The essence of the no-makeup makeup look is in its subtlety. It's a minimalist approach of applying makeup so that it appears as though you're hardly wearing any. This look is a favorite of ours at Jones Road as it underscores what we’re all about: enhancing your natural beauty and not covering it up.

Mastering the no-makeup makeup look requires understanding your skin and using products that align with your skin tone, skin type, and any concerns you may have. Let’s talk about perfecting your approach and what products you should be looking for to get started.

A Clean Complexion

If you’re aiming for a natural, no-makeup look with products, it’s especially important to take care of your bare skin. The smoother, clearer, and better nourished your complexion is, the more easily it will lend itself to a no-makeup look.

To master your routine, understanding your skin type—whether dry, oily, or a combination of both—will help you choose the right products for a flawless, effortless look.

Dry skin, for instance, often craves moisturizing and hydrating products to maintain a dewy, healthy glow. A moisturizer infused with hyaluronic acid, jojoba oil, or any other hydrating skincare routine can help bring out your skin’s natural radiance. 

Conversely, if you have oily skin, focus on skincare, like matte and oil-control products, that helps balance and regulate your skin's oil production. 

Skin type isn't just about oiliness or dryness, though. It also involves understanding any sensitivities your skin may have, like blemishes or redness. If you have dark circles under your eyes, for example, an eye cream is a must-have in your nightly routine.

Beyond skin type, achieving the no-makeup look also requires an understanding of your skin tone. This will guide you in the selection of products such as bronzer, tinted moisturizer, or concealer that will complement and enhance, rather than conceal, your natural skin tone. 

You’ll want to search for products that give your complexion a natural, effortless boost instead of those that might cover up your natural coloring, so you can draw attention to your skin.

(Up top, Daniella is wearing The 101 Set, which includes The Face Pencil, Miracle Balm, and The Mascara.)

Creating a Skincare Routine for the No-Makeup Makeup Look

A good skincare routine creates the perfect canvas for minimal makeup. It brightens, plumps, and evens out your complexion, reducing the need for full-coverage foundation or concealer. 

1. Exfoliate

Start with gentle exfoliation to reveal fresh, glowing skin underneath. This helps to remove dead skin cells that can cause dullness and an uneven texture. 

Chemical exfoliants are great for this, especially Alpha Hydroxy Acids, which can help to loosen the bond between your skin cells, making it easy to slough away anything that may be deadening and dulling your natural glow. Be gentle, though, as over-exfoliating can do more harm than good. If you have sensitive skin, consult with a dermatologist; they can make recommendations for products and practices you can slowly and gently incorporate into your routine.

2. Cleanse

Cleanse your skin once in the morning and once in the evening. It’s important to do this to avoid breakouts, blemishes, and other concerns related to your skin texture and tone. 

Our Cleansing Stick is a travel-friendly solid oil cleanser that dissolves makeup and removes impurities without stripping your skin of its necessary oils. It’s gentle enough to use twice a day and will reveal a clean, nourished base for the next steps.

3. Moisturize

Hydrating products can make your skin look and feel plump and dewy, reducing the need for color-correcting products or glowy makeup like highlighter. Look out for moisturizing creams rich in essential oils and nourishing components like hyaluronic acid. Even if you have oily skin, it’s important to moisturize regularly; if that’s the case, consider a lighter, oil-free option. 

And don't forget the lips. Regularly using a dense, cushiony lip balm (like The Lippie Stick) ensures that your lips are well-moisturized, smooth, and ready for a hint of lip gloss or a dab of lip color.

Above, Morgan is wearing: 

Oil-Free Moisturizer, What The Foundation in Honey, The Face Pencil in Shade 17, and Cool Gloss 

4. Protect

For the final step of your skincare routine, use sunscreen with high SPF—even on cloudy days. This helps to protect your skin from harmful UV rays, which can lead to premature aging, dark spots, and an uneven skin tone.

What Makeup Do You Need for a No-Makeup Look?

Now that you have your skincare routine, let's move on to the makeup. The no-makeup makeup look requires minimalist, buildable products that enhance your features subtly. 

Some essential products are key for this look. These items are versatile and blend easily, providing the natural, effortless look we are striving for.

Skin Tint

Rather than using a full-coverage foundation, you will want your skin’s natural texture and details—like freckles or beauty marks—to be visible through your makeup. In other words, to truly achieve the no-makeup makeup look, skip the foundation. 

If you find yourself hesitating at the idea, that’s okay. Our What The Foundation is easy to build; just use a light hand to apply a delicate layer, only in areas that could use extra coverage or balancing out.  

But if you’re up for keeping things minimal and ultra-lightweight, our finely milled Tinted Face Powder provides some color correction (and can be used to set foundation as well). Or, consider our Gel Bronzer, a sheer, lightweight skin tint that adds a sun-kissed glow. 

Concealer

Keep a lightweight concealer on hand for areas that require additional coverage, like under-eye circles or blemishes. The concealer should blend easily and match your skin tone so it seamlessly conceals without looking heavy or cakey. 

If you want a brightening effect without sacrificing your no-makeup look, try a concealer that’s a shade or so lighter than your natural skin tone but in the same color family as far as neutral, warm, or cool goes.

Our Face Pencil is perfect for those little touch-ups and pick-me-ups. It helps to cover redness, dark spots, discoloration, and can even brighten dark under-eye circles while remaining all but undetectable once it’s applied.

Blush

A cream or liquid blush is essential to give your face a bit of color and depth. It should blend effortlessly into the skin, giving a natural, sun-kissed appearance without looking overly done. 

For this step, our Miracle Balm is perfect for giving your face a little bit of energy without looking like you’re wearing anything at all.

It adds a bit of soft-focus moisture to your skin, helping to perfect your complexion while offering you a healthy radiance from its light-reflecting capabilities. It’s available in nine colors, but Dusty Rose, Flushed, or Miami Beach suit most complexions, depending on your color preference. 

If you used Gel Bronzer as your first step, you may not want, or need, to add additional color. But to add more dimension to your already glowy base, try a soft pink wash of color on the cheeks, with The Best Blush.

Brow Gel

A brow gel (like ours) can add fullness and depth to your brows. A clear gel keeps the look natural, while a tinted gel can add more definition. While you won’t want to do a heavily defined brow for a no-makeup look, keeping your brows neat and shapely is important because it has a huge influence on your overall appearance.

Rowan is wearing:

What The Foundation in Fair, The Face Pencil in Shade 05, The Brow Gel in Blonde, The Best Pencil in Brown, The Best Blush in Sandy, and Miracle Balm in Golden Hour 

Mascara

Mascara is used to open up the eyes and make them look more awake. The Mascara lengthens and defines without clumping or smudging. It comes in inky Pitch Black—just one swipe beautifully defines your lashes without overpowering your eyes, and if you want to dial up the intensity, add another coat or two.

While mascara alone tends to look more subtle than a look with eyeliner, you don’t have to completely skip eyeliner if you’re committed to it. Use a freshly sharpened pencil—we, of course, love The Best Pencil—to tightline your eyes as close to your lash line as possible so the color settles in seamlessly. (Pro tip: If your coloring is on the fairer side, keep your liner lighter than black.)

Lip Color

For the most die-hard minimalists, a lip balm is all you need to top off the no-makeup makeup look. For some color though, choose a buildable lip tint in a hue that matches your natural lip color. Lip tints will offer a subtle and sheer color payoff that will enhance your natural lip color rather than changing it dramatically..

Natural Has Never Looked So Good

Understanding how to achieve a no-makeup makeup look takes time and a little bit of practice. It’s easy to achieve that natural glow by choosing the right skincare routine, learning about your skin type, and picking the most suitable beauty products. 

And with this tutorial in hand, we’ve given you all of the beauty secrets you need to achieve this look, step-by-step. It's all about embracing the skin you're in and enhancing your natural beauty rather than masking it. 

By making the most out of a minimal makeup routine and focusing on hydration and skin health, a dewy, natural makeup look is within reach. It's more than just a makeup technique—it's about feeling confident and comfortable in your own skin.