You can find a lot of "natural makeup" tutorials on YouTube that require 20 steps. No hate, I love the end result. But for the general population, spending 20 minutes applying makeup that doesn't look like makeup and dotting on fake freckles isn't realistic.
Here are my 5 principles that make your makeup look natural no matter what kind of look it is.
1. No foundation on the nose
I can't take credit for this, although it is something I found myself doing even before seeing this video. What this really means is keeping coverage light in the areas you don't need it. For example: a bare freckled nose or a sheered out tinted moisturizer with concealer where you need it. This technique tricks the eye and makes it seem like you're wearing much less (if any) foundation.
In simpler terms: Less is more. If you have freckles, let those cute babies breathe.
2. Cream products
Cream products melt into the skin and tend to look more natural. I use only cream products on a day to day basis. Especially since getting this Hourglass Trio which is my favorite makeup product of all time. If you love powders, a synergy of both powders and creams adds dimension and glow to the face. Just make sure you apply cream/liquid products first.
On zee face: MUFE HD stick foundation in 117, Benefit ka-brow in 04, NYX dark circle concealer, and Hourglass Illume Sheer Color Trio
3. Under-eye darkness can be your friend
I might be alone in this but I actually like the darkness underneath my eyes. I tried very hard to listen to Bobbi Brown and every magazine out there telling me that I should completely blank out the darkness under my eyes. But after a while I realized that doing this made my eyes look smaller and just generally weird.
I do use under eye concealer, I just don't apply it all the way up to the lash line. Keeping that darkness there actually makes your eyes look bigger. If you want to hear a professional explain this, watch 8:30 to 9:30 of this video. Or watch the whole thing if you're a makeup nerd like me.
4. Skincare
Prepping the skin is the most important step in any makeup look, especially when you want the skin to shine and look natural. Facial massage with oil is a good way to wake up the face if you want to go all in. But for every day, a good moisturizer and/or primer can make a huge difference in how minimal makeup blends in with the rest of the face. I love L'Oreal's Lumi Primer (avoiding t-zone), but use whatever suits your skin.
5. Natural Light
Put your makeup on by a window! It's the best way to make sure your skin looks like skin. Also, no better way to discover that the foundation you tried to shade-match at Sephora is 3 shades off and makes you look either ill or like a peach colored floating head.