For so many of us, wearing makeup is about more than masking imperfections. It’s fun, experimental and a creative way to express your personality.
But, while we love the way it enhances our features, us and a whole host of celebrities – including Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga and Chrissy Teigen – are increasingly opting for a less is more approach to beauty.
If the approach of summer isn’y enough to persuade you to part ways with your cosmetics, though, then National No Makeup Day – which falls on 26 April – seems as good an excuse as any.
That being said, the prospect of going makeup free can be daunting for many women and so we’ve rounded up some handy tips to help you feel more confident in your own skin.
Scrub up
Exfoliation is the first step towards unleashing your skin’s natural glow and as we enter spring it’s more important than ever before.
During the cooler months, our skin can become dull and develop a buildup of products, dead skin cells and environmental toxins on the skin.
As such, incorporating a gentle scrub into your routine will help unblock pores and get you on your way to luminous skin. Our favourite is this bi-weekly treatment from Kate Somerville, which features both physical and enzymatic exfoliants to remove dulling dead cells and uncover unrivalled radiance – it’s not known as the Hollywood 2-minute facial for nothing.
Drink up
The weather might be warming up but that doesn’t mean your skin no longer requires hydration.
Keep your complexion well-moisturised with a formula that works best for your skin type and, where possible, always opt for one that includes a built-in SPF.
One of our go-to products for quenching skin’s thirst is Sarah Chapman’s Skin Insurance – a mega moisturiser with SPF 30, meaning it protects your skin from the damaging effects of the sun’s rays.
But that’s not all. It also has a blurring effect, and brightens and leaves your skin feeling super-smooth.
If your current moisturiser has no SPF factor, make sure to invest in a separate UV defender.
Give yourself a facial massage
The impact a good facial massage has on your skin should never be underestimated as it helps stimulate blood flow, leaving you with a bright, glowing complexion.
If you want to give it a go start at the jawline and make small circles with your thumbs up to the centre of your face and then towards you ears and repeat around four times.
For a little something extra you can also introduce a jade roller into your routine, which helps to stimulate lymph drainage, plump fine lines and tighten.
Use the small end to gently massage around the eye socket in a rocking motion before using the larger end to focus on the nose area, forehead, cheeks and throat. Keep yours in the fridge to enhance its benefits.
Groom your brows
A good set of brows helps to frame your face and pull your features into focus but, if like so many of us, you’ve over-plucked in the past or just have sparse furrows, a brow serum can help them grow.
There are plenty of options available on the market but our favourite is M2 Beauté’s Eyebrow Renewing Serum. Simply use the applicator to apply the clear gel once a day and you should begin to see visible changes within a matter of weeks.
Cheat sheet
If you don’t feel confident about going completely makeup free then cheat a little, we won’t tell.
For a product that will elevate your no makeup look without looking like you’re wearing foundation, we suggest picking up Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter.
A skincare/makeup hybrid, it has all the versatility of a primer, the mega-watt glow of a highlighter, and the perfecting properties of your favourite foundation.
The addition of glossy oil helps reflect light to the highpoints of your face while finely milled powders make lines and pores appear smoother.
