Achieving the Natural Look

You've seen those women who look like they have plastic faces; it's obvious they have makeup on and often it doesn't look too great. When you apply makeup you want it to look natural and natural doesn't necessarily mean look like you don't have makeup on, but you don't want your makeup to be the first thing people notice. One of the keys to achieving the natural look is to buy the right cosmetics and to utilize a few simple application techniques.

Choose cosmetics that match your skin tone and complement it. A darker foundation, deeper eye shadow colors, and darker shades of eyeliner will all look great on olive or chocolate skin. If on the other end you have a fair skin tone, buy makeup in lighter tones—lighter foundation, lighter eye shadows, and lighter eyeliner or mascara will all work to enhance your features. When you use cosmetics fit for your skin tone you will complement and enhance your features rather than washout or overpower it.

It's worth it to invest in good makeup. I know good makeup can get pricey, especially if you buy it all at once, but you won't regret it. If you have good, quality makeup, your face will look good and quality. However if you're trying to save money, you could incur cost on your complexion and overall look. Cheap makeup looks cheap on your skin; it can cake on there and make you look plastic rather than beautiful.

Remember, also, that cheap doesn't mean "inexpensive." You can find some great deals at department stores on great makeup, but avoid the cheap, low-quality makeup; don't buy makeup for the sole reason that it doesn't cost a lot. Buy it for its quality and for how it makes you look.

When you apply your makeup, use soft strokes and more natural makeup colors. The colors you use don't have to be bland or colorless, but should be natural enough so that when applied correctly they enhance your features. Enhancement is the key concept to keep in mind when applying your makeup. You want people to focus on your face instead of on the makeup that you wear.

Achieving the natural look is completely subjective because everyone's natural look is slightly different from everyone else's. Your skin is so individualized and so these tips should be so individualized. No rule regarding what kind of cosmetics to buy is hard and unchanging. Now you know to work with your skin instead of changing it, cosmetics will be a breeze!