My No-Makeup Makeup Routine

I've written many "no-makeup" makeup posts on here before, but it's just one of my favorite looks to create and wear on a daily basis. I like to keep it simple and minimal, enhancing the bits I like and covering up the bits I don't. Although I like to wear this kind of look often, I'm always changing up the products I use and finding new favorites to give me the most natural look possible.

The first product I've been using is actually more of a skincare product than makeup - I go in with the Dr. Jart+ Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment as the last step of my skincare routine. It doesn't add much coverage at all, but the green cream turns into a more beige shade as you rub it into the skin that helps to cancel out redness. This really takes the edge off angry blemishes and my rosy cheeks, meaning I need less concealer afterward. Sheer bases like this are a staple in my no-makeup makeup look because they let your natural skin shine through and won't look like you're wearing anything.

On days I use the Cicapair, I just go straight to concealer rather than adding another foundation/base product. I have a new mix I'm loving: the Glossier Stretch Concealer and the Milk Makeup Flex Concealer. These two have been my favorites for such a long time, so I don't know why I haven't thought of mixing them until now. I just dab a little bit of the Glossier on the spots where I need coverage, draw some of the Milk on over the top of the same areas, and blend it all together with a damp sponge. Both of these formulas are natural, hydrating, and move with the skin, so while they give good coverage, they'll still look like skin and won't crack or cake up throughout the day.

On days I don’t want to look like I’m wearing much makeup, I keep my brows super simple. A few swipes of the Glossier Boy Brow in Brown makes my brows look nice and full, and the pigment is just enough to fill in gaps without looking blocky. I’ve lost count of how many tubes I’ve gone through, but I always need to have about three backups on hand.  

I’ve actually been skipping eye makeup altogether and just giving my eyelashes a quick curl with the Surratt Relevee Eyelash Curler. These give me the most dramatic curl that lasts all day long, even with no mascara on. It makes me look much more awake by just doing this one step. I feel like keeping the eyes bare helps give the illusion that the skin is also bare - just me? 

For cheeks, I use quite a few products to give myself a natural-looking glow. Cream products are key here, as they really melt into the skin and are undetectable. Rather than a dedicated bronzer, lately I’ve been mixing two non-bronzers - Glossier Haloscope in Topaz and Cloud Paint in Dusk. The ultra-warm tones of Topaz mix perfectly with the cooler, pinker vibe of Dusk to make my perfect bronzer shade, and I love the slight glow the Haloscope gives the mixture. If you haven’t tried this mix, I’d highly recommend it. I also use Cloud Paint for my blush pretty much every day, but especially on no-makeup makeup days. They’re just the most natural-looking and easy to use that I’ve ever tried. I’ve been mixing Puff and Beam to get my perfect flush that also helps to warm up and brighten the skin a little. Find a blush (or two) that mimics the color of your natural flush - then it will look like your own skin! 

I can't go a day without highlighter, and for super minimal looks I opt for creamy formulas that have a softer sheen. Right now I'm really loving the Ilia Illuminator in Polka Dots & Moonbeams. It's a pearly shade that adds just a hint of glow, and there are deeper shades, too, so pick one that will look like your skin's natural sheen. I love how easily it glides on, and it instantly melts into the skin with just a few taps to blend it in. This definitely isn't a "visible from space" beaming highlight, but it's perfect for everyday.

Lastly for lips, I like to choose something comfortable, easy to reapply, and in a shade that matches/slightly enhances my natural lip color. For the past few months my favorite one to reach for has been the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb. It's the prettiest rosy nude that looks good on absolutely everyone, the formula is comfortable and not sticky, and it stays put so well for a gloss. It gives a glassy sheen, and the slight sparkle in it really enhances the look of the lips. It's always a favorite for sure.

What are your top picks for a no-makeup makeup look?

This was a Glossier-heavy post (they do make the most perfect minimal makeup products), so I thought I'd plug my rep link again - you can get 20% off your first order by shopping through glossier.com/reps/kelsey. I make a small commission on orders through my link.

This post contains affiliate links.

New In | Skincare

There's a fair bit of new skincare that's landed on my doorstep lately. Now that I've gotten the chance to try most of it, I thought I'd go through some quick first impressions of how I'm getting on with it so far. I'm kicking my skincare game into high gear now - the wedding is less than four months away, so I'm trying hard to strike a balance of finding a routine my skin loves but also finding the perfect products to treat any issues.

Renee Rouleau Skincare | I definitely put off making this order for too long. Last May when I went to New York with Glossier, Emily Ferber was talking about how great the Anti-Cyst Treatment was, and ever since then it's been in the back of my mind to buy it. I finally bit the bullet and also got the Rapid Response Detox Masque. So far my skin is loving these. The mask works to both stop acne in its tracks (thanks to tea tree oil and salicylic acid) and calm inflammation with Chinese licorice and allantoin. I've never used a mask like this - it's a cooling gel texture that actually hydrates the skin while it heals acne. I've used it a few times so far and each time, my breakouts have become less pronounced. It's definitely one I'll keep up with, as it's supposed to help prevent acne, too. The Anti-Cyst Treatment is right up my alley, too - most of the breakouts I get are cystic. It's a thin gel that treats inflammation and clears pores using Ethyl Lactate, Methyl Gluceth 20, and Citric Acid. This has also been making a difference in my skin, and spots have been clearing up more quickly than usual.

REN Skincare | REN sent me a lovely package to amp up my skin's glow a few weeks ago, and I've finally gotten the chance to try the products out. I've been loving their new Ready Steady Glow AHA Tonic - I haven't tested it as extensively as I tested Glossier Solution, but I'm working on it. So far, it seems to be a little better for my dry skin than Solution was - I find I can use it all over my face. It was working really well to clear out my pores and keep my skin smooth, too. I will keep you posted! They also sent their Wake Wonderful Night-Time Facial, which I had tried a sample of when it first launched. I had forgotten how much I liked it. It can be used as an all-in-one treatment after cleansing, left on overnight to hydrate and exfoliate the skin. It's not quite moisturizing enough on its own for me to do that, but I like to use it once or twice a week when I do my skincare routine early in the evening. I cleanse, tone, and apply this product, and then I give it a few hours to do its thing. Then before bed I add additional moisturizers/oils. It makes my skin incredibly smooth and a lot clearer the next morning.

Curology | So, I've stopped using the acids mentioned above for a bit, because I've moved onto testing Curology. They contacted me for a collaboration, so I'm going to be using it for a few months and documenting my results! I'm on my second week, and so far it's made my skin purge a lot. They're starting to clear now, so I'm still hopeful. Curology is a subscription service you begin by taking a quiz about your skin concerns, and you are then paired with a dermatologist. They create a custom blend of prescription ingredients that gets delivered to you monthly/bimonthly. My blend is 0.25% Zinc Pyrithione, 1% Clindamycin, and 4% Niacinamide. I've been keeping the rest of my skincare pretty bland and gentle while using this until my skin gets used to it.

Joanna Vargas Skincare | Another facialist's brand I've been dying to try - when the JV Skincare team reached out to me I was so excited. They sent me the Daily Serum, which I've been loving so far. It 100% feels like a shot of green juice for your face because it contains chlorophyll and oat grass juice. It also has Vitamins A, C, E, and F to give the skin a glow and increase firmness and elasticity. This is the ultimate morning serum for me - it really wakes my skin up and helps to keep it hydrated and glowing all day. I've also been sent the Dawn Face Masks, but haven't had a chance to try them yet!

Urban Outfitters Beauty | Recently I was sent a super generous box of beauty products new to Urban Outfitters, and I dove right in. The products I've tried so far are the Pixi Rose Tonic, the Huxley Secret of Sahara Oil Essence, and the I Dew Care Sugar Kitten Mask. The Pixi Rose Tonic is something I was dying to try when it came out, just because I love the Glow Tonic so much. The Rose Tonic feels beautiful and refreshing on the skin, and I've been reaching for it most mornings either after cleansing or in place of cleansing. The Huxley Oil Essence has quickly become a new favorite morning staple. It has a serum-like consistency, so I've been using it more as a serum step. It uses Sahara Cactus Seed Oil as well as quinoa and acai berry to deeply hydrate and soothe the skin. It's made a great addition to my morning routine and has been keeping my winter skin in track. The Sugar Kitten Mask has been a super fun one to use - it's a peel-off mask that's meant to hydrate the skin, and it's the prettiest green color that dries down to a holographic lavender shade. I do feel like my skin is more hydrated after use, but this is one I'm loving purely for the "skintertainment."

What new skincare bits have you been trying lately?

Some products mentioned have been sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

The New DIY Masks | Dr. Jart+ Shake & Shot Rubber Masks

When it comes to skincare, one of my favorite brands is Dr. Jart+. I'm already a huge fan of their Ceramidin and Cicapair lines, so when they sent along their brand new Shake & Shot Rubber Masks I was so excited to try them. I had previously tried another brand's version of these DIY rubber masks with disastrously messy results, so I kept my fingers crossed that these would be better.

The Dr. Jart+ Rubber Masks are a two-part system that you mix together to create one of four rubber modeling masks. The four masks are Brightening, Soothing, Hydrating, and Firming. Each cup contains the same "base" pouch with a gel-like liquid inside, and a pack of a more watery fluid contains the brightening/hydrating/etc ingredients. The idea is that you pour both packs into the cup, put the lid on and cover the hole on top, and shake until mixed. This makes it super easy and cuts down on the mess. Once mixed, you simply apply it in a thick layer on your face with the provided spatula (the "straw" in the packaging has a wide, flat base inside the cup). 

I love the bright colors and practicality of the packaging, although I'm not a huge fan of the baby-face lids. But, it's the same image as on their other rubber masks, so it makes sense! It's not like it's going to stop me from using the product.

Once the two parts are mixed together, the mask takes on a thick consistency, almost like cake frosting. It's super easy to spread onto the skin and immediately starts to dry. I like this, as it cuts down on dripping. The mess I mentioned with another brand was that it was too thin and just kept dripping off my face, and when I decided to just lay down to let it dry, it started dripping into my nose. So it wasn't pleasant. The Dr. Jart+ however, were thick and quick-drying enough to avoid this. I did have to smooth out a few drips that were forming on my chin for the first couple minutes, but I was able to still be upright and do other tasks for the 15-20 minutes it took to dry. 

So far, I've only used the Hydro one, and I was so impressed that I can't wait to try the other three. The Hydro mask is meant to moisturize and nourish the skin. It uses Vitamin B5 and amino acids to strengthen the skin's barrier and replenish the skin. This immediately felt so cooling and comforting on my skin. It was easy and incredibly satisfying to peel off, and it came off in about four pieces. It left my face dry to the touch, rather than sticky like some sheet masks would, but it still felt very hydrated and plump. It also left my skin amazingly smooth - it would be a great one to use before a special event to make makeup apply more smoothly.

The Soothing Mask contains Vitamin K3 and a soothing botanical complex to calm sensitive skin. I've been meaning to use this one after a workout, when my skin usually becomes a little flushed and irritated.

The Brightening Mask contains Vitamin C as well as sea buckthorn fruit extract to revitalize the skin and even tone. My skin usually responds really well to Vitamin C products as well as products with sea buckthorn oil, so I have high hopes!

The Firming Mask contains Vitamin A and their OxyForce Cellular Active to boost collagen production and increase skin elasticity and firmness. I'm really intrigued about this having Vitamin A, so I can't wait to see what results this one gives me, too.

Have you tried these Dr. Jart+ Shake & Shot Masks yet? Which one would you try first?

Dr. Jart+ Shake & Shot Rubber Masks were sent to me for consideration, but all opinions are my own. This post contains affiliate links.