Beauty boss: Make-up? What make-up? How to perfect the barely-there trend

Subtle, chic and flattering on everyone, the “barely there” make-up trend is perfect for summer, when we don’t want to spend ages on elaborate smoky-eye looks or be caked in heavy foundation.

Plus, the natural look was big on the SS21 catwalks, too – as seen at the Victoria Beckham, Jacquemus, Jason Wu and Prada shows – and it’s more relevant than ever as pandemic restrictions ease and we get reacquainted with our make-up bags.

Aimee Connolly, make-up artist and founder of Sculpted by Aimee, loves the “effortless, soft and pared-back” look: “It’s not only a lovely way to wear make-up, it’s also brilliant that we’ve all become more accepting of ourselves naturally.”

Here, Aimee and celebrity make-up artist Bryony Blake share their top tips for enhancing your features.

Glowing skin

Opt for lightweight foundations or BB creams with a dewy or satin finish, says Aimee: “Light coverage is a brilliant way to colour-correct the skin whilst still letting it breathe. You can always add some concealer into areas you need to for that extra bit of cover-up.”

On the catwalks, models’ complexions were, for the most part, bronzer and blusher-free, but if you’re worried about looking washed out Connolly adds: “Cream blushes are having a moment and I am delighted they are.

“Taking a cream blush into the apples and sweeping back up to the cheekbones is a brilliant and natural way to add colour.”

Fluffy brows

“When it comes to natural-looking brows, you want to keep them fluffy and in place,” says Bryony. “My favourite products to achieve this would be a coloured brow mascara or a fixing wax.”

Brow gels with microfibres will “help build volume to your natural brows” while clear fixing products “hold your brows in place without leaving them feeling crispy and wet. Perfect for creating a fluffy brow, they can be used with other brow products or on their own.”

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Defined lashes

While bold eye make-up looks call for bold lashes, with the “barely there” trend it’s about “making your eyes stand out without using a lot of product,” Bryony advises. “You need to go for a mascara that will add length and volume but won’t be clumpy. Using a comb-shaped wand or rubber wand can really help with this.”

Aimee adds: “A dash of mascara helps to bring the face and structure alive.”

Perfected pout

You’ve got a few options when it comes to a natural lip look. Bryony suggests: “A beautiful matte lip that matches your natural lip shade or a balm that enhances your natural lips.”

Connolly concludes: “Lots of us tend to stay away from lip liner, when really it can be worn so naturally. For a barely-there look choose a shade close to your lip colour and generously blend into the edges and centre of the lip.”