7.1 Natural (day) makeup
Natural (day) makeup is, as the name suggests, a subtle, fresh makeup look. It can cover anything from a no-makeup-makeup look to a soft winged eyeliner and a pop of colour on the lips. The key to natural makeup application is to use primarily neutral colours and shades to achieve a pulled-back look. The main objective with natural (day) makeup is to highlight natural features, conceal any flaws, and promote a fresh and awake appearance.
Below are some examples of a few natural (day) looks:
The no-makeup-makeup look
Often requested at photoshoots, if you want to become a makeup artist that gets booked for fashion shoots and campaigns, this is one look you’ll want to master.
Tips to creating this look:
- Dewy flawless skin that looks like skin
- Let freckles show or even create a few faux freckles if you wish
- Subtle eye makeup, usually a wash of only one colour and a smudge of brown eyeliner into the natural lash line
- Natural lashes or a scatter of individual lashes
- Brushed-up, fluffy brows or soap brows
- Minimal contour and highlight, usually cream products to keep the look dewy and fresh
- Nude hydrated lips
Expert tip: try using an illuminating cream under your foundation or mixing it in with a liquid foundation to create a light-coverage, high-shine base.
Fresh and flawless
Perfect for the bride who wants to keep it subtle, or for professionals attending daytime events (i.e. public speakers, corporate lunches). This look is nothing but class!
Tips to creating this look:
- Flawless base with a little more coverage for longevity
- Subtle eye makeup using matte colours, often with a wing
- Soft individual lashes
- Tidy natural brows
- Subtle powder contour, minimal highlight
- Matte powdered blush
- Matte or gloss nude lip
Expert tip: try starting your eyeliner from the middle of the eye, leaving the inner corner bare, to achieve a subtle cat-eye look
A Pop of Colour
Make a bold lip wearable for a day by keeping the rest of the face barely there.
Tips to creating this look:
- Matte or dewy base depending on client’s skin type
- Barely-there eye shadow, no lashes
- Subtle cream contour and blush
- Minimal highlight
- Bold lip
Expert tip: try experimenting with a lip stain for all day lips that last!
Practical Activity
Over the course of the next couple of weeks, have a go at creating 2-3 natural (day) makeup looks on either yourself, or preferably a model. Start with a no-makeup-makeup look, and progress to getting a little creative with a pop of colour look.