version of yourself. That’s one trend that we don’t see going away anytime soon.

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