The Ultimate Beauty Guide

Those Hollywood celebrities seem to get away with anything! This includes looking spectacular wearing barely any makeup. Us regular gals can sit around being jealous, or we can use a few smart tricks of the trade to look pretty fantastic and very natural at the same time. Heres how!


Do exfoliate your skin gently and get plenty of rest.

A great natural looks starts with great skin, so take care of yourself first and foremost. This also means moisturizing, eating right and drinking plenty of water. We may be born with the looks we’ve got, but healthy living will help you look your best.

Don’t go to sleep with your makeup on.

It only takes five minutes to wash away the grime and filth of the day that has accumulated in your makeup. Wearing makeup overnight clogs pores and can result in dull lifeless skin or even worse, a breakout.

Do have a professional help you find the perfect shade of foundation or tinted moisturizer.

Nothing looks less natural than makeup applied to your skin that is a shade too dark or too light. A professional makeup artist can help you find the perfect foundation color and weight for your skin type.

Don’t overdo it with the bronzer.

Bronzer is a wonderful invention that helps us get a healthy glow without the risk of skin cancer. But use too much and you get an orange appearance, looking less like you’ve been sun-kissed and more like an Oompa Loompa. Apply bronzer lightly to the areas of your face that are more likely to get sun-kissed like the bridge of your nose and the apples of your cheeks.

Do use a lengthening mascara.

Looking natural doesn’t mean abandoning all makeup. Mascara helps brighten your eyes and improve your whole look. Use a eyelash curler for more of an effect, but make sure your mascara doesn’t clump.

Don’t forget your concealer.

Light gloss on your lips and barely-there eyeshadow stands out best when they don’t have to compete with purple under-eye circles or red skin discoloration. Use concealer, but blend well with a foundation brush so you can’t actually see the concealer.

Do opt for subtle lip and eye shadow colors.

For your lip, choose a shade that is just slightly darker or lighter than your actual lip color like a gloss or a lip stain. For a shadow, stick to beige, tan, or subtle pink. We also love Gabrielle Union’s (pictured above) choice of a shimmery white.

Don’t forget to groom your eyebrows.

With a more natural look, brows are more likely to stand out on the relatively blank canvas. Make sure they’re groomed to perfection.

Do use a touch of eye liner.

Use a muted tone like olive, tan, or gray. Or, use black or dark brown with a light hand, then use a cotton tip to smudge the eyeliner. Be careful to not make the line too wide or dramatic.

Don’t cover up what makes you you.

We love Emma Watson’s freckles (pictured above) and think she looks even more stunning when she lets them shine through. Whether it’s a beauty mark or freckles, let these unique characteristics of your face be a part of your natural face look.