With Spring Break only a little over a month away, the sun will be out and your heavy foundation should be put away. You know the saying “less is more?” Well in this case it can be true for a natural makeup look, whether it be dewy or matte. I found that the key to achieving a “no makeup” makeup look is really finding products that compliment your skin tone and texture.

Lets start with your skin. Oily, dry, or both? For me, I have both oily and dry skin. I found the rest of my face is dry, while my nose produces more oil throughout the day, leaving me to powder my nose numerous times. I know I’ve talked about this product before, but Laura Mercier’s tinted moisturizer is amazing. I get full coverage and a dewy look, with an incredibly light foundation. I do realize it can get a bit costly, but keep in mind this is product going on your skin and a nicer brand will go a long way. Though an alternative to that tinted moisturizer is CoverGirl’s dupe. I found this has less coverage, but a warmer glow, so you might have to do some spot correction with concealer to cover those acne prone areas. I recommend the Neutrogena Acne concealer, because not only is it light, but it also contains 2% salicylic acid to fight your breakouts. My last coverage product I recommend is a BB cream. I love, love, love Two Faced Beauty Balm, but when I want to spend less, Maybelline’s BB cream does the trick. Set this with a translucent powder so you don’t smudge anything.

Now blush & bronzer, my favorite duo. I’ve noticed for people that have a tanner complexion, peachy colors work much better, and for people with a paler complexion, pinks work better. I ordered a blush palette off of Amazon for $10 and I love it! It has every color to mix and match. A little blush on the apples of your cheek and bridge of your nose makes it look like the sun gave you your rosey cheeks. If you’re sticking with a dewy beach look, try to go for a cream/gel blush. This makes your cheeks look more lively and bright. My all time favorite cream blush is Josie Maran’s Coconut Watercolor Cheek Gelee. My alternative would be Maybelline’s bouncy blush. Now for bronzer- there is only one bronzer that has stolen my heart. It’s Rimmel London’s Natural Bronzer in 021 Sun Light. This color adds warmth to your face but isn’t orange whatsoever. I have been using this for years and I love it.

For your eyes, no matter the color, keep it simple – warm and neutral colors like browns, nudes, and pinks. Your eyes are what people seem to notice, so subtly downplay the eyeshadow. For mascara? Less is more. Bobbi Brown’s Long Wear is the most amazing mascara ever created. It gives me butterflies. If you want to go even further with your natural look opt for brown mascara; it looks a lot less harsh than black, but is still dark enough to enhance your eyelashes.

Lastly, your lips. The only way I can describe it is a “nudey pink.” That is the color I always strive for. I mix five lipsticks to get that color. I also like to wear a little redder than my natural lip tone, as if I’ve been eating berries and it stained my lips. It’s all about preference.

The best part about all this makeup is it’s sheer enough to give you a tan, but has enough coverage in the SPF to protect against the sun. Try these out, let me know if you find products you like more, so I can try them! Until then-

Stay classy,

M&M

(1) Photo via Pinterest under the Creative Commons license. https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/236x/65/f3/06/65f306eedcb4ea11550e7b88ed581071.jpg

(2) Photo via Face Value Beauty Blog under the Creative Commons license. http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TzMi1b7sskY/Uul0HhFWLwI/AAAAAAAAEZQ/r9lvg66nuJA/s1600/elf-contouring-blush-bronzing-cream-review2.jpg