The Natural Makeup Menu

After posting about my Matte Makeup Menu here, which I loved writing and many of you seemed to love reading, I thought I'd start a makeup menu series of my favourite makeup looks and the products I use. I know right, me - start a series? Many have started and failed, but I'm determined to keep this one up!

Most of the time I go for quite a natural look - I don't bother applying lots of makeup for work (I'd rather spend longer in bed) and I tend to save a more detailed, dramatic look for parties or nights out. This is my current Natural Makeup Menu for a fresh faced, almost "no makeup makeup" look.

Base

I love full coverage foundation, but there are days where I just feel like I need to give my skin a bit of break. This is when I'll reach for the Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream in Ivory, which contains 3 colour correcting pigments for a fresh, radiant finish. It feels very light on the skin but gives surprisingly good coverage. 

When it comes to concealer there's two that fit my "natural" bill. For dark circles I've been loving the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer in Light, which not only neutralises the darkness but adds brightness too. Where there's redness from spots or scarring, the Seventeen 18 Hour Stay Time Concealer in Extra Fair (review) is brilliant yet budget friendly. It's super creamy yet thinner in consistency than its Collection rival, so looks much more natural on the skin. Plus the shade Extra Fair is one of the palest I've come across. 

I always finish my base with a powder, usually one that adds some colour, but there's an even more natural way to set my foundation and concealer and prevent shine. Enter theBalm's Sexy Mama Anti-Shine Translucent Powder (review). I love this stuff; it's lasted me for ages, it's affordable and it's talc free! In the pan it does have colour to it, but once on the skin it disappears without a trace.

Cheeks

For a seamless, glowing-from-within finish on the cheeks I always turn to the Daniel Sandler Watercolour Fluid Blusher in Cherub (review), which has a liquid formula. The pink shade is light but dusky and can be easily layered for a more intense finish. I like to use the Real Techniques Stippling Brush to apply this, as it really enables me to work it into my skin.

Eyes

Natural makeup is all about simplicity, so for eyes I ditch the eyeliner and stick to a neutral eyeshadow and lengthening mascara. The No7 Stay Perfect Shade and Define in Cool Mink is a fantastic eyeshadow stick in a shimmery, taupe-brown, which is creamy, long lasting and adds a subtle brightness to the eyes. In the photo the swatch looks quite dark in colour, however if you apply with a very light hand or blend the shadow out from the centre with your finger, it looks much more sheer. I then finish with the Claudia Louch Lashware Mascara*, which appropriately is 94% natural and doesn't contain any fibres, plastics or sealers. This lengthens my lashes without adding too much volume, so they look enhanced rather than coated.

Brows

I do like to fill my brows in for added colour and definition, but when I just want them to look neat and tidy, my go-to product is the Maybelline Brow Drama Sculpting Mascara in Dark Blond (review). It adds a little bit of colour and smoothes my brows into place.

Lips

One of the best magazine freebies I've ever come across has to be the mini Clinique Chubby Stick in Woppin' Watermelon, which was out with Glamour last summer. Whoppin' Watermelon is a pretty raspberry pink shade that isn't too pigmented nor too sheer, adding a subtle wash of colour to the lips while keeping them soft and moisturised.

What products are on or would be on your natural makeup menu? If there's a specific makeup menu you'd love to see a post on in the future, please let me know in the comments below.

Beauty Bird xx

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