With beauty slogans such as “your skin but better,” no-makeup makeup has advanced so far that sometimes we’re not even sure if someone is completely makeup-free or wearing the most natural-looking coverage ever. Though keen-eyed beauty lovers will be able to spot a no-makeup makeup look from a mile away, the average fan (ahem, men, ahem) still struggles with distinguishing fresh-face coverage from going au naturel.
To inspire your no-makeup makeup looks this summer (because no one wants to look cakey in 90-plus-degree weather), we’ve rounded up the most stunning celebrity bare-faced looks. From super-sheer foundation to rose-tinted lips, these stars are beautiful as they are, but a little coverage doesn’t hurt. Feel inspired by their no-makeup makeup ahead.
Originally posted on StyleCaster.
Duchess Meghan (née Markle) of Sussex
Meghan is the queen duchess of the no-makeup makeup look. As a proud owner of freckles, the royal makes sure her sun-kissed marks not only show but pop with sheer foundation — if any. Take a look at this picture or Meghan's wedding look, which included a light layer of foundation, some eye makeup and a rosy lip — as proof of Meghan's no-makeup makeup love.
Zendaya
Zendaya is such a natural-makeup fan that she did a whole tutorial on how to achieve her signature no-makeup makeup look. (Spoiler: It includes Aquaphor and mixing her highlighter and foundation.)
Ashley Graham
Graham might be a supermodel, but you'll often find her on red carpets rocking a near-barefaced look like this. Aside from some color on her lips, mascara and eyeliner and the occasional highlight, Graham is all about keeping her glam to the minimum.
Bella Hadid
Hadid never looked fresher than at this year's Cannes Film Festival, where she turned heads with this impossibly fresh (and glowy!) look. With some highlight and a natural beginning-of-summer tan, Hadid could almost fool us into believing her unfair glow was a result of diligent skin care.
Zoë Kravitz
Like the Duchess of Sussex, Kravitz is also known to show off her freckles on the red carpet. Instead of hiding her birthmarks at a YSL party in 2017, the actor chose to go sheer, flaunting the sun-kissed marks around her cheeks and nose.
Kendall Jenner
Unlike her sisters Kim Kardashian West and Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner isn't the biggest makeup girl. But that doesn't mean she doesn't have looks to copy. At a Beverly Hills event in 2017, the model stunned in this fresh-faced look, which included a natural-looking color on her lips and some blush to make her cheeks look extra rosy.
Kaia Gerber
As one of the fashion industry's freshest faces, Gerber doesn't need much makeup. (Need we remind you she's only 16.) So when she hits the red carpet, it's usually easy-to-copy light makeup, such as at the 2017 Fashion Awards, where she wore a subtle gloss and light coverage that elevated her skin.
Adwoa Aboah
Aboah's freckles are one of the reasons that she became a top model, so it makes sense that when you see her on the red carpet, she's always flaunting her sun-kissed marks. Here, at a 2017 party in London, the model let her freckles shine with very sheer coverage and almost no eye makeup aside from some mascara.
Dakota Johnson
Johnson might be the star of Fifty Shades of Grey, but her makeup is full of color. The actor usually keeps her makeup natural-looking, allowing her skin and natural beauty to shine, such as at the 2018 Golden Globes, where she wore a pink lip and non-cakey coverage that could've passed as her second skin.
Yara Shahidi
Shahidi is known for her all-around glow. (Have you seen her no-makeup selfie?) So when she's walking the red carpet, she wants her makeup to elevate that — not diminish it. At the 2018 Critics' Choice Awards, the actor kept her makeup minimal, with natural-looking coverage and a pink lip. Though she did spice things up with bronze-gold eye shadow.
Emily Ratajkowski
Unlike her model peers, you'll rarely find Ratajkowski wearing over-the-top makeup on the red carpet. Usually, she sticks to looking natural, such as her look at the 2015 premiere of We Are Your Friends, where she wore makeup so natural, it could almost pass as her own face.
Emma Watson
Though Watson has had fun with makeup in the past, she usually keeps things clean. One of her most recent (and most copyable) no-makeup makeup looks was at the 2018 BAFTAs, where she wore a soft red lip and sheer coverage that allowed her natural freckles to pop.
Gisele Bündchen
Bündchen is one of the pioneers of no-makeup makeup. In addition to posing makeup-free for a magazine cover, the model tends to wear natural-looking makeup on the red carpet that elevates her Brazilian glow and the sun-kissed freckles around her nose.
Karlie Kloss
In terms of hair, Kloss has run the gamut, from brunette to buttery blond to electric white. But makeup-wise, the model usually keeps it clean. One of her most notable looks was at the 2017 Harper's Bazaar Icons red carpet, where she wore almost no eye makeup, a soft lip and some highlight to elevate those supermodel cheekbones.
Jennifer Aniston
Aniston is one of the most recognizable stars in Hollywood, but that doesn't mean her makeup is over the top. The actor usually keeps her glam minimal, such as at the 2015 SAG awards, where she flaunted a tan, a pink lip and some mascara.
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