What’s the secret to the no-makeup look? It’s makeup, would you believe? Over the past year, thanks to celebrity influencers such as Hailey Bieber, the ‘no-makeup makeup’ trend has skyrocketed with consumers opting for subtle looks and colours over bold and bright palettes.
Get to know the tips and tricks for this trending look so you can help the makeup customer in your pharmacy.
Explain more, please …
Priceline Pharmacy Beauty Adviser of the Year Brooke Jones says the no-makeup look is “a method makeup application that concentrates on using less product overall, enhancing your natural features, and spending less time in front of the mirror in the morning”.
“Of course, natural makeup isn’t a new concept, but this look and method have been popularised recently as our lifestyles get busier and we want a makeup look that’s effortless and fresh,” she said.
The look step by step
Ms Jones explains the techniques used to achieve the popular look:
Skin prep. “Starting with clean, hydrated skin – yes, oily skin needs hydration.”
The base. “If you aren’t ready to say goodbye to foundation, using an egg-shaped makeup sponge, blend a sheer coverage foundation starting from the centre of your face outwards. Then dab a small amount of concealer on the darkest parts of your undereye and the outer corner of the eye. With your ring finger or the same sponge, blend in an outwards diagonal direction to lift the eye.”
Ms Jones continued: “Set the undereye with a translucent, loose powder if you want some extra anti-creasing assurance. If you have other areas of the face that need concealing, use a pinpoint brush to apply your concealer and tap with your ring finger to blend.”
Add minimal colour. “Next, using a cream contour stick, apply a small amount of product on the perimeter of the forehead and hollows of the cheek, blending upwards with a sponge. Apply some cream or liquid blush to the cheeks and a dash on the temples, again blending with a sponge. If you love glow, apply cream or liquid highlighter on the high points of the face, blending with, you guessed it, a sponge.”
Keep it neutral. “If you feel that your eyes would like a little more definition or colour, apply a cream eyeshadow in a neutral shade with fingers or a small brush, concentrating most of the product at the lash line, blending upwards. Follow this with mascara, placing [the wand at] the root of the lash, wiggle the brush side to side, then pull the brush upwards, following through to the ends of the lashes.”
Ms Jones adds tips for how to tame the eyebrows:
“If your brows are sparse, or you don’t have much hair, you can use a very thin eyebrow pencil to mimic the look of the little hairs, using your natural eyebrow shape as a guide. If you’ve been blessed with full brows, try a clear or tinted gel to tame hairs, and style them to your preference. Pop on your favourite sheer, glossy lip, and finish with setting spray for a little extra security and glow.”
Beauty expands in pharmacy
Pharmacies increasingly are growing their beauty aisles, in line with the popularity and economic growth of beauty and skin care.
For those selecting a mascara in the pharmacy, Ms Jones recommends looking for small wands, as well as “liquid, light-coverage-based products”, when aiming to achieve the no-makeup makeup look (NMML).
“A beauty sponge (usually egg-shaped with one flat side) can be used with many different products, and will blend your products quickly and easily,” she said.
“I like to use a small can of thermal water to dampen my sponge. This helps to get an even, more glowy, smooth and streak-free finish.”
Tips for beginners (and PAs)
To learn as much as you can about achieving particular looks, Ms Jones strongly recommends using YouTube.
“There’s an abundance of videos on the ‘NMML’, and it’s great to watch it all in action,” she said.
“Also, try it out for yourself. We all have our ways that we like doing our own makeup, but who knows? You might find a new technique you like better.”
This feature was originally published in the February issue of Retail Pharmacy Assistants e-magazine.
