How to Look Good Without Makeup

In the mad rush of the morning "get out the door in as little time as possible" routine, something's got to give. And more often than not, makeup falls by the wayside, along with a healthy breakfast. That's why so many women can be seen applying mascara on the freeway, in between sips of Vitaminwater.
 

Rather than feeling like you're skipping a step in your grooming, there's a way to confidently walk out the door without makeup.

To help your skin look just as good naked as it does with your favorite foundation, concealer, and blush, follow these treatment from Renee Rouleau, a celebrity skin care expert and the owner of Renee Rouleau for Beautiful Skin in Dallas. You might even save enough time to whip up that healthy egg-white omelet before work.

Protect Your Skin
Even when the forecast calls for clouds and rain, make sure you slather on sunscreen before you head out the door.

"Consumers spend thousands of dollars on cosmetic procedures and invest in expensive skin care products, but the very thing that ages them the most is UV rays," explains Rouleau, who has treated Demi Lovato, Jessica Simpson, and Cat Deeley. Exposure without protection can lead to premature wrinkles and skin pigmentation — among the chief things we use makeup to mask.

Protecting your skin every day, Rouleau says, is where the real anti-aging magic can happen. Studies have even shown that when you stop exposing your skin to UV rays, it can actually repair itself. To make sure your complexion is covered, look for a moisturizer that does double duty by featuring an SPF of at least 30.

Pick the Right Moisturizer

Women with dry skin know that moisturizer is essential, but if you have oily skin, you may make the mistake of skipping it. "Just because you have oily skin, though, doesn't mean your skin is hydrated," says Rouleau, noting that skin needs both oil and water to be healthy. "If you don't use the right moisturizer, your skin will just produce more oil to overcompensate for being dehydrated."

To find the right lotion for your skin type and to ward off shiny or dull-looking skin, do this quick check: Apply a moisturizer to your face and wait five minutes. If you can still feel it, it's too heavy for your skin, Rouleau says. "Dry skin types should use ingredients that work to repair the lipid moisture barrier in the skin and prevent transepidermal water loss," she suggests.

They should look for ingredients like borage oil, jojoba oil, sweet almond oil, and ceramides. Those who have acne-prone skin or oily skin should opt for moisturizers that contain sodium hyaluronate, cucumber fruit extract, and mallow flower extract.

Add a Citrus Boost

In addition to consuming vitamin- and antioxidant-rich foods that can boost your skin's health, start the day with a cup of hot water with lemon. "This will help flush out and purify the body internally, reducing toxins, which can cause skin sensitivities," Rouleau says.

She also recommends taking vitamin C about 30 minutes before you work out, to minimize the production of free radicals (which increases because of heightened oxygen consumption during exercise). "Vitamin C takes about 30 minutes to dissolve in your system and activate," Rouleau explains. "So while you're exercising, you'll have full vitamin C protection for your body's cells." In other words, your workout will be good for your body and your complexion.

Tone Up
It may induce flashbacks to your teenage years, but applying toner after cleansing your skin can help balance its pH level, which helps products be absorbed better, resulting in a more even complexion.

Adds Rouleau: "Toners are important for removing the drying chlorines and minerals found in tap water."

Look for toners labeled "alcohol free" — alcohol-based toners can strip the skin of water and lead to the buildup of dead cells and dull-looking skin.

Improve Skin Circulation
"When the skin doesn't have proper blood flow, it can result in dull and tired skin that lacks a glow," says Rouleau. To give a lackluster complexion a boost, look for such stimulating ingredients as mint, rosemary, and ginseng.

"When applied topically to the skin, these ingredients work to dilate the blood vessels, thereby allowing the skin to accommodate more nutrient-rich blood," says Rouleau, whose eponymous line contains circulation-boosting products like Luxe Mint Cleansing Gel ($35.50) and Rosemary Mint Cleanser ($31.50).

Scrub-a-dub-dub

Nothing highlights your natural, glowing skin more than a good exfoliation. "When skin is dry," says Rouleau, "the dead surface skin cells are opaque and don't reflect light, resulting in dull-looking skin."

To reveal fresh, dewy skin, massage a gentle facial scrub into the skin for 45 seconds and then rinse. Rouleau suggests following the scrub with an alcohol-free toner, antioxidant serum, and SPF moisturizer. Repeat two to three times a week.

Keep Your Hands Off
As tempted as you may be, don't touch that pimple! Picking at it can significantly increase a pimple's life span.

"A blemish usually lasts five to seven days, but a red or dark scar from picking at it can linger for weeks — even months," warns Rouleau.

If you just weren't able to resist, use a skin lightener in addition to exfoliating to fade any spots. Says Rouleau: "Increasing your use of chemical exfoliants, like glycolic and salicylic acids, and physical exfoliants, like beads, helps stimulate the growth of healthy skin cells while removing scarred, damaged cells."