Zoe Saldana (Getty Images)
With the back-to-school grind of classes, homework, jobs and internships, it can be hard to justify spending 45 minutes on your makeup routine to achieve that glamorous Kim Kardashian face. No one really has the time for all of that.
But, that’s where the no-makeup makeup look comes in. It’s quick, painless and basically effortless. You’ll look natural, pulled together and well rested with just a few simple steps. Plus, it gives you that extra incentive to hit the snooze button in the morning. Woo-hoo!
So, how exactly do you achieve a no-makeup makeup look? Just follow these simple steps, which are easy for any beauty beginners. With only a handful of products, you'll be flawlessly fresh-faced just like Zoe Saldana.
First, you should moisturize and prime. Primer is always a necessity whether you’re wearing tons of product or nothing at all. It evens out your complexion and helps diminish the appearance of those pesky pores. NYX Cosmetics
Studio Perfect Primer ($13) and L’Oreal
Youth Code Texture Perfector Pore Vanisher ($25) are awesome because they both create a smooth canvas, making makeup application a breeze.
Next, you want to choose a lightweight product to even out your skin tone and camouflage any blemishes or discoloration. BB and CC creams, like Smashbox
Camera Ready BB Cream ($39), are extremely popular right now and are great if you want a little less coverage. M.A.C.
Studio Moisture Tint is also ideal for those days when you want your natural skin to shine through.
Chloë Grace Moretz (Getty Images)
To hide any dark circles, use a light hand to dab a little concealer under the eyes. Maybelline
Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circles Concealer ($10) works wonders and also brightens to give your face an immediate boost. Then, apply some blush to the apples of your cheeks to add a warm, rosy glow. Milani
Baked Blush in Dolce Pink enhances the skin with a subtle shimmer while still keeping the look natural. And, don't forget to fill in your eyebrows with a pencil or a powder like Anastasia Beverly Hills
Brow Powder Duo ($23). Strong, groomed brows like Chloë Grace Moretz's will define your face, especially if you keep everything else relatively simple.
Now, this next step is extremely important: curl those eyelashes. This simple trick will open up your face, making it appear brighter and wide awake, which is crucial if you choose to forgo any other eye makeup.
You can choose to invest in a high-end tool like the Shu Uemura
Eyelash Curler ($20), but the cheaper Revlon
Eyelash Curler ($5) works just as well. Finish up with a few coats of your favorite mascara on your top
and bottom lashes. L’Oreal
Telescopic Carbon Black Mascara is amazing for really separating and lengthening.
Finally, pull the entire look together with a hydrating, tinted lip balm. Burt Bee's
Tinted Lip Balm ($6.99) or Revlon
ColorBurst Lip Butter ($8.50), for example, will moisturize your pout while adding a fun punch of color. An added bonus? Lip balm requires much less maintenance throughout the day than a lipstick or lip gloss. Follow these easy steps and you’ll have a fresh-faced, relaxed look with minimal effort and time.
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