Prelude - Beauty

Barely There

Makeup tricks for an ultra-natural eff ect.

Think you need perfect features, killer cheekbones and flawless skin to sport the no-makeup look? Think again. The secret lies in radiating a bare-faced, just-tumbled-out-of-bed freshness while still managing to hide imperfections and add grown-up polish. Tricky, but not impossible. Makeup artist Robin Manoogian, a 25-year beauty veteran and the owner of About Face Beauty Spa in Royal Oak, Michigan (www.aboutfacebeauty. com), is a longtime devotee of natural glamour and has worked her magic on famous faces from Hillary Clinton to Aretha Franklin. Here, Manoogian provides some choice insider tips for perfecting the barefaced look.

Amazing base

“I never use foundation, even on brides,” says Manoogian, who advises starting out with a sheer tinted moisturizer that lets the natural texture and radiance of skin show through. Good picks are Nuxe Teint Prodigieux Tinted Moisture Gel (www.skin-one.com) and Caudalíe Crème Teintée Tinted Moisturizer (www.caudalieusa.com). “Next, smooth on concealer only where skin is uneven or blotchy.” Manoogian uses a sponge to apply concealer to dark circles under eyes and disguise redness around the edges of the nose. Try e·l·f Tone Correcting Concealer (www.eyeslipsface.com) or Clé de Peau Correcteur Visage Concealer (www.sca.shiseido.com/cledepeau). For blemishes, she dots on a tinted sulfur formulation that heals, absorbs oil and hides.

A great choice is Takouhi Camouflage Sulfur Lotion from Manoogian’s own makeup line.

Natural glow

“I’m hugely into cream or gel blush instead of powder, which can be masky,” Manoogian notes. “Sheer formulations allow light to pass through for a more radiant look.” She dots color onto areas where you’d naturally sunburn—apples of the cheeks, bridge of the nose, tip of the chin and lips—and blends liberally. Check out Tarte Cheekstain (www.tartecosmetics.com), which comes in a range of natural shades.

Dewy eyes

“Use cream shadow as opposed to powder,” advises Manoogian. “Pick one with a little frost—it reflects light beautifully.” She adds: “You can’t go wrong with bronze on any eye.” Some good creamy shadows to try include Stila Shadow Pots in Pearl —a pale, shimmery whipped mousse— or Nars Cream Eye Shadow in Savage, a golden bronze (both available at www.sephora.com). Finish with mascara and a touch of liner on just the lower lid for a very natural effect. To set makeup or freshen up during the day, mist face with Evian Mineral Water Spray (www.drugstore.com) or Jurlique Pure Rosewater Freshener (www.jurlique.com).

Bee-stung lips

The key to finding the most natural-looking lip color, Manoogian says, is to pull open your lower lip and mimic the color inside. A great option is the convenient, dual-wanded Benefit Benetint Pocket Pal, featuring a sheer, rosy lip stain on one end and a clear gloss on the other (www.benefitcosmetics.com).

Words by Christina Kallery