As I write this post it is a Saturday evening. Earlier in the day I went for a massage and then met up with girlfriends for lunch. I didn’t wear any makeup to the massage, because I knew any makeup I wore would get smudged. After a blissful (and much appreciated) massage I went home as I had some downtime before I needed to be at my lunch date. I was dressed nicely but wondered if I could be bothered to put any makeup on to meet my friends. Maybe I could get away with not wearing any and go with a real ‘no really I’m not wearing any makeup ‘ look.
I went to the bathroom mirror to assess. Now it’s not that I’m horrified with what I look like without makeup- not at all. I don’t have a negative self image. It’s just that I didn’t look polished. There were faint dark circles under my eyes (from lack of sleep) and tiny veins that show themselves on my cheeks (that have always been there). My eyebrows were just a little sparse. All in all, I was looking a bit wan and thought I could use some color.
I thought about the friends I was about to meet. They are two very close friends and I hadn’t seen them in a while. We were bringing our babies and planned on dining al fresco as the weather was nice. I looked at my outfit- I was dressed nicely enough- white long sleeve top with embellished gold shoulder, black trousers and ballet flats… No, I couldn’t let this nice outfit go to waste.
There are times when I feel perfectly fine going out of the house without makeup on. More often than not, however I wear le no makeup look. I believe one’s makeup should be in correspondence with their outfit. If I am wearing a tracksuit and plan on hiking with friends and then having lunch, I would probably only wear mascara and clear lip gloss. If I were going out in the evening and wearing a black dress and heels, I would amplify my le no makeup look by donning either the defined eye or the defined lip. But for this lunch, I needed something natural, effortless and quick, as I was running out of time!
I whipped out my makeup bag and 5 minutes later (not exaggerating) I applied a 5 minute le no makeup look.
Here’s what I did:
Applied Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer spf 20 in Nude on my face. This one step does so many things- moisturizes, conceals and provides sheer, natural looking coverage (not to mention sun protection!)
Filled in my sparse eyebrows with Lorac eyebrow powder in brunette.
Curled my eyelashes and applied mascara. I love Chanel Inmitable Intense mascara- it provides volume, length, curl and separation... amazing.
Patted on Benefit's Posie Tint gel blush with my fingers
And lastly applied Chantecaille lip gloss in Love
Voilà. It only took 5 minutes, and in exchange I received an afternoon of looking polished. When I feel pulled together and well groomed, I can go about my day with more confidence. Just by touching up the unevenness of the skin and adding slight color and definition I felt perfectly comfortable chatting and laughing with my girlfriends and our babies under the afternoon sun.
I would love to know… what is your version of le no makeup look?
And to continue the theme stay tuned for next week's post where I interview Chanel makeup artist Shadi Molavi on the perfect red lip…
Pictured above is the head of Athena in marble dating back to 160 - 150 B.C. Wouldn't you love to know about her beauty routine? She is featured at the Getty Villa in Malibu...
18 comments:
That's exactly the way I would make up for an afternoon date. I would, however, add a bit of finishing powder with a fluffy brush. I am a lot older than you, so I find it gives a gauzy, soft finish to my skin. I also use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, a real favorite. I'm sure you and the petite one were beautiful! Do you use sunscreen all over, I hope?
If I'm going for a no make up look, it starts with Clinque's tinted moisturizer, a few dabs of drugstore concealer around the eyes and nose and blended with a brush. Then Bobbi Brown cream blush, mascara, lip gloss and I'm off. Oh, and I brush my hair.
If I have a few more minutes for an "every day look" I add Bobbi Brown's neutral Sand Dollar eye cream, followed by a slight brush of gel eye liner on the top (only). I love this clean look! If I get compliments, it's always on my skin, never on my makeup.
For me it would be concealer on any blemishes and dark circles and redness (I use Benefit Stay Don't Stray as my concealer) then I put just a thin layer of 100% Pure Healthy Skin Foundation, Josie Maran Argan Color Stick in Petal Pink, any soft brown eyeshadow all over the lid and any lighter color on my brow bone, Smith's rosebud salve on my lips and last but not least is mascara, right now I am using 100% Pure Black Tea and YSL Faux Cils.
My "no make-up" looks would be Jane Iredale's Tinted Moisturizer with SPF, mascara, lip gloss (minimum)...most days I also add a neutral eyeshadow with soft liner and blush. That's about all I ever do unless I am going to something special or dressier. I am wondering as I get older how much this will change...
xxBliss
I'd need a little bit more color makeup than you do as I am a natural blonde with light eyes and very fair skin. A little bit of lightish-brown eyeliner and light brown shadow in addition to what you had on and I'd be good to go. I'm sure you looked great. Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer is fabulous; I'll never use foundation again.
Taking 5 minutes for a quick application of natural makeup not only polishes your appearance, but it boosts your confidence. There's nothing worse than catching a glimpse of yourself in the mirror while out and feeling schlumpy - especially if your hair and clothes are polished but your face isn't.
My "le no makeup look" is Dior undereye concealer, Nars Penny Lane cream blush, any Smashbox lip gloss, Lancome mascara, and my upper eyelid lightly lined with Bobbi Brown's eye shadow in Fawn. Quick, elegant, and gives a polish to a natural looking face.
I would use Josie Maran's tinted moisturizer, concealer, eyeliner, mascara, blush and lip gloss (Josie Maran's color sticks can be both blush and lip gloss).
While I agree that makeup does add polish and radiance to the face. I get annoyed by various industries selling the "fact" that women need a bit of makeup to look fresh and polished.
I have been told by two people this week, that I needed to wear more makeup. I guess the Le No Makeup Look is not my best look :-).
I'm a Laura Mercier girl too!
If I'm really in a rush then the most important things for me are: mascara (Dior Show by night, chanel not sure which one, by day) eyebrow taming gel because I have curly hair and something on my lips, I don't like high high gloss so Dr Haushka lip balm or by terry rose balm work well. If I've got a bit more time tinted moisturiser is a sweep of Nars orgasm blush or a dab of benetint
For me: sunscreen, Laura Mercier concealer and translucent powder, Chanel eyebrow pencil, L'Oreal mascara, and Fresh Lip Sugar.
I do love makeup though ... but not as much as skincare. Always been a junkie in that department.
My most no-make-up make-up includes moisturiser, base, and eyebrow pencil and then either mascara & clear lipstick or just some coloured lipstick. If I'm going for a run during the day I'm most likely to just have moisturiser and clear lipstick - the run provides all the colour I need!
Hello ladies- I hope you're having a great week! Just like with perfume I love to know what makeup you wear, thanks for sharing your le no makeup look brands with me! I do tend to use different brands/ types of makeup so as not to get bored. That day I used Laura Mercier but I have also used Hourglass tinted moisturizer (also amazing) or Bare Escentuals mineral powder. For blush I go between Benetint, Posie Tint, Nars Orgasm (which seems to be a favorite among a lot of you!), Lorac Plum.
To answer some of your questions:
Marguerite- I always use sunscreen on my face, neck and décolleté- but admit to not wearing it all over the rest of my body on a daily basis...I also like to wear floppy hats. We just vacationed on the beach in Crystal Cove and I wore my floppy hat the whole time!
Gina- I get where you're coming from. I don't like industries telling me what I need either. I think it is a personal choice of whether or not you feel better with a little bit of makeup on. My mother rarely wears makeup- she looks beautiful without it and doesn't need it to feel polished. To each their own!
Julianne- my goodness! Who is telling you to wear more makeup? I would question the motives of these people- jealous perhaps? You look beautiful in your picture- I would just do what feels right for you
Thanks again to everyone for your comments and feedback. I hope you'll stop by for next week's post is on the perfect red lip- I'm really excited about it!
I use Laura Mercier's Nude tinted Moisturizer as well - its one of my favourite products. I also add Loreal N4 true match concealer. I then use Mocha blush by MAC (a soft plum-pink), add a swipe of copperplate eyeshade and coffee eyeliner (for some reason I need to wear eyeliner, otherwise my eyes look too small and tired). I finish with a light coat of mascara and a neutral lipliner with Faux or Patisserie lipstick my MAC (I'm not a gloss girl)! This is my go to 'everyday' natural look
Dear Jennifer, Please consider sunscreen on your hands and arms. Hands, in particular, easily develop sunspots that are not charming to behold! I keep a tube of Clarins for sensitive skin in my car, kitchen and dressing area. I am very fair and have always shunned the sun. Ironic that I live in Texas!
Hi Marguerite- You are absolutely right! I know I should for preventative measures. I suppose I avoid applying sunscreen on my hands because I wash them so many times throughout the day. I should just get into the habit of reapplying sunscreen immediately after washing them (if I plan on going outside) or perhaps look into a waterproof one... Hmmmm. I will check out Clarins. Thank you so much for your advice! xx
I was in search of a Le No Makeup look lip color yesterday and thought of your post. I found the Stila long wear lip color. I purchased a shade in a berry/rose color. The shade is a bit dark, but it ends up to be a nice stain of color on the lips. It lasts fairly well and is not very dry either. That with a tinted moisturizer with SPF, a bit of cream blush, a soft grey eyeliner under the bottom lashes and mascara on the top lashes, and that's my Le No Makeup look.
only a few years behind... ;)
My basic le no makeup look is curled eyelashes, a faint application of smudgy brown eyeliner and a jojoba oil-based lip balm. :)
Second level includes pale eye shadow, lip liner & lip gloss,
For special occasions i add tinted moisturizer & mascara. and maybe blush.
It was my search for a new tinted moisturizer that brought me to this post.
At some point i realized that the more time (and money) spent on my skin care routine, the less i would need to spend on make-up. My skin care starts with water and organic, clean, food, as well as an organic skin care routine. George's Aloe Vera is amazing - both to drink (by the glassful) and apply to the skin. Drinking lots of water, getting essential oils, and a clean diet are the foundation to good skin i think - and meditation, or anything that helps reduce stress levels/hormones.
It's so fun to read the variety of perspectives. love the community here, thanks Jennifer! :)
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