We can’t help but love (and
hate) the girl next door. She’s
perfect. She has that whole naturally
gorgeous thing going for her – bright eyes, glowing skin - an effortless beauty
that is oh, SO sexy…. Okay. Reality check. Nine out of ten of those “naturally”
gorgeous women are faking it. The fact
is it usually takes a lot of effort to look as if you are making no effort at
all. Lucky for you, we’ve developed an
easy 5-step plan for achieving this sexy look in record time.
{Pictured Above: Kate Upton, Photo Courtesy of Google Images}
STEP 1 – Exfoliate
The KEY to a flawless face is flawless skin and the
key to flawless skin is exfoliation. While
there are many great exfoliating cleansers on the market, nothing can beat the
smoothing effects of an electronic facial brush. Yes, the newer, less expensive versions work
just as well as the original. First,
splash skin with warm water, then spread a nickel-sized amount of facial
cleanser from hairline to collarbone with your fingertips. After setting the speed
of the facial brush to a gentle scrub move it slowly across your face and neck (focusing
on problem areas like the corners of the nose and mouth) for about 2 minutes
(note: if the bristles feel abrasive, lower the speed). Finally, rinse with
cool water and wipe face with a wet washcloth to ensure a smooth clean finish.
STEP 2 – Protect &
Moisturize
Once your skin is clean and dry it is imperative to
apply an ample amount of sunscreen and moisturizer (even if your skin is
oily!). There are many lotions on the
market that include an SPF, but most do not provide enough protection form UVA
and UVB rays (SPF 30 or more is recommended for basic, everyday sun exposure). As such, separate products are often your best
bet. Apply a non-greasy sunscreen first -
waiting at least 5 minutes to let everything sink in - then apply your
moisturizer.
STEP 3 – Conceal
If you know how to use your concealer, you will
never need to wear a full face of foundation ever again. The secret is to begin covering imperfections
BEFORE your lotion has completely set in – while skin is still moist. Make sure that the product you are using is
full-coverage and as close to your natural skin color as possible. For best results, use your ring finger to dab
small amounts of concealer onto problem areas, pressing into the skin with a
quick tapping motion. Continue to layer
and blend until the desired coverage has been achieved.
STEP 4 – Accentuate The
Positive
Using a bronzing powder that is no more than shade
and a half darker than your natural skin tone, lightly dust bronzer across your
hairline, jaw line and just below your cheek bones - as well as over any areas
that you covered with concealer. If your
cheeks are naturally rosy, skip the blush.
If not, look for a hue that mimics your own when flesh when flushed and
apply only to the apples of your cheeks.
Finally, using your fingers again, dab a highlighting cream onto the
inner corners of your eyelids, beneath the arch of your eyebrows, along your
cheekbones and just above the bow of your upper lip – making sure to blend
well.
STEP 5 – The Finishing Touch
By now you have successfully managed to create the
perfect “no make-up” palate, but even the most minimalistic of women are known
to swipe on a some mascara and pucker up to bit of lip balm before leaving the
house. To complete your girl next door look, cover your eyelids in a neutral
shimmering shadow. Coat your lashes (top
only) with a dual purpose mascara and perfect your pout with a tinted balm
Get The Look With These Products:
Olay Professional ProX Facial
Brush, Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunscreen, Make-Up Forever Full Cover
Concealer, Nars Blush in Orgasm, Nars Illuminator in Copacabana, MAC All That
Glitter’s Eye Shadow, L’Oreal Original Voluminous Mascara and Clinique Almost
Lipstick in Black Honey
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