A step-by-step guide to ‘natural’ make-up

The latest instalment in our Basic Training series: how to achieve natural-looking make-up.

We love nothing more than a full-on make-up look; bold red lips, glitter, the whole she-bang. But we’re sure you’ll agree, sometimes we need quick, simple, natural looking make-up that we can throw-on in seconds and still look pulled together. Well boys and girls, this is it.

Get your skin right and everything else falls into place. An illuminating base plus sheer coverage dewy foundation are a match made in heaven.

If you haven’t yet tried a Beautyblender then make its purchase the very next thing you do (there’s even a link below). We honestly don’t know what we did in the days before we discovered this handy little gem. It gives the most dewy and flawless finish to your foundation without caking your skin in product. Ensure it’s damp beforehand so that the sponge doesn’t absorb all of your foundation and use the rounded bottom to apply the majority of the foundation to your skin – and blend the edges out – and turn it around and use the pointy end to apply your under eye concealer.

Keep your remaining products cream-based to cut down time on blending and get a natural, soft and healthy finish.

Some days call for maxed-out lashes, others call for something a touch more subtle. A brown mascara caters for those. The Benefit They’re Real! Tinted Lash Primer is one of our favourite things in our make-up bag. Technically it’s a primer (it has all kinds of lash-loving goodness in the formula) but it just happens to be the most subtle but defining shade of brown. Instead of topping it off with mascara, we often just wear it on its own.

And you don’t always have to opt for a nude lipstick on a natural make-up day, a balm that enhances your own natural lip colour is infinitely prettier.

Feeling inspired? Here’s a video we’ve put together just for you.

Products used: Clarins Instant Light Radiance Boosting Complexion Base in 01 Rose, £26.50

Smashbox Camera Ready BB Water SPF30, £29

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Shadow Stick in Sand Dune, £21

Zoeva 104 Buffer Brush, £14.50

Beautyblender, £16

MAC Technakohl Liner in Superfly, £14

Benefit They’re Real! Tinted Primer, £18.50

Stila Convertible Colour in Gerbera, £16

Givenchy Mister Gentlebalm, £22