Natural Beauty

Beauty

Be a natural beauty

Declare your independence from heavy makeup! For your prettiest summer face, lighten up with tips from celebrity pros.

By Roopika Malhotra

From the July 2009 Issue

Reveal gorgeous skin

To even your complexion without masking its true tone, use a water-based tinted moisturizer that's semimatte, rather than one with shimmer, says Rachel Goodwin, a makeup artist for Chanel in Los Angeles who counts Penélope Cruz as a client. Need more coverage? Blend a dime-sized drop of foundation with a dollop of lotion. "This mix hides flaws but is still translucent," Goodwin says.

Rev up rosiness

Get a healthy glow with a sheer cream blush, which melts seamlessly into skin. To find the most flattering shade, pinch cheeks and choose a color that mimics your lit-from-within warmth. Using the tips of your index and middle fingers, pat product on the apple of cheeks in a circular motion. "It delivers an instant pick-me-up to skin that doesn't seem clownish," says Napolean Perdis, a makeup artist in L.A. who works with Debra Messing.

Soften eyes

Give smoky liners a vacation: Curl lashes, then sweep a coat of dark-brown mascara from roots to ends. "Chocolate hues are more natural than jet black, especially if you've got blonde or red hair," says Jillian Dempsey, global creative color director for Avon in L.A. If your fringe is already dark and full (lucky you!), simply dab a small amount of petroleum jelly on tips for extra gloss. Want more oomph? Tap a brown cream shadow along your upper lash line for a bit of definition.

Brighten your smile

Applying stains topped with a swipe of tinted lip balm is the easiest way to create that just-ate-berries effect. For the most authentic results, match the shade to the inside of your lips. "That's the color that will be the most complimentary and wearable on you," says Dempsey, Kate Winslet's go-to expert. Now you're ready for your close-up!