10 Takes on No-Makeup Makeup at New York Fashion Week

Jason Wu
Makeup Artist Diane Kendal used Lancôme products like a pinky coral blush and a tinted lid primer—Aquatique Waterproof Eyecolour Base in Sienne ($26)—to make the models look alive. But there was no lip color in sight! Instead she used L’Absolue Rouge in La Base ($30). Essentially, fancy lip balm. Imaxtree

By Joanna Douglas, Senior Editor 
Yahoo Beauty, Sep 11, 2014

How many ways can a makeup artist interpret no-makeup makeup? There’s the fresh-faced flush, with sheer color on the cheeks and lips. There’s the absence of color, with concealer pressed on eyelids and lips. Or the rosy look, with shades of pink dusted over eyes, lips, and cheeks. Whichever way you like it, nude is the word on spring’s runways.

Nearly all of the top-tier makeup artists working backstage welcome the minimal approach (even if it doesn’t necessarily mean less work for them). “Easy is the big thing this season,” Gucci Westman said at rag & bone. “It’s less complicated and more real.” Backstage at Marc by Marc Jacobs, Diane Kendal agreed that spring will be a time of simplicity. “Natural makeup always looks good,” she said. “It’s modern and contemporary to go nude.” At Rodarte, James Kaliardos used a new, your-lips-but-better Nars Audacious Lipstick called Barbara ($32). “It’s the perfect lip color,” he said. “I could wear it and you wouldn’t know.”

Rebecca Minkoff
To accompany the bohemian vibe of the collection, Sarah Lucero applied Stila products for a pinky, peachy glow. All Over Shimmer Powder in Kitten ($22) kept the look from being too flat, while Color Balm Lipstick in Vivienne ($22) livened up the lips just a smidge. And wow, is that mascara?! OK, fine, it was just a hint on the top lashes.

Of course, these are runway trends we’re talking about—so take them with a grain of salt. It might look chic to parade 30 women down a runway without a stitch of color on their face, but there’s nothing wrong with livening up your face with a pinch of blush or a sweep of mascara. The real message here is to be comfortable with your natural look, and know when and how to enhance your best assets. So whether you prefer going bare or faking perfect skin with a few products, here’s how the pros have been doing the natural look all week.