The best makeup products for a natural look

Go natural

Whether it’s because you don’t know how, dislike the feel of it on your skin or just prefer a bare-faced look, if you’re in the No-Makeup Club, you’re wary of beauty products. But don’t worry-you can get a natural-looking, natural-feeling look while still enhancing your natural beauty. Here are some products to try.

Brighten your eyes

To minimize under-eye shadows, pro makeup artist Bruce Grayson likes multitaskers such as Olay Regenerist Eye Touch of Concealer ($29.99) and Smashbox’s light-reflective Photo Op Under Eye Brightener ($22), both of which contain moisturizers and anti-aging peptides. “They’re easy to use and don’t cake up the way traditional concealer can,” he says. Note: if you have serious circles, use one of these as a base; you’ll need less concealer.

Olay is available at drug, grocery and mass retailers; Smashbox is available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations and at Sephora.

Freshen skin

Women with oily skin in particular dislike the sensation of makeup on their skin. A light primer lotion such as Smashbox Photo Finish Light ($44) absorbs quickly, feels like nothing at all, and keeps skin feeling fresh whether worn alone or under other makeup.

Smashbox is available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations and at Sephora.

Multitask

“The trend of the future is the multitasking product with skin care, SPF and an even-skintone finish,” says Grayson, whose clients include actor Rosario Dawson. Try Dermalogica Sheer Tint Moisture SPF 15 ($53), or Olay Definity Colour Recapture SPF 15 ($34.99), which has slightly more coverage than a traditional tinted moisturizer but is still more sheer than a foundation.

For Dermalogica retailers visit www.dermalogica.com; Olay is available at drug, grocery and mass retailers.

Targeted concealing

Face it, sometimes you have something to hide. Physicians Formula Mineral Wear Talc-Free Perfecting Mineral Concentrate ($15.79) is a nifty, precision click-pen mineral-powder format that lets you target any area for concealment. And it’s free of oil, wax, parabens, fragrance and dyes.

Physicians Formula is available at drugstores and mass retailers.

Get a glow

If your skin’s looking a bit dull, a quick all-over sweep of illuminating powder can make it look naturally radiant. DuWop Mattillume ($42) baked clay powder helps to control oil as it imparts a subtle, sheer dewy glow, all without parabens, oil, fragrance or talc.

DuWop is available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations and at Sephora.

Easy breezy lashes

“If someone doesn’t like wearing makeup, she won’t like taking it off either,” notes makeup pro Sylvie Mazerolle, who has worked with Catherine Zeta-Jones. She likes Kiss Me Mascara ($29.95) because it’s run-proof yet slides off with warm water; L’Oréal Paris Double Extend Beauty Tubes ($14.95) is similar. If you’re all about natural ingredients instead, try Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Mascara ($15.79), which contains rice protein for volume, organic beeswax and natural pigments.

Kiss Me Mascara is available at Trade Secrets, Jean Coutu and www.cimel.ca; L’Oréal Paris and Physicians Formula are available at drugstores and mass retailers.

A natural blush

Never worry about wearing the wrong shade of blush again. Almay Smart Shade Blush ($12.95) and Smashbox O-Glow Intuitive Cheek Colour with Goji Berry-C Complex ($34) both adjust to suit your skin tone. Grayson likes cheek tints from Benefit. “They give a great youthful flush to every skin tone.” Try Benefit PosieTint ($35) for spring.

Almay is available at drugstores and mass retailers. Smashbox and Benefit are available at select Shoppers Drug Mart locations and at Sephora.

Soft highlights

Worn along cheekbones either alone or over a touch of blush, The Body Shop Roseflower Radiance Stick ($22) highlights with a soft, cream-to-powder sheen and only a whisper of sweet pink. Enriched with community-trade marula nut oil and shea butter, it also has a light rose fragrance.

The Body Shop is available at The Body Shop boutiques and www.thebodyshop.ca.

Shimmery lips

“Lip balm is a must for most women; add a little colour with a tinted version,” says Mazerolle, who likes Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmers ($5.99) for their natural ingredients, reasonable price point and pretty shades. Grayson likes M.A.C Tinted Lip Conditioner SPF 15 ($17.50) in Plum Perfect, Soothing Beige and Petting Pink for their smooth texture, sun protection and colours that look pretty on everyone. “They just boost the natural lip colour a little-beautiful,” he says. Another emollient balm with tint and sun protection is Kiehl’s Lip Balm SPF 15 ($11.50).

Burt’s Bees is available at drugstores; M.A.C is available at M.A.C boutiques and www.maccosmetics.com; Kiehl’s is available at Kiehl’s boutiques.

Janine Falcon is the founder and editor of BeautyGeeks, a site about stuff that delivers best-you beauty and style.