In 2004, Unilever carried out research which revealed only 2% of women considered themselves to be beautiful. Armed with this statistic, Dove launched their worldwide ‘Campaign for Real Beauty’ and the mission ‘to create a world where beauty is a source of confidence and not anxiety’ had begun. Since then we have seen a gradual move away from heavily photoshopped imagery and unnatural makeup towards ‘less is more’ beauty trends and natural makeup.
The ‘No Makeup’ makeup look became hugely popular after internationally renowned makeup artist Lisa Eldridge worked her magic on the beautiful Gemma Arterton for Glamour Magazine’s Women of The Year Awards back in 2011.
Photo credit: Gemma Arterton wearing ‘No Makeup’ Makeup designed by Lisa Eldridge
This versatile look has since been used to create gorgeous low-key looks on celebrities such as Kate Winslet, Sienna Miller, Kate Moss, Keira Knightley, Kate Bosworth, Emma Watson, Cameron Diaz, Kirsten Dunst and Adele, to name but a few. Celebrities are role models of modern society, so it’s great to see that more and more influential women are embracing their natural beauty whilst feeling confident and radiant in their own skin.
Undoubtedly, ‘No Makeup’ makeup has the potential to unlock your natural beauty, however many women make the mistake of trying to ‘copy’ another woman’s beauty formula. When it comes to clothing and makeup, one person’s winning formula is another’s losing formula, so we’ve created this guide to help you design your own, flawless ‘No Makeup’ makeup blueprint. You can download our printable checklist here.
Rule #1 – Always Prep & Prime
Preparing your skin is a crucial part that you mustn’t skip if you want to achieve a natural glow. You should consider choosing organic products for items listed in Rule #1 as you’ll be using them every day – here at Chromology we use the Green People brand.
Cleanse, tone and moisturise
For cleansing, choose a product that is tailored to your skin type and you must never skip this step because it’s what removes dead skin cells and cleans your pores from cosmetics and the ‘invisible’ dirt and smog build up.
The step most of you skip is toning and here is why you shouldn’t skip. Your toner closes your pores after cleansing and reinstates your skin’s natural pH – both of which are crucial for protecting your skin and reducing the appearance of breakouts, rosacea and other skin problems.
Lastly, our skin takes a battering every day and so moisturising is a critical step. You are constantly exposed to skin-drying elements such as wind, sun, central-heating and air-conditioning and your moisturiser will keep your skin hydrated and looking fresh throughout the day.
[Warning! Do not use makeup wipes for cleansing, because they contain chemicals that are not safe to leave on your skin.]
Prime
While not essential, we also highly recommend using a primer before applying any colour cosmetics to your skin.
It’ll not only help even out your skin and minimise pores and fine lines, but will also help reduce sweating and keep your makeup stay in place much longer.
