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    1. Beauty
    2. Make Up

    No Makeup Makeup: The Ultimate Guide To Getting It Right

    No makeup makeup is one of the hardest looks to perfect. Marie Claire's beauty and style director shares all her secrets to nailing the barely-there makeup look.

    Lisa Oxenham's avatar
    By Lisa Oxenham
    Published 24 August 2015 In Features

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    £500 beauty bag
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    No makeup makeup is one of the hardest looks to perfect. Marie Claire's beauty and style director shares all her secrets to nailing the barely-there makeup look.

    Want to know how to perfect the no makeup makeup look? Marie Claire's beauty and style director Lisa Oxenham shares her flawless skin-perfecting secrets...

    'My no makeup makeup routine during the summer months is as big part of the experience as my John Lennon-esque Raybans and my Antik Batik kaftan.'

    I just use

    Sisley Facial Sun Care Youth Protector SPF50+,£109.00,

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    Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universalle, £32.00

    ,

    Marie Claire Newsletter

    Celebrity news, beauty, fashion advice, and fascinating features, delivered straight to your inbox!

    By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over.

    a Clinique Naturally Glossy Mascara inBrown, £17.50,

    and

    By Terry Baume de Rose, £39.00.

    What to read next
    • best tinted moisturisers - model backstage The Best Tinted Moisturisers Are Essential for Healthy-Looking Skin— the Only 13 Worth Your Money
    • It Cosmetics Do It All Balm Review If Every Base Clings to Your Dry Patches, Try This One Instead—I Was Seriously Impressed
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    I think my skin looks better (nearly) naked in the summer sun but with my best friend's wedding day around the corner I need a bit more forphotographs plus, after a few months of sun-kissed skin I'm hankering after glamour. I'm not for one moment suggesting I should wear the same make-up I'dwear on a night out mid-winter. I'm talking clever daytime products and tricks to make my skin and features look like me, just better.

    CHISEL YOUR CHEEKBONES

    What's the point of wonderfully sun-kissed skin if you haven't got a touch of highlighter to set it off? We love

    Charlotte Tilbury Film Star Killer Cheekbones, £82.00

    - just nestle a little of the darker shade from your ear under your cheekbone and apply the highlighter on top.

    BLUR YOUR BLEMISHES

    Ditch the powder -

    Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat Blur Perfector, £31.50,

    is a weightless balm that acts like an invisible foundation: use it to diminish the appearance of wrinkles, minimise pores and mattify without cake-ing. Keep a translucent powder with you throughout the day to take off anyshine around the T-Zone you'll produce more oil if you're nervous or excited. Press out the creases on the eyelids and press powder on top.

    BODY BOOSTERS

    Don't forget your body; if you're showing limbs in a photo they'll look more lithe if you add a layer of

    The Sanctuary Spa Wonder Body Oil, £19.50.

    This super hydrating oil is lightweight and non-greasy. Or

    Carita Fluide de Beaute, £45.00,

    can't conceal your addiction to Snickers bars but it will certainly bring a shimmering slinkiness to limbs.

    SHEER BASE

    For a heavy helping of lit-from-within lustre and moisture in one

    Dior Diorskin Nude Air, £33,

    is a foundation plus and offers sheer,lightweight correction. Always use a brush it will bemuch more even and last for longer. We love

    MAC's 132 Duo Fibre Foundation Brush, £28.00,

    for light coverage. Just don't overload it. Focus coverage on the reddest parts of your face like your nostrils and sweep outwards towards your jawline.

    CLEVER SKINCARE

    Looking for a more permanent fix?

    Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape and Fill Expert Serum, £62,

    has a colllagen-boosting complex that will plump and lift skin, making your contours a little, well, more contoured.

    PRIMER IS KEY

    If you're not a watercress and mung bean kind of girl you need to feign the glow. Try

    Chanel's Primer, Le Blanc Multi-Use Illuminating Base, £33.00.

    If you have redness on your ears dab those with primer and foundation too and use these base products down the neck or it could look neglected.

    BYE BYE TIRED EYES

    If your eyes are dull and have a brown tinge then usea rose-based undereye concealer like

    Bobbi Brown Creamy Concealer, £19.00.

    If the shadows are more blue, then use a beige to neutralise. Press the product in with fingertips to make sure it's not sitting on top of your skin. The trusted

    YSL Touch Eclat, £25.00,

    does the trick.

    PERFECT BRONZER

    Steer clear of shimmer as it doesn't work with photographs.

    Chanel Les Beiges Healthy Glow Sheer Powder, £39.00,

    is the best matte powder on the market. It's very lightweight so you can keep layering without it looking heavy and to help mattify your skin. For Bronzer you want it to work with the natural contours of your face, look at the side of your face like the number 3- forehead, hairline and jawline and use an angled brush to sweep over the skinand layer up. We love

    Bobbi Brown's Bronzing Powder, £28.50.

    Use

    Chanel's Pinceau Poudre Biseaute Angled Powder Brush, £42.00.

    A light dusting of bronzer is a great way to add warmth to your face without having to fork out for a spray tan.

    For more amazing bronzers picked especially for your skin tone, head to Powder.

    Check out our favourite products to create a gorgeous no-makeup makeup look...

    No Makeup Makeup

    And to find a barely-there foundation that'll help you fake that no-makeup glow, our Beauty Editors are playing matchmaker over onPowder to give you a bespoke recommendation suited to your skin and your budget. Genius.

    No Makeup Makeup

    No Makeup Makeup

    £500 beauty bag

    And to find a barely-there foundation that'll help you fake that no-makeup glow, our Beauty Editors are playing matchmaker over onPowder to give you a bespoke recommendation suited to your skin and your budget. Genius.

    No Makeup Makeup

    No Makeup Makeup

    Charlotte Tilbury

    Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronze Universalle, £32.00,

    Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape and Fill Expert Serum

    Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape and Fill Expert Serum

    Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape and Fill Expert Serum

    Estee Lauder New Dimension Shape and Fill Expert Serum, £62.00

    Chanel Le Blanc Multi-Use Illuminating Base

    Chanel Le Blanc Multi-Use Illuminating Base

    Chanel Le Blanc Multi-Use Illuminating Base

    Chanel Le Blanc Multi-Use Illuminating Base, £33.00

    Dior Diorksin Nude Air

    Dior Diorksin Nude Air

    Dior Diorksin Nude Air

    Dior Diorksin Nude Air, £33.00

    YSL Touche Eclat

    YSL Touche Eclat

    YSL Touche Eclat

    The trusted YSL Touche Eclat, £25.00

    Dior Backstage Blender

    Dior Backstage Blender

    (Image credit: Dior Backstage Blender)

    Dior Backstage Blender, £12.00

    Chanel Les Beiges

    Chanel Les Beiges

    Chanel Les Beiges

    Chanel Les Beiges, £39.00

    Charlotte Tilbury

    Charlotte Tilbury

    Charlotte Tilbury

    Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Killer Cheekbones, £82.00

    Chanel Pinceau Poudre Biseaute Angled Powder Brush

    Chanel Pinceau Poudre Biseaute Angled Powder Brush

    Chanel Pinceau Poudre Biseaute Angled Powder Brush

    Chanel Pinceau Poudre Biseaute Angled Powder Brush, £42.00

    By Terry Baume de Rose

    By Terry Baume de Rose

    By Terry

    By Terry Baume de Rose, £39.00

    Clinique Glossy Mascara

    Clinique Glossy Mascara

    Clinique Glossy Mascara

    Clinique Glossy Mascara, £17.50

    Carita Fluide de Beaute

    Carita Fluide de Beaute

    Carita Fluide de Beaute

    Carita Fluide de Beaute, £45.00

    Lisa Oxenham
    Lisa Oxenham
    Social Links Navigation

    Lisa Oxenham is a trailblazing beauty editor, journalist, stylist, and creative director with over 20 years of transformative impact in the beauty industry. As the Beauty and Style Director at Marie Claire UK, she orchestrates high-profile shoots with celebrities and influencers, creating visually stunning and globally resonant content.

    A passionate advocate for sustainability, Lisa serves on the Advisory Board for the British Beauty Council's Sustainable Beauty Coalition and the Media Advisory Board. She is also an ambassador for the Soil Association certification and the Amazon Research Institute. Through her "In The Loop" column, she keeps readers informed about the latest advancements in sustainable beauty and supports brands that champion environmental causes, emphasising the need for the beauty industry to reset its priorities.

    Lisa's influence extends beyond words; she directs inspiring short films on sustainability and challenges in the beauty industry and is a sought-after public speaker. Recently recognised in the Who’s Who in Natural Beauty 2023, she also champions mental health and eco-conscious practices, demonstrating that glamour and environmental responsibility can coexist beautifully.

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