Closeup portrait of beautiful woman with fresh skin of face - isolated on white

Perhaps the biggest story to come out of the spring/summer 2016 fashion shows wasn’t about the clothes at all, but about the beauty. For seasons now maximalist makeup has been the go-to for many designers, with a focus on bold lips, eyes and contouring. For this summer though, the go-to look is a lot more laid back. From London to Milan, big names like Givenchy, Bottega Veneta, Christopher Kane and Rodarte championed healthy, dewy skin and bold brows, with nothing too overdone, bringing the “no makeup” look to the forefront of the season’s trends.

It’s a little bit more effort than it sounds, granted, but it’s the perfect look for lazy girls and beauty aficionados alike – check out our guide to the top products for getting it right.

Preparation Is Key


Okay, so unless you are a super model, you might feel a little bit nervous about wearing so little makeup.  The key to boosting your confidence is to invest in a quality skincare system and make sure you cleanse and moisturise daily and exfoliate regularly. This will help keep blemishes at bay so you can embrace your skin without the worry. We love Clinique’s “Take The Day Off” Balm for cleansing and Alpha-H’s Clear Skin Hydrator Gel is a moisturiser that does more than just moisturise, with anti-inflammatory properties thanks to its tea tree oil and witch hazel ingredients.

The Basics


A good primer will see you through tough times. If your skincare routine is lacking, or you just have particularly problematic skin, using a primer before your foundation will help conceal any imperfections. A primer like The Porefessional by Benefit, or Smashbox’s Photo Finish will create a smooth base, making applying and blending foundation easier and, if you’re lucky enough to have great skin, you could forgo the foundation altogether.

The Foundation


This look calls for healthy, dewy-looking skin so look for a foundation that offers those things. You just want a little coverage, so avoid anything that sits too heavily on your skin. At the Erdem show, makeup artist Val Garland used NARS products to give models a light look, so give their Sheer Glow Foundation a go for a weightless and effortless glow.

The Brows


The brows paired with minimal makeup at Christopher Kane were referred to as “feral brows” so it looks as if the Cara Delevingne-inspired bushy brow trend is here to stay. Now is definitely the time to invest in a good eyebrow kit to get your brows filled in to perfection. Anastasia Beverly Hills’ Dip Brow Pomade is practically iconic and comes in a range of shades with one sure to match yours. Just make sure you leave any plucking and shaping to the experts – too-thin eyebrows are definitely not making their way back in.

The Lashes


Say hello to an extra ten minutes in bed – this is not a look that calls for false eyelashes, so it’ll definitely save you some time in the mornings if you are a falsie-every-day kind of gal. All you really need is a slick of black mascara on curled lashes and you are good to go. Urban Decay’s “Perversion” is intense in pigment and offers great buildable definition for when you need some extra drama.