Nicole Ellie Beauty

You might’ve also heard this referred to as the “Clean Girl Makeup Look” or the “No Makeup, Makeup Look”

If you rather watch a video about this… you can do so here! or click on the video below!

In the world of beauty, sometimes less truly is more. Embracing a natural, effortless makeup look not only enhances your natural beauty but also simplifies your daily routine, leaving you with extra time to savor your favorite morning coffee or catch a few more zzz’s (I know I like a few more minutes for both reasons).

Below are some of my favorite tips to master your favorite version of minimal makeup and achieve a fresh-faced glow!

1. Start with Skincare

A radiant look begins with well-cared-for skin. You are going to want to prioritize a skincare regimen tailored to your needs to ensure a smooth and hydrated canvas.

This can consist of a gentle cleanser, a hydrating serum, and/or a tinted moisturizer with SPF should be some of your go-to products.

Use any skincare products that work best for your skin to prep and hydrate! I love Tatcha, Sheseido, Sunday Riley, ILIA, Farmacy, Laroche and Youth to the People products (and many more, but we can go through those another time!)

**Remember, hydrated skin equals less need for foundation!!**

2. Prime to Perfect

A primer suited to your skin type can work wonders. Not only does it smooth out pores and fine lines, but it also helps your makeup last longer, reducing the need for touch-ups throughout the day.

Buttt, if you are like me, I will sometimes bring a mini powder or mattifying setting spray to help soak up any excess oil depending on what I am doing for the day!

I do not always use a primer, but I definitely feel like it helps me if I am feeling extra oily – especially in the summertime.

3. Go Light on Foundation

For a minimal look, you are going to want to switch out any heavy foundations for tinted moisturizers, BB, or CC creams. These lighter alternatives will provide you enough coverage to even out your skin tone while letting your natural beauty shine through.

For areas that require a bit more attention, a dab of concealer is all you need underneath your tinted moisturizer. (I will usually dab a dot of concealer that is mattifying – I love the NARS pot concealer for this)

**A little pro tip If you are using concealer, please DAB, do not use swiping motions! Dabbing or stippling motions will help to blend in your concealer and tinted moisturizer instead of just swiping the product away!

Favorites right now are…

ILIA Beauty – Their Super Serum Skin Tint is a dream for my dry-skinned gals, and don’t even get me started on their new Skin Rewind Stick for those with combo to oily skin… these products are ITTT!!

Danessa Myricks – Why does it seem like this brand is a best-kept secret? I’m obsessed! Their skin tint feels so light it’s like a second skin—light, moderately covering, yet so hydrating you will definitely forget it’s even there.

YSL Skin Tint – Yes, it’s on the pricier side, but it’s always a win in my book. Definitely get shade matched or try on it store, sometimes shades can vary. I have mixed with this tint with another before!

e.l.f. Halo Glow – This one’s all about the radiance, offering light coverage but amping up your skin’s natural glow. Wear it alone for a subtle sheen or mix it with your favorite foundation for that extra glow factor!

4. Embrace Liquid/Cream Products

Cream blushes and natural eyeshadows are also great additions for a natural look, but for me, they are not necessarily essential.

But, they do melt right into your skin, giving you that effortless, just-pinched flush and subtly defined eyes that scream ‘I woke up like this’. The secret?

BLEND BABYY BLENDDD!!!

5. Define Your Brows Naturally

Brows frame your face, so you will want to give them a little love. Fill in sparse areas with a brow pencil using light, hair-like strokes, and set them with a clear brow gel. The goal is to enhance your brows, not to redraw them.

I am a Precisely My Brow kinda girly, but have also used, and absolutely love the Glossier Brow Flick – I think this is phenomenal for creating defining hair like strokes! Defintely go with a light hand because the liquid can come out fast, so just be careful and shake it before you use it!!

For the Precisely My Brow pencils, I use the shades (I have used many) and my favorite shade for me is 3.75 but I have bounced between 3.5-4.5!

Benefit Cosmetics also came out with a brow definer, with a tiny tiny tip. I love it for hair strokes, but you have to be gently and light handed or it will break off! But I think the key here is to really twist it so it’s just showing, that way you are less likely to break the delicate brow pen!

**(I also go a bit lighter in color than what I would usually use since the liquid can look a bit more harsh as well for a more natural brow)

6. Opt for a Subtle Eye

A swipe of neutral eyeshadow, a bit of tightlining with a brown eyeliner, and a coat of mascara can elevate your look without appearing overdone. Choose brown shades over black for a softer, more natural appearance.

For me, I will usually take my Milk or Charlotte Contour stick/wand/ or literally any product you like for adding a little dimension and I will use this product where I would usually place eyeshadow and then I start to elongate my eyes and give them a lifted look.

For Mascara, I honestly only wear it sometimes, as I have Trichotillomania, because I dont always have eyelashes…(you can read a little bit about my story here if you want to!)

But, my favorites when I can wear mascasa are…

ILIAS Limitless Lash

Lancome’s Hypnôse Buildable Volume Mascara

Rare Beauty Mascasa

L’oreal Telescopic Mascara is another great one! I dont hae this curently in my drawer since I havent needed to buy mascara, and working at Sephora, you get Gratis – so yay free mascara! LOL But this one is great especially at a great price.

7. Choose a Lip Tints/Balms/Oils

Ditch the bold lip colors for subtle lip tints or balms. They provide a hint of color and keep your lips moisturized, perfect for that no-makeup makeup vibe.

My favorites have been the Summer Fridays, Clarins, Charlottes Collagen Lip Plumper (it’s cooling w/ peppermint), Dior, ILIA

I also just want to note that I only have so many and have tried so many from being a former Sephora employee!

8. Set

Instead of covering your entire face with powder, which can dull your natural glow, strategically apply setting powder to areas prone to oiliness, like your T-zone (this is for my oily/combo ladies and gents out here).

This will help to maintain your radiance while keeping the oily shine at bay!

9. Highlight (If you want!)

A touch of highlighter on the high points of your face can instantly lift and brighten your look. Aim for a natural, dewy highlighter rather than one with glitter for the most natural glow.

For me, this is not necessary as I have combo skin and I do not need extra glow in this dewy/natural look!

Some highlighters I love are…

Iconic London illuminator drops – so worth the money, I think they are like $40 at Sephora and they will last you FOREVER. I will sometimes add to my skin tint/foundation or body to add some *sparkle*

I also am a huge fan of the Haus Labs highlighters, they are like a creamy powder… so nice, and blend seamlessly if you are more of a powder lover!

And of course, I have mini Rare Beauty Highlighters – they’re amazing and will last forever since you don’t need a lot at all. You simply cannot go wrong!!

For small areas like the bridge of my nose and inner corner of my eyes, I will use the Thrive Cosmetics Highlighter stick, I got it a while ago and still have barely put a dent in it and another plus is that it also travels well! So you can easily take it on the go wherever!

10. Listen to Your Skin

Lastly, and most importantly, listen to your skin. Some days it might need a bit more hydration, or you may feel like you need more coverage and others, you might feel you don’t need any makeup at all. The essence of a natural, effortless look is being in tune with your skin and feeling confident!!

Embracing a natural makeup look doesn’t mean leaving your personality behind. It’s about highlighting your natural beauty in the most effortless way possible. With these tips, you’re well on your way to achieving a look that says “I woke up like this” and truly means it.