Nude Makeup: Forget the No-Makeup Look and Do This Instead

Even though the Internet is currently obsessed with bright, poppy eyeshadow and bold makeup looks, we have to take a collective moment for the nude makeup looks that have always held us down. A nude lip ties any makeup look together, and the naked eyeshadow shadow look makes you appear instantly more awake. To get the scoop on the best nude makeup looks to rock right now, we tapped makeup guru Alana Dawn, pro-makeup artist and YouTuber.

Peep her advice, ahead:

The Basics: Foundation

Step 1: Rub a lightweight moisturizer over skin from forehead to neck. Hydrated skin allows for perfect, even makeup application. Try L’Oréal Paris Hydra Genius

Step 2: Use a skintone-matching concealer to hide any imperfections, acne spots or dark circles around the eyes and nose. Use a thin concealer brush to dot on cream then blend gently and lightly till the area is covered. Try La Roche-Posay Toleriane Teint Corrective Pens

Step 3: Blend a dime-size amount of a skintone-matching foundation over skin, being sure to smooth it down below your chin and back to your hairline so there are no visible lines or discolorations. Use a foundation blush or makeup blending sponge for the most even application. Try La Roche-Posay Toleraine Teint Mattifying Mousse Foundation

Step 4: If your skin tends to be oily, use a large powder brush to dust lightly with a translucent loose powder to set your concealer and foundation in place. Try Dermablend Setting Powder If you’re not oil-prone, feel free to skip this step.

Step 5: Use your ring finger to gently blend an eyeshadow primer over your lids. Squeeze out a pea-sized amount and split that amount between both lids. Try Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion.

Look #1: True Nude

Use foundation steps 1-5 (listed up top). 

Step 6: With an eyeshadow brush, dust a taupe-colored eye shadow all the over the lids (from inner to outer corners) and into the crease. Try Maybelline New York 24K Nudes Eyeshadow Palette

Step 7: Use a medium brown eye pencil to gently dot between lashes, creating a thin line of color, and giving the illusion of thicker lash line. Repeat on the bottom lashes from outer corners to the middle of the bottom lash lines.

Step 8: In a brow-hair matching shade, use a fiber brow formula to sweep color from the inner edge of your brow to the tail. Then use a brow brush to blend the color into brows so they look full and defined. Try Maybelline New York Brow Precise Fiber Volumizer

Step 9: Curl lashes with a eyelash curler, then sweep 2-3 coats of dark brown mascara on top lashes, and one coat on bottom lashes. Try Lancôme Grandiôse Extrȇme

Step 10: Line lips with a flesh-toned, nude lip liner and follow with a peachy-nude lip gloss. Try Lancôme Le Crayon in Nude,

RELATED: The Right Nude Makeup Shades for Every Skin Tone

Look #2: Brown Nude

Use foundation steps 1-5 (listed up top).

Step 6: In a brow-hair matching shade, use a eyebrow pencil to make short hair-like strokes from the inner edge of your brow to the tail. Then use a brow brush to blend the color into brows so they look full and defined. Try NYX Eyebrow Powder Pencil

Step 7: Sweep a champagne eye shadow from inner to outer corners of eyes and into creases. Step 8: Use the same shade to dust lightly under lower lashes from inner corner to the middle of the lash line. Try NYX Lid Lingerie

Step 9: With an eyeshadow brush, apply an espresso-colored shadow from the middle of the upper lid to the outer corner of the eye and into the crease. Blend it well so it looks smoky. Try YSL Couture Mono Eyeshadow in Fougue

Step 10: Use the same shadow to blend under lower lashes from the middle of the eye to the outer corners.

Step 11: Use a rich brown eyeliner to line both upper and lower lash lines from the middle of the eye to the outer corners.

Step 12: Curl lashes and apply 1-2 coats of black mascara to both upper and lower lashes. YSL The Shock Mascara

Step 13: Dust a peach powder blush along cheekbones and back to hairline. Try L’Oreal Paris Infallible Paints Blush

Step 14: Prime lips but using a lip exfoliator to gently slough off any dry, dead skin cells.

Step 15: Take a rich, brown matte lip cream and apply it to the lips, leaving the center lighter for a subtle, ombré effect.Try NYX Lip Lingerie in Teddy

Step 16: Use a lipstick-matching lip liner to retrace lips so they have a precise line around the perimeter of the mouth.

Look #3: Pink Nude

Repeat foundation steps 1-5.

Step 6: In a brow-hair matching shade, use a eyebrow pencil to make short hair-like strokes from the inner edge of your brow to the tail. Then use a brow brush to blend the color into brows so they look full and defined. Try NYX 3-In-1 Brow Pencil.

Step 7: Brush the entire lid (from lashline to brows, and from inner to outer corners of the eyes), with a light, matte tan powder shadow. Try Urban Decay Naked3 Palette

Step 8: Go overtop of the tan shadow, from lashline to creases, with a shimmery pinkish-nude eye shadow.

Step 9: Use a brown eye pencil to define just the “v” at outer corners of the eyes. Lightly smudge to soften the effect.

Step 10: Curl lashes and apply 1-2 coats of black mascara to upper lashes only.

Step 11: Sweep a soft rose or mauve-toned blush onto the apples of cheeks and lightly along cheekbones. Try Maybelline New York FaceStudio Master Blush Kit

Step 12: Blend a pale pink lip liner over lips, then use it to define the lip line.

Step 13: Swipe on a soft pink lipstick and dab it with a tissue. Layer on a nude lip gloss for a more toned-down look. Try L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Lip Color Timeless Rosé, Urban Decay Naked Ultra Nourishing Lipgloss in Nooner

Need more inspo? Check out the tutorials, ahead: 

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Which nude makeup look you’re most interested in trying? Tell us in the comments below.