While days spend at the beach or by the pool mean that you want a quick and easy make up routine, it doesn’t mean that you don’t also want to look naturally flawless either. In fact, just a few cosmetic items can really help you look put together and stunning while still looking like you don’t have a drop of make up on your face. Read on for some Tips For Flawless Natural Make Up.

One of the biggest mistakes that people make any time of the year is not properly prepping their skin for make up. Start with freshly cleansed and moisturized skin. Make sure that you are using a facial moisturizer with an SPF of at least 15. Or, mix a small amount of sun block in with your moisturizer of choice. Protecting your skin against the harmful rays of the sun is one of the best ways that you can help keep it looking gorgeous.

Applying a thin layer of foundation primer after your moisturizer is a great step. Primers not only help your make up go on smoother and easier, but they also help it last longer without re-application. This makes them perfect for warm summer days when the last thing you want to do is worry about touching up your make up. My personal favorite is Smashbox Photo Finish Foundation Primer.

While foundation will be too heavy for many occasions, a good tinted moisturizer is great to have on hand. Tinted moisturizers have all the benefits of foundation (evening out your complexion, warding off shine, etc.) while looking completely natural. I’ve heard that Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer is one of the best tinted moisturizers on the market out there. Personally, I prefer to mix liquid foundation with my regular moisturizer. Not only does this ensure that I know how my skin will react to the moisturizer, but it also allows me to customize the coverage level. Want something that’s easy to toss into your purse for touch ups? Pick up Benefit Some Kind-A Gorgeous Foundation Faker. Read my review if you like, but know that I don’t leave home without it.

One item that you should splurge on and not overlook is concealer. Using too little, or too much, concealer can make the difference between looking okay and looking great. Use a brush to cover any blemishes (create an “X” and gently blend for the best coverage), apply concealer to your under eye area, and dab a bit on the sides of your nose. The one concealer that I cannot live without is Benefit Erase Paste (check out my review). This is a brightening concealer, which is great for when you want to stick with minimal make up. It instantly makes your skin look brighter and healthier.

Finish with a light dusting of bronzer on your skin. Apply it only to the areas that are hit first by the sun – your cheek and brow bones, and the bridge of your nose. Never use bronzer on your entire face. Bronzer is quite easy to overdo, and you often see women walking around with faces a darker color than their necks. The key to making it look natural is to use a light hand. Use a large brush for application, gently blow on it to remove excess powder, and swipe it on gently.

A coat or two of mascara can really open up and bring out your eyes. If you want to stick with a natural look, buy a brown or brown-black shade instead of the darkest black that you can find. Combing through your lashes with an eyelash comb before and after application is the best way to separate your lashes and to prevent clumps. My two favorite natural looking mascara’s are Benefit Get Bent Lash Mascara and Maybelline Full ‘ N Soft Mascara. They both create amazing and natural looking lashes.

One product the no girl should ever be without is a great lip gloss. Whether it’s simple and basic Chap Stick or something from Sephora, finding a signature shade is one of the best ways to instantly look pulled together. Mine is NARS Lip Gloss in Orgasm (read my review) because it almost perfectly matches my natural lip color. Other great options, especially for days when you just want to apply and go, are lip stains. Two great ones are Benefit Benetint and Benefit Posietint. These rose and poppy colored stains can be used on both your lips and your cheeks, making them one of the best multi purpose products to have on hand.

With just a handful of items, you can create a flawless and completely natural look. Buy portable sizes and multi purpose products to toss in your purse for quick touch-ups through out the day.

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