The buzz words that are trending right now is “minimalism” (simple minimalist style) and “natural”, this applies to anything from decor to fashion to beauty and make-up. First to go is wearing layers of make-up that ends up melting off your face in the scorching summer sun. Next is the filtered selfies and “beautify me apps” found on mobile phones that distorts your face to the point of being unrecognisable. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look perfect for that Instagram selfie however remember that enhancing your natural features is more attractive than looking superficial.
Grammy Award-winning singer, Alicia Keys recently appeared make-up free on the cover of her latest album, “Here”. The album features a song called “Girl Cant be herself” in which she delivers powerful lyrics, “In the morning from the minute that I wake up/ What
if I don't want to put on all that make up?/ Who says I must conceal what I'm made of?/ Maybe all this Maybelline is covering my
self-esteem”
The Pirelli 2017 calendar titled “Emotional” was unveiled in November 2016, in which photographer Peter Lindbergh captured female celebrities' natural beauty and used unretouched pictures. He selected actresses of different ages and body types as a ‘counter message to [the industry’s] fake beauty ideal’. The calendar features celebrities like Lupita Nyong'o, Penelope Cruz, Dame Helen Mirren, Uma Thurman, Nicole Kidman and Jessica Chastain.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail one of the calendar stars, Dame Helen Mirren, declared that she hopes more women will begin
embracing the natural look and ditch cosmetics.
The Oscar-winner told the BBC: ‘I think it would be wonderful if it became a fashion.
‘Things are always cyclical, so I suspect we might have reached saturation with the whole selfie thing and maybe we’re moving in
another direction. ‘It would be great if we are, without being puritanical, because I love make-up, dressing up, so I don’t want to be “Oh we’ve all got to go without make-up”.
Not everyone is brave enough to leave the house completely barefaced however, when done right, highlighting your best features such as your eyes or cheekbones will give you a beautiful and finished look.
Reality TV star Kim Kardashian’s overly-sculpted and contoured look started a huge make-up trend last year. Make-up enthusiasts from across the globe spent hours and hours watching “how to” YouTube tutorials videos on getting the perfect contouring technique.
Contouring requires precise skill and the right make-up tool kit to pull off. Whereas “non-touring doesn’t use the layers of heavy foundation, blush, and bronzer that other looks have, and instead just requires tinted moisturizer and a good natural highlighter,” the Daily Mail explains.
How to non-touring three simple steps
1. Start with a colour-correcting or brightening primer all over you face.
2. Now apply a little tinted moisturiser like a BB or CC cream (I like to mix a drop of my foundation into my moisturiser). If you are one of lucky ones to have amazing skin, you can skip this step and simple go over any spots that you think might need a dab of concealer.
3. Finally, highlight the high points like your your cheekbones, brow bone and bridge of the nose with cream or powder highlighter (with
powder you will need a make-up brush though).
Note:
Don’t go overboard with the highlights as you don't want to go the strobing route and end up with gleamingly obvious highlights... keep in mind you're going for natural look.