Photo: Exa Beauty
Don’t you love scouring the internet for the ultimate “no-makeup” makeup tutorial, only to find a 25-step guide involving layers upon layers of product? Here to truly help us nail down the effortless look (with an equally easy number of beauty staples) is celebrity-loved makeup artist and men’s groomer Renée Loiz, who’s also the founder of Color May Vary, a directory of Black-owned beauty brands.
The L.A.-based beauty expert’s clientele includes child stars Chloe Coleman, Miya Cech, Milan Ray, Aria Brooks and Darby Camp, and Loiz has used her artistry to create playful, youthful looks for each of her clients without making them look too grown-up.
“For a ‘no-makeup’ makeup look, I lean towards using liquid and cream formulas because I love how they melt into the skin and leave behind a natural glow,” Loiz tells The Cool Mom.
So while we can’t turn back the clock (without some expert help) to return our skin to softer-than-a-baby’s-butt status, we can at least fake it with some of the best no-makeup beauty products hand-picked by Loiz herself. Below, read on for her favorite “no-makeup” essentials, all of which are offered in a diverse range of shades.
Foundation
“For foundation, I’m very into Exa Beauty Foundation. Not only does it blend in seamlessly and give your skin the prettiest satin finish but it also comes in tons of shades that will match any skin tone perfectly,” says Loiz.
Highlighter
“Add SkinGlass Highlighting Face Oil to the high points on your face (brow bone, cheekbones, and bridge of nose) to get that lit from within vibe. A little bit of this highlighting oil goes a long way, so use sparingly!” Loiz recommends.
Blush
“Apply Tower28 tinted balm to the apples of your cheeks and blend outward and up towards your temple. You’ll create a natural flush to cheeks while adding subtle sculpting,” says Loiz.
Eyeshadow
“On the eyes, Danessa Myricks Color Fix Nude Eyeshadows are a must! The perfect nude tones for your eyelids that dry down to a soft matte finish,” she adds.
Brow Gel
“Ilia Essential Brow Gel will honestly be your new best friend if you want feathery and full brows,” says Loiz. “I love the dual sides brush on this gel-the shorter bristles thicken the brows while the longer bristles shape them. I think the trick to having natural-looking lashes is a volumizing mascara. They add the fullness with a bit of length — but not too much length that gives you long spidery lashes.”
Mascara
“Fenty Beauty Volumizing Mascara is a must-try,” says Loiz of Rihanna’s cult-favorite cosmetics brand.
Lipstick
“Propa Beauty Lipsticks are beautiful nude lipsticks that are designed for every skin tone and undertone,” explains Loiz. “They have a creamy and smooth finish and feel luxurious on the lips. Finesse is my go-to!”