"No-Makeup Makeup Thread"

[Anonymous]

I admit I am starting this for selfish reasons. I do love makeup but I don't have the courage ( yet ) to wear it out. This may be a way for me to wear makeup and I may be the only one who knows. Would love to hear your comments, advice, or anything you may want to contribute

[Anonymous]

Thanks @Aaliaa   I am really loving it here too. I can't believe how fabulous everyone is. I am very appreciative.

[fieldsofclover]

Blush:

There's no"stealth" way to wear blush. Do not pass Go, haha.

BUT! Bronzer *totally* works. It's important to buy the right shade for your skin tone, so it doesn't look muddy. The right bronzer is a stealth-makeup rock star, especially from about May-November.

Nowadays people are more into contouring than bronzer... but to fly under the radar, the old-fashioned map (applying in areas where the sun hits) is far more natural-looking.

Spoiler

Bronzer face chart for short hair. For long hair, omit the neck and sides of face near the ears. For very short hair, dust the tops of the ears also.

[nayhogan]

I also use bronzer as a blush! But to add on to this, I've found that using a liquid lipstick (one that compliments your skin tone of course) as a blush by dabbing a dot on each cheek and then blending outwards with your finger gives a very natural flushed look, I do this and love the subtle doll-like appearance it gives me. My "no-makeup" makeup look always consists of mascara, brushing my brows with a spoolie and hair gel, then using a liquid lipstick as blush. Sometimes I will add a very light highlight to my cheekbones and cupids bow.

[Anonymous]

@nayhogan  Does this approach look like you are wearing makeup except for the mascara ?

[nayhogan]

No not at all, just makes you look a little flushed (as long as you're using a matte liquid lipstick, nothing glossy or glittery), like maybe you went for a light jog, or came inside from a brisk day. 

[Anonymous]

@nayhogan  Sounds pretty good. Looks like there is a lot to try.

[Anonymous]

Thanks for the map that will help. @fieldsofclover  The bronzer is a powder correct?

[fieldsofclover]

@Anonymous Usually they're powders, yes. If you're steering clear of foundation, a gel or stick-type bronzer would be fine too if you find one in a good shade that doesn't have weird glitter or anything in it. With that type you would rub a bit on, then just blend it in with your fingers.

[Anonymous]

Right now everything is still on the table . I did research some tinted lip balms and found one called Burt's Bees that might work. I am assuming that I would "not" use foundation and bronzer ?  Sorry for all the questions.  @fieldsofclover

[fieldsofclover]

@Anonymous It can just be hard to control cream products on top of liquids, and cream or gel on top of powder usually makes a mess. Layering powders is the most foolproof way to stack multiple products, is all.

Bear in mind too that all the suggestions I'm giving in this thread skew on the conservative side... I want you (and any lurkers reading this, hello lurkers!) to be able to use your best judgement, put on a few things you like, and go out into the world feeling totally confident and safe, NOT worrying about getting clocked. You can always add more, mix it up, etc as you get to know what you like... I just want any "stealth mode settings" I put out there to reduce stress, not add to it ☺️

[Anonymous]

@fieldsofclover that is the plan a couple at a time. And you are not adding any stress at all. Sometimes I am my worst enemy. I am in your debt. Thanks

[fieldsofclover]

Base:

Honestly, none of us ever found a way to wear foundation and concealer that would pass the 8-inches-away test. Cosmetics technology has definitely advanced since the 90s, but it's still going to live or die on how flawless your application technique is. Tinted moisturizer might be an idea, but some of them can still streak a bit depending on the brand.

One great thing we didn't have back in the day that exists now is mattifying moisturizers... the "pore-blurring" ones often have weird micro-sparkles in them, so just look for the regular oil-control kind.

Powder did work... the headmaster-proof way was to take a tissue (the really cheap, papery 1-ply kind), put it on your face after moisturizing but before doing your eyes, and powder over the tissue. That way only the really fine particles made it onto your skin, and wasn't enough to settle into your pores but was pretty evenly distributed. A mattifying moisturizer might make this unnecessary now, or you might like how it works over the top of one. Being *too* matte will draw attention too, though, so use your own judgement here.

[fieldsofclover]

@Anonymous  Yay, you made a thread for this!

Like I mentioned in the other thread, I grew up in a culture that strongly discouraged makeup and "adornment" in general, so my friends and I all honed the finer points of this... since having someone be 8 inches away, peering at your face, and *still* not sure whether you really were wearing makeup or not, was the main thing that was keeping us all from getting suspended at school!

So all my tips here are specifically about the, I dunno, subgenre of "stealth" makeup... things a person can wear and do without getting made or outed, since the rules and products are a little different (and the stakes are higher) than the everyday no-makeup makeup I slap on nowadays when I'm in a hurry or don't want to look overdone at brunch.

[Loretta55]

@Anonymous For lighter coverage in a foundation you may want to try Dr Jart Cicapear Tiger Grass Color Correcting Cream. Some of the BIC ladies have mentioned that they like to wear this during the weekend when they desire lighter coverage. To darken your eyelashes without using mascara you may want to research lash perm and lash dying. This would be done at a beauty salon or spa. Keep in mind I was quoted $100.00 for the lash perm and $25.00 to dye my eyelashes but it would look most natural.

[Guessgal]

@Loretta55  This is a neat concept. How long did your lash perm and dye last? Did anyone compliment your lashes/notice a difference?

[fieldsofclover]

@Guessgal I haven't done it in a while, but my lash tints cost $35 and last about 6 weeks. At the salon I go to (I only see June Jaffee if I'm getting brows/lashes professionally done) there is a "natural black" and a more blue-black color to choose from. My natural lashes are pretty light, so when I was coloring my hair dark it was fantastic, since it gave me the option to skip makeup/mascara without looking weirdly naked.

[Anonymous]

So I am assuming that this is not for me. @fieldsofclover @Guessgal @Loretta55

[fieldsofclover]

@Anonymous I think you could, if you decided you want to drop the coin on it. The "natural black" at my salon was a brownish black color... it's likely they had a dark brown also and just didn't bother advertising it.

What keeps it natural-looking is that your lashes retain some natural shine, and the process adds no length or volume. If you're blond, it will create the *illusion* of longer lashes since blond hair tends to be naturally lighter at the ends, and tinting them all one color makes the ends less invisible.

Because of the way lashes grow, there aren't weird or obvious "roots" as they grow out... your lashes as a whole will just gradually change back to your natural color as the old lashes naturally shed and new ones grow in without the tint. Outside of clear mascara, it's probably the most stealth-natural enhancement you could try (as long as you don't pick a blue-black shade).

You definitely want a good tech to do it, though, so don't just go to any old shop... read Yelp reviews, etc to make sure you'll be in good hands. Any shop that has a couple years of good reviews for lash extensions should be fine.

[Anonymous]

@fieldsofclover  This is really something to think about. Could be a big step

[Loretta55]

@Guessgal I only dyed my eyelashes twice about 27 years ago. It only lasted 6 weeks. Back then you could only do it every 6 months. That number is still the same per my Devacurl stylist. Today you could dye your eyelashes every 8 weeks. I never had a lash perm done but I was told that it should last at least 3 months. 

Unfortunately, I suffer from dry eyes so I will just continue with mascara. I highly recommend researching these procedures before committing to either procedure.

[Guessgal]

Thank you ladies for indulging my curiosity @Loretta55 @fieldsofclover! I'll stick to mascara for now, but it's nice to know there are other options out there 🙂