How to Create a No-Makeup Makeup Look in 6 Steps

STEP #6: Finish With a Gloss

To wrap up your no-makeup makeup look, finish with a subtly tinted lip gloss. We like the Lancôme Juicy Tubes, a high-shine gloss that’s available in 20 shades. For a super natural look, avoid products with shimmer or flecks of glitter and go for a shiny finish instead. If you’re not a fan of a glossy look, opt for a tinted lip balm or a subtle lip stain instead. 

OPTIONAL STEP: Apply Setting Spray

If you want your no-makeup makeup look to last for as long as possible, finish up with a few spritzes of setting spray. For added glow, look for a formula with a dewy or radiance-boosting finish. To help control shine, look for a mattifying or oil-absorbing spray.

The Best Makeup Products for a No-Makeup Makeup Look

Ahead, a look at some of our favorite products to reach for when creating a no-makeup makeup look. 

YSL Beauty Nu Glow in Balm

Remember what Spickard said — the first step in creating a no-makeup makeup look is properly prepping your skin. We love the glycerin-infused YSL Beauty Nu Glow in Balm because it acts as a priming moisturizer, meaning it hydrates your skin and imparts a radiant finish thanks to the light-reflecting pearls in the formula. It’s also non-comedogenic, so you don’t have to worry about it clogging your pores.

CeraVe Eye Repair Cream

Adding a fast-absorbing, non-greasy eye cream to your skincare routine will not only help hydrate and nourish the delicate under-eye area, it’ll help prevent concealer creasing and caking, too! This affordable and lightweight eye cream from CeraVe uses ceramides and hyaluronic acid to moisturize the skin, restore the skin barrier, de-puff and reduce the appearance of dark circles. Apply it by gently tapping it on using your ring finger.

L’Oréal Paris Prime Lab Up to 24H Pore Minimizer

Once you’ve prepped your skin with moisturizer, eye cream and sunscreen, it’s time to apply primer. There are tons of options out there to fit different skin needs, but if you’re looking to address pore size, reach for this formula from L’Oréal Paris. In addition to instantly blurring pores and smoothing the skin, it helps improve the appearance of skin texture over time with the help of an AHA, LHA and BHA complex.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Concealer

The Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Concealer is one of our favorites for no-makeup makeup because it offers medium, buildable coverage and glides on the skin seamlessly, leaving behind a radiant glow.

Maybelline New York Shadow Blocks Eyeshadow Palette in North 3rd & Bedford Ave

This mini, handbag-friendly palette offers three warm-toned neutral eyeshadow shades — two in matte finishes and one with a light-reflecting shimmery finish.

NYX Professional Makeup Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler

Used on its own or layered over a tinted brow product, the NYX Professional Makeup Brow Glue Instant Brow Styler will not disappoint. The long-wearing, non-sticky formula dries down to a transparent finish and helps lock brows in place for up to 16 hours. Use the mini wand to brush brows up into that enviable fluffy, feathered shape.

L'Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Shape and Fill Pencil

Need to fill in some sparse spots before reaching for your clear brow gel? The L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Shape and Fill Pencil can help. It has a triangular tip and a creamy formula that makes shaping and filling in your brows easy. The spoolie at the other side of the dual-ended pencil will help you blend out any harsh or noticeable lines.

Lancôme Le 8 Hypnôse Serum-Infused Mascara

On top of offering buildable volume and a lash-lifting effect, this buzzy mascara helps to nourish and revitalize lashes over time thanks to its serum-infused formula. While it’ll create a look that lasts for hours, it’s also super easy to remove with a cotton pad and makeup remover — no tugging or harsh rubbing required. The best of both worlds, right?

Giorgio Armani Beauty Neo Nude Color Melting Balm

To create a glowy, natural-looking flush, reach for a cream blush that melts into your skin and blends with ease. Available in nine shades, the Giorgio Armani Beauty Neo Nude Color Melting Balm can be used on both the eyes and cheeks and dries down to a natural matte finish. Use a brush, a sponge or your fingertips to tap the creamy formula on the apples of your cheeks. For a bolder, lifted look, apply the blush on the apples of your cheeks and up toward your temples.

NYX Professional Makeup Wonder Stick Contour and Highlighter Stick

This multitasking makeup stick is all you need for a subtle contour. Use the deeper shade to contour the hollows of the cheeks and the jawline. If you want to up the ante on your glow, use the lighter shimmery shade to highlight your cheekbones, cupid’s bow and the bridge of your nose. You can even dap a little underneath your eyebrows.

Maybelline New York Lifter Gloss

Choose one of the 20 shades of the Maybelline New York Lifter Gloss to add a wash of color and a glossy sheen to your lips. The formula utilizes hyaluronic acid to help hydrate and plump up your pout.

Urban Decay All Nighter Ultra Glow Setting Spray

The final step in your routine if you really don’t want your look going anywhere? Setting spray. This pick from Urban Decay prolongs the wear of your makeup and gives skin a hydrated, glowy appearance.