OK, I know…. Just before Christmas I promised to share with you my Christmas party makeup and a rundown of the products I used. Unfortunately December proved to be a very busy month and time just ran away with me.

Since Christmas is now well and truly over with, I’ve decided to leave my party makeup blog until a bit later, and instead I’m going to share with you my tips for achieving that fabulous glowing ‘no makeup’ look.

I’m sure we’d all love to jump out of bed in the morning and leave for work with our skin looking effortlessly flawless. But in reality, that very rarely happens. The ‘no makeup’ makeup look seems to be very popular at the moment, especially among celebrities, and I think it’s a great way to differentiate your daytime makeup from your nighttime party makeup.

The main thing to remember with a no makeup look is ‘less is definitely more’. Always use a light touch and apply products sparingly. That way you’ll avoid looking too ‘made up’.

A good skincare routine
A good skincare routine will undoubtedly help you achieve a fabulous no makeup look. As a very minimum, you should be cleansing, toning and moisturising every day, morning and night, to make sure your skin is free of dirt, oil and makeup. Once a week you can exfoliate and use a face mask for a deep cleanse. You also need to know your own skin type, whether it’s dry, oily, normal or combination, so you can use products that are appropriate. And don’t forget, your skin type can change depending on a number of factors including the time of year, hormones and age.

Primer
Using a primer will help even out your skin tone, so it’s the perfect base for your no makeup look and also helps your makeup stay in place. My favourite, and the one I have used in this picture, is Mac’s Prep and Prime Natural Radiance. It’s even got a bit of shimmer in it to help with a natural dewy look.

Base
Rather than using the full coverage foundation you would use for a night out, opt for something a bit more minimal for your no makeup base. Tinted moisturiser or BB cream is ideal, or if you want something just a bit heavier then go for a light to medium coverage foundation. The one I have used here is Mac Face and Body Foundation, which I just love. Then add a touch of your favourite concealer under your eyes if you wish. I’ve used NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer.

Bronzer and Highlighter
Because this is a no makeup look we aren’t going full on contour, but there’s definitely still a place for some bronzer and highlighter. Use a light sweep of cream bronzer, as it will absorb into the skin more than a powder and give a much more natural look. A touch of cream highlighter will also help with that dewy look. I’ve used my Clinique Chubby Stick in ‘Hefty Highlight’ as a highlighter for this look, and Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel for my bronzer.

Blush
Again, using a cream blush will help give a more natural look than a powder. Add a little to the cheeks for that natural flushed look. One of my favourite cream blushes is Mac Cream Colour Base, which is what I’ve used in this picture.

Brows
Your brows frame the face, but avoid doing quite as much with them as you would for a night out. In this picture I’ve used my Benefit ‘Gimmie Brow’ to brush my brows into shape and give them a nice subtle tint.

Lashes
Go easy on the mascara for your no makeup look. Go for more of a lengthening look than volumising. Eyelash curlers are also great for achieving a longer lash. In this picture I’ve used Smashbox’s eyelash primer, followed by Mac’s Extended Play mascara and have also curled my lashes.

Lips
A nice natural lip gloss or tint will help give your lips a lovely natural sheen, without going overboard and will finish off your no makeup look. In this picture I’ve used Clinique Glosswear in ‘Juicy Apple’.

And there you have it…… my ‘no makeup’ makeup look!