How to Get a Runway-Inspired No Makeup, Makeup Look

New York’s hottest fashion shows are known for introducing to us to tons of out-of-this-world, over-the-top outfits and really, really bold beauty trends. But it’s been pretty refreshing that natural-looking makeup has become a popular look on runways as of late. Yep: The hottest makeup trend of the moment is none other than the “no makeup, makeup” look. Luminous-looking skin topped off with beautiful bold brows? We’re all about its simplicity! So, how does one go about perfecting the ultimate au naturel look—without the help of a pro makeup artist a la runway models? We’re here to break it down for you. Follow along!

How to Achieve the “No Makeup, Makeup” Look

The no makeup, makeup trend isn’t quite as product-free as it might sound but it’s still pretty easy to do. It’s time to grab your makeup bag and get ready to work with what you’ve got for a natural-looking, gorgeous look. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Start with moisturizer. Before reaching for your makeup products, go through your skin care routine, with moisturizing being the last step. Try the L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care for Normal/Oily Skin, L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care Normal/Dry Skin, or L'Oréal Paris Hydra Genius Daily Liquid Care Extra Dry Skin.

Step 2: Follow up with primer. After you’re done moisturizing, apply a small amount of primer, like the L'Oréal Paris Magic Lumi Light Infusing Primer, onto your fingertips and gently massage it onto your face to prep for makeup.

Step 3: Cover up imperfections. It’s time to conceal! Start off by color correcting with the L'Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit which comes with four pastel concealer shades: peach, purple, green, and yellow, to help hide things like dark circles and redness. Use sparingly then, follow up with a flesh-toned concealer from the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealing & Contour Kit.

Step 4: Use a buildable foundation. It’s best to use liquid foundation formulas when trying to achieve a natural look because they blend more easily than powder ones. Try the L'Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Cushion Foundation.

Step 5: Apply highlighter. Your complexion is almost runway ready—there’s just one thing missing, and that would be a natural-looking highlight. To get the look, lightly dab the L'Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator along your cheekbones, brow bones, and the bridge of your nose using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Contour Blender. The highlighter is available in three shades (golden, ice, and rose), so pick your fave!

Step 6: Raise your brows. What better way to frame your face than with the perfect set of brows? To add just enough of a statement to your bare-looking face, use the L'Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Kabuki Blender to help fill in and define your brows. Pick the shade (blonde, brunette, or dark brunette) that most closely matches your brow hairs.

Step 7: Perfect your pout. All that’s left for your no-makeup, makeup face is a little lip gloss. Use the L'Oréal Paris Colour Riche Le Gloss in Baby Blossom and you’re good to go!  

Step 8: Pair the no makeup, makeup look with wet-looking hair. Just because you’re done with your face doesn’t mean we don’t have another step up our sleeve! If you want to really embrace effortlessly beautiful vibes, you’ll want to copy runway models with one more addition to your beauty routine. All you have to do is get your hair damp and evenly massage a quarter-sized dollop of the L'Oréal Paris Advanced Hairstyle LOCK IT Extreme Style Gel into your roots, extending a few inches down. Then, tuck your behind your ears and use a brush to further distribute the gel and smooth things out. Ta-da! You’ve officially mastered the wet hair trend—a.k.a. no makeup, makeup’s hair counterpart.

Love this look? Yep, us too! Now go ahead and strut your stuff.