Makeup for Men: Best beauty products for that “no makeup” look

Let me preface this post with saying that I personally believe men should feel equally comfortable wearing all the wild and feminine colors that a female would typically be allowed to wear, however this post is specifically being written for men that simply want

Healthy and natural, virtually undetectable makeup.

Let’s start with the facial skin.

Murad’s Skin Perfecting Lotion 1.7 fl oz $35

Murad describes their Skin Perfecting Lotion as:

“This ultra-light, oil-free moisturizer helps blemish-prone skin stay clear and healthy by providing hydration. Minimizes pores, refines texture and soothes redness and irritation for smoother, healthier-looking skin.”

Moisturizing is one of the most important steps in your routine because moist skin is healthy skin. As you get older, skin starts to become more dry. A moisturizer gives you back a youthful healthy dew that makes your skin look supple, refreshed and invisibly hides fine lines in your skin.

Have you ever just gotten out of a shower and your face just felt tight. This will help relax your skin and get rid of any dry flaky spots.

I really like Murad’s Skin Perfecting Lotion particularly for it’s ability to control oil and because it has a a light consistency that I would describe as a cross between a cream and a gel. It feels great on skin, won’t clog pores and is your best bet if you have acne-prone skin.

Tip: Eye creams are a scam. Feel free to use this product around your eyes, but be careful. You definitely don’t want to get moisturizer in your eyes as it will sting and cause your eyes to water.

Next, I would recommend a light touch using

 MAC’s Pro Longwear Concealer 0.3 fl oz $20

Listed by MAC as:

“A lightweight fluid concealer that provides medium to full coverage with a comfortable, natural matte finish. Colour-true formula lasts up to 15 hours. Helps conceal and correct the look of under-eye circles, and discolorations. Comes in a clear glass vial with a matte black pump.”

Now remember, I said with a LIGHT hand. This is for men’s “natural” makeup. Normally I would recommend applying this a little more liberally, however this can build up to be very full coverage and because I’m not recommending this to be used in conjunction with a full face of foundation and other makeup products, it is essential that you apply this sparingly.

I’m only recommending the use of this product for above the eye and just a tad underneath if you suffer from dark circles as I do. For men, try to match with your EXACT skin tone or a shade lighter. If anything, err on a little lighter but never make the mistake of darker. This would be completely redundant and the complete opposite of what we’re trying to achieve.

Apply using your ring finger and corresponding finger from the other hand. If you’re comfortable using another finger, go for it. It’s just what I recommend to start out with.

This product is great because due to its long wearability, you won’t have to worry about this concealer creasing in the fine lines above and under your eyes, thus preventing the need for touch ups throughout the day to prevent people from noticing you’re wearing makeup. (But remember, like I said, use a VERY LIGHT HAND! If you can’t be trusted with a light hand, try MAC’s Select Moisturecover. It can be a little sheerer, is nice and moisturizing, but may need to be checked on after a few hours of wear.)

Next, you’re going to want to set your concealer with

MAC’s Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder/Pressed
0.22 oz $26

“A silky, colourless finishing powder suitable for all skin tones. Reduces shine while optically minimizing the look of lines & imperfections. Wear over makeup or on its own. Now in a pressed compact for ease & portability.This product does not come with a sponge. Applicator sold separately.”

This powder goes on clear, can be used throughout the day to soak up excess oil and will aid in the covert smoothing of the skin for a healthier youthful appearance.

Take a medium to large-sized powder brush and just do a light dusting all over the face and eyes. Be careful not to touch the eyebrows, especially if you had gotten moisturizer on them in the earlier step. The powder will stick to them and make them look a little lighter. (You may like the look though. Sometimes I do.)

After applying the translucent powder, I like to apply

 MAC’s Studio Careblend/Pressed Powder o.35 oz $26

“Formulated to provide a smooth, virtually invisible, fresh-looking finish, this soft, cream-like powder is carefully blended to provide the skin with extra care, nourishment and comfort.”

Now don’t apply this to the entire face. For this look, I like to use this solely as a bronzer. That being said, choose a color that is a shade or two darker than your natural skin tone.

We’re using this product to add a tiny bit of dimension to the face. Without it, a face can look a little flat. This gives a touch of color to this skin without looking overdone. It’s almost as if you’ve spent the day out in sun and caught a subtle tan.

Applying the Prep+Prime Transparent Powder before this step is best because if you apply the Careblend powder directly over the moisturizer it may stick in spots and look splotchy. The translucent powder gives you a dried surface easy to apply and blend powders.

Use a brush like MAC’s 129 Powder/Blush Brush (I will be doing a blog soon about my favorite brushes that are much cheaper alternatives) and apply it around your face. Make sure to hit your temples, just under your cheeks, and I like to do a little over the bridge of my nose.

This powder works great because of it’s silky, easy to blend texture. This will also help with smoothing and evening out skin tone. I highly recommend it.

After giving your face a dusting with Studio Careblend powder, use the exact same powder with a brush shaped like MAC’s 244 Tapered Blending Brush.

Dust this around the eyes ending just barely above the crease. Make sure NOT to go up all the way to the eyebrow.

Also, apply a small amount underneath the bottom eyelashes.

The just-darker-than-your-natural-skintone color applied to these areas will look undetectable but still gives your eyes enough dimension to subconsciously capture a person’s attention.

Now these last two steps are optional, but in my opinion, they are absolutely essential to pulling the look together and creating a complete and sexy, but still professional, appearance.

EYELINER!

Not just any eyeliner, brown eyeliner.

Urban Decay’s 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil in Smog
0.04oz $20

“Created with 50% moisturizing ingredients suspended in a sophisticated waterproof formula, 24/7 Eye Pencils offer long-lasting color and a dreamy, creamy feel when applied. With Jojoba Oil, Vitamin E and Cottonseed Oil.”

Applied only to the waterlines of the eyes, upper and lower, this will give your eyes definition that isn’t too powerful and obvious the way black eyeliner is.

Though you should apply this to the entirety of your waterline, smudge a little extra into the outer 1/4th of your lower eyelashes. It looks nice. Trust me.

Smog by Urban Decay works great not only because it’s velvety-smooth and lasts all day, but it’s color is a soft brown, coppery color that is even less intense than your basic brown. On lazy days, I find that wearing this liner alone can really wake up the face even when I don’t have time to follow all of the other steps.

Then lastly, a touch of mascara.

Tarte’s Lights, Camera, Lashes 4-in-1 Mascara o.24 fl oz $20

“A lengthening, curling, volumizing, and conditioning mascara infused with olive esters to condition, treat, and protect lashes.”

Don’t overdo this step. Remember, we’re trying to go undetectable and this part is easy to take too far.

Simply do one swipe to your upper lashes and then leave it alone!

If you do much more, while your eyelashes will look even nicer, it may become obvious that you’re wearing mascara. For a natural look, all you want is to give your eyelashes a little bit of color without doing to much thickening and lengthening, over-feminizing the eyes.

With this mascara, it’s easy to get that natural look in one coat and you won’t have to worry about smearing, flaking or any of those other pitfalls you may get with a cheap drug store mascara.

So just remember, it’s important to put your best face forward because it may just give you that extra edge.

Take a look at the Nixon/Kennedy election.

“…Kennedy was actually the first to turn down cosmetic help, according to Larry Bird, a Smithsonian curator of political history. “Nixon declined make-up because Kennedy declined,” said Bird. And although declining make-up was probably not a strategic move on Kennedy’s part, some say Nixon’s poor image in that first debate helped push the Democratic nominee over the top in his razor-thin victory.”

Oh! And actually, last but not least, moisturize those lips!!! No one likes dry cracked lips. <3

I’d love to hear about your favorite makeup products for an undetectable made-up look, so let me know in the comments below.