With a huge push toward self-love and personal expression, the makeup-free selfie is a big trend. Kate Upton’s #ShareStrong campaign has prompted many celebs to join the party and embrace their no-makeup selves.
So, are you ready to live the life of the Insta-famous and bare your skin for the close-up? Probably not. Let’s face it; your makeup is not really your way of hiding from the world or putting on a different persona. It’s an enhancement that makes you look a little better, and it helps disguise small flaws. And there’s nothing wrong with that.
But if you really wanted, you could learn to love the no-makeup selfie and look like a celeb while doing it. And it doesn’t require a new filter. To make the most of a makeup-free selfie, you need to make the most of the skin you’re in.
How to prep your skin for a no-makeup selfie
Self-love and acceptance are incredibly important, but that doesn’t mean you can’t put some effort into making your skin look it’s best and be as healthy as it can be.
In fact, when you learn how to love who you are, you begin to see how important it is to support your natural beauty, rather than hiding behind makeup.
So, how do you get that skin you crave? The following tips are designed to give you a starting point. Try them, throw out the ones you don’t like or that don’t seem to work for you, and create a consistent routine with the ones that work.
♦ Always moisturize. From the inside (drinking water) to the outside (using a moisturizer), adding hydration to your beauty routine is the most important thing you can do for your skin.
♦ All-natural products. Start researching ingredients and selecting all-natural products that are targeted for your skincare needs.
♦ Nightly cleansing. A morning cleanse is nice, but it’s the nightly cleanse that is a must!
♦ 60-second rule. When you’re doing your nightly cleanse, spend at least 60 seconds massaging your face with your cleanser. This gives it time to work, time for your face to relax with the massage, and most importantly, it really works on unclogging your pores.
♦ Korean skincare routine. Korean beauty tips and techniques are all the rage because they work! Try using all the steps that this routine requires and then filter it down to something you can live with and maintain.
♦ Regular massages. Facial massages are wonderfully relaxing, and they fuel your face with oxygen and nutrient-rich blood to make it look more youthful.
♦ Make healthy eating a priority. Your body can only supply the nutrients you feed it. If you’re feeding your body junk, that’s what’s nourishing your skin.
♦ Use sunscreen. Finally, no skincare routine is complete without UV protection. Those UV rays not only put you at risk for skin cancer, but they zap your skin of moisture and create age spots and premature wrinkles.
While creating a great skincare routine is important, it’s holding onto that routine and sticking to it that makes it effective. You probably won’t see results overnight, but over time you’ll see the real, fabulous you coming through.
Taking a no-makeup selfie
Now that you’ve worked hard to give your skin the moisture and nutrients it needs, it starts rewarding you, and you’ll finally feel that inner glow. So, let’s take that selfie! But first, here are some tips.
♦ Try different angles. Everybody has a “good” side or an angle that looks better. Use it!
♦ Lighting means everything. Ask any professional photographer, and they’ll tell you that without the right light, you don’t have a shot. Play with lighting to get the best look. Try shooting at the “golden hour” – a solid pro trick.
♦ Good, but not great hair. If your hair is overly done you’re going to look strange without any makeup. Go for a natural look all around, good hair that isn’t great.
♦ Draw attention. Use your hand to draw attention to your best feature. If you want to highlight your lips, hold your hand near your chin, fingers casually pointing up at your lips. Your eyes should get the same treatment if you move your hand up to your face.
♦ Outfit and accessories. Make sure that you nail the entire shot, pay attention to your outfit and your accessories.
Remember, this is just a selfie; it’s not the beginning nor the end of the world. Take several until you find just the right one, and then share your no-makeup self with the world. It takes a little bravery but rewards you with a lot of confidence.
To put it simply
Get ready to join the makeup-free crowd. You can do it, and you’ll be happy that you did. But a little preparation is needed before you bare all to the world.
A great skincare routine will help you set the stage by fueling your skin with the best products and a ritual that’s designed just for you. A routine is just that; it’s something you do over and over, so don’t expect one-and-done miracles. Stick with it.
Then, prepare to take that selfie, or a hundred of them, whatever it takes to give you just the right makeup-free look that leaves you feeling great about yourself.
Finally, share that selfie. Be a part of the movement, and love the skin you’re in.