My Simple Natural Makeup Routine

If you like a simple, natural makeup look, here’s the routine I’ve been using every day. While I don’t follow makeup trends very closely, I do like to use them for inspiration, so I’ve included a variety of products that I mix and match for different trends. These products and colors create a classic but current makeup look.

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1. Pearlescent Primer With Sunscreen

A primer smoothes your skin’s texture and helps keep your makeup in place. Some include sunscreen, moisturizer, and/or color. If you are experiencing dry, textured, or uneven skin, a primer can help to provide a “clean canvas” for your makeup.

I start my makeup routine with Supergoop’s Glowscreen SPF40. I love that it includes sunscreen, hyaluronic acid (hydration), and blue light protection. If you’ve been frustrated by an ashy or oily residue from your sunscreen, you’ll love that this one has a pearlescent finish.

It is currently available in 4 shades at Nordstrom. You’ll also find it at Sephora in large, regular, and mini sizes. If you want a really simple, natural makeup routine, skip the foundation and just use this primer!

2. Foundation

Some makeup artists start with eye makeup and then apply foundation where needed. I like to have an even background to work on so I apply foundation before eye makeup.

When choosing your foundation, you’ll want to match your skin tone, decide how much coverage you want (sheer, medium, or full), and pick your finish (dewy, matte, or satin).

Youthful “dewy skin” has been a popular look for the past few years, only now it may be called “glassy skin” or “honey skin”. These trends originated in Korea, where the ideal complexion has a shiny finish.

But beauty experts have also declared that matte foundation is making a comeback. A matte finish has more of an airbrushed look, without much shine or sparkle. You may have heard of “cloud skin” or a “blurred finish”.

So which look should you adopt? Whatever fits your personal style!

I always keep a few options on hand as my needs change from day to day.

Tinted Serum Foundation

I use Jane Iredale’s HydroPure Tinted Serum on days that I want a minimal look. I usually apply this with my fingers.

Medium Coverage Foundation

I love the natural-looking finish of Ilia’s Trueskin Medium Coverage. It gives me more color and coverage than a tinted serum without feeling heavy. I apply this with my Sigma F50 Duo Fiber brush.

Full Coverage Foundation

I usually struggle to find an exact color match for my skin tone, but with over 50 shade options, Haus Labs had one that was perfect. The Triclone Skin Tech Foundation is considered medium coverage, but it is plenty for my natural look.

3. Brow Powder

If you were never able to achieve the full, heavy, thick eyebrows of the past decade or so, you’ll be happy to learn that “natural brows” are trending again. And yes, you can leave your brows completely untouched, but if you are over 40, chances are that your brows have thinned with age or over-plucking and you’ll want a little enhancement!

My favorite way to do my brows is to sweep brow powder over my natural brows with my Sigma E65 Small Angle Brush from this brush set.

Powder gives you a more natural look than laminates, gels, pencils, and brow pens.

4. Eye Shadow In Nudes

For my simple, natural makeup routine, I like “nude eyes,” so I use Jane Iredale’s Purepressed Eyeshadows. They are not highly pigmented, so they’re perfect for a minimalist look.

I also bought this Ilia Necessary Eyeshadow Set for more color and a hint of sparkle. I’m wearing the Cool Nudes, but you may want the Warm Nudes if you have warm undertones.

I’ve also heard good things about Merit’s Cream-To-Powder shadow and since I’ve loved their blush, I plan to give the eyeshadow a try!

What if you want to add a little something to your nude eye look? Try a pop of blue or red eyeliner. Or add a few silvery accents to the corners of your eyes.

5. Pencil Eyeliner

I’ve tried a lot of different eyeliners from clean makeup brands and am still searching for one that doesn’t dry out or leave me with raccoon eyes.

My current favorite eyeliners are Jane Iredale’s eye pencils in Black/Brown and Midnight Blue. They’re soft and subtle and easy to apply.

I’ve also used Sephora’s 12-Hour Contour Pencil Eyeliner, which is a bolder eyeline,r but it tends to smudge by the end of the day. So I’ve been using this trick that I learned from @katetalbertmua: spray a little setting spray on your hand, dab your eyeliner in it, and then apply.

I use Caliray’s Surfproof Setting Spray to keep that eyeliner (and the rest of my makeup) in place.

6. Volumizing Mascara

If you never liked heavy, false eyelashes, you’ll be happy to hear that “natural eyelashes” are trending again. And yes, you can go bare, but if your lashes are thinning like mine, you may want a little boost with mascara.

My current daily mascara is Tower 28’s MakingWaves Lengthening + Volumizing Mascara. The tiny curved brush allows me to get close to my lash line. This is an affordable, relatively “clean” mascara, but I have to say that it doesn’t give me as much volume as other mascaras that I’ve used.

I think I prefer Ilia’s Fullest Volumizing Mascar,a which gives me more volume and length but still looks fairly natural.

If you already have a favorite mascara, but need an extra boost, try a mascara primer. I’ve used this PureLash Extender and Conditioner and it gave me a lot more volume and length.

Want a bolder look without the false lashes? Try wearing blue mascara. Maybelline introduced blue mascara in the 70s. It was popular again in the colorful 80s. And now in 2024, we’re seeing it as a pop of color on an otherwise monotone makeup look. On my dark lashes, blue mascara and eyeliner show up as a hint of color. If your hair color is blond or gray, it will give you a bolder look.

7. Blush

I choose my blush color after I do my eye makeup. If I have bolder eye makeup, I might need a bold blush to balance the look. On the other hand, nude eyes might need a pop of cheek color to keep my look interesting.

My favorite blush for my simple, daily makeup routine has been the Merit Flush Balm, which has a natural-looking finish.

I also use the Milk Lip + Cheek Blush Stick when I want a matte finish and a bolder color. My only complaint about Milk Makeup is that it tends to dry out before I finish using it.

What’s trending in the blush world? Since Pantone announced that Peach Fuzz was their color of the year, I’ve been seeing a lot of peach blush. If you have warm undertones in your skin, peach will give you the look of a natural glow. This cheek and eye palette has some lovely peachy colors.

If you have cool undertones like I do, peach will probably not work for you. Skip this trend, and use pinks, mauves and cool browns instead.

Now the buzz around blush is placement. If you are over 40, you probably learned to put blush on the “apples” of your cheeks. Recently, there has been a trend towards placing blush higher to give your face a “lift”. This year, we’re seeing a return of the “apple” placement. My thoughts? Try both. See what suits you.

Related Post | 3 Clean Cream Blush Options For Mature Skin

8. Concealer

I apply my concealer after I do my eye makeup, as I always seem to have a little smudge of mascara or fleck of eyeshadow that I need to clean up under my eyes.

I also have seriously dark circles, so I always need a color corrector (a peach color to neutralize the blue in my dark circles) before I dab on concealer.

I’ve tried many, many, many concealers. The only one that seems to work is Born This Way by Two Faced, which offers a pretty heavy coverage. (They also offer 35 shades, so you’re likely to find a color match).

If you don’t need as much coverage as I do, try Ilia’s TrueSkin Serum or Tula’s Skin Brightening Concealer. I use them when I have a summer tan and my dark circles aren’t as prominent.

Most importantly, choose a brand that offers the exact color that you need. A concealer that is too light, too dark, too warm or too cool will stand out like headlights.

9. Lip Colors

I love experimenting with lip colors from tinted balms to oils to traditional lipsticks. Some of my favorites include:

Lawless Lip Plumping Balm, which gives you just a hint of color.

Ilia Gloss Tinted Lip Oil, which will leave you with a little color even if the gloss wears off.

Haus Labs’ Lip Crayon, which gives you bold color and fits into small handbags.

If you like a bold everyday look, dark colors or bold reds. For my simple, natural makeup routine, I tend to use browns, pinks, and nudes. Update your routine by using your lip pencil to create a distinct outline, and fill your lips with a lighter color for the “ombre lip” look.

Makeup Trends That Are Simple

Trends don’t have to be fleeting. Bolder makeup colors spanned most of the 80s. The grunge look lasted for a few years in the 90s. These are some of the trends that I think will stick around because they’re classic and easy:

Monochromatic Makeup

The monochromatic look matches your eye makeup to your blush and lipstick i.e., all brown, all pink, or all peach. If you’ve seen the “Tomato Girl”, “Latte Look”, “Strawberry Makeup”, or “Barbiecore” trends on social media, you know what I mean. If you include a multi-tasking product like the Merit Flush Balm in your makeup routine, it will be quite simple to create these natural monochromatic looks!

Natural With A Pop Of Color

Keep your makeup natural looking with nude and clear makeup, but add a pop of color to either your eyes (blue liner or mascara) or lips (like a bold red).

90s Glam

The 90s were all about subtle glamor with natural-looking brows, brown eyeshadows, flushed cheeks, and lined lips with a touch of gloss.

There are many, many more trending looks in makeup, but these are the ones that are simple, natural, and easy to include in your daily makeup routine!

Let me know below which of these steps you include in your daily makeup routine. Did I miss a product that you love? Let me know in the comments below!