Let’s go behind the vanity for a sec to talk about everyday makeup looks. Some of them come naturally, while others take a good amount of practice and perseverance. We aim for skin that’s dewy but not overdone, luxe lips that are simple yet striking, and then there’s everyday eyeshadow… which is deserving of a beauty bible all its own. Perfecting the art of everyday makeup is a rigorous but super rewarding challenge, elevating your already-fabulous features for any fit. There’s definitely a way for 24/7 glam queens to incorporate their 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil and Naked Mini Palettes into a natural everyday makeup look, while Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator has your back for barely-there beauty. You deserve to feel flawless in your own skin with minimal effort and just as much UD boldness, and that’s exactly what you’ll get with the best natural everyday makeup looks for any occasion.
Tightlining
Who doesn’t love a good optical illusion? Especially when it helps to accentuate your eye shape, make you look instantly more awake, and thicken your already-fab lashes! Now that we have your attention, let’s talk about the underrated everyday eyeliner trick known as tightlining. Often referred to by pro makeup artists as “invisible eyeliner,” this technique consists of gliding a pencil liner across your upper and lower waterlines, the area that meets when you shut your eyes. Believe it or not, that’s pretty much it. There’s no smudging, blending, shading or anything of the sort, but don’t let the simplicity fool you. The effect of tightlining is extraordinary for all, energizing your eyes and creating one of the easiest natural everyday makeup looks of all time.
Just grab a waterproof eye pencil, like our 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, and you’re ready to go. While the color is totally your call, we’d recommend a black hue like Perversion for a simple-yet-striking effect, a warm brown like Whiskey to look cozy and captivating, or an icy white like Yeyo for a subtle vibe that makes your eye color and shape pop.
Once you’ve selected your favorite shade, start by sitting down in front of the mirror and tilting your chin up, before using your index finger to lift your upper eyelid until your waterline is visible. Next, gently trace your upper waterline with your eyeliner pencil. Move across the eyelid, stopping before the inner corners for a more subdued effect. This incredibly subtle everyday makeup look instantly elevates your eyes and makes them look more alert and awake, especially when you add a coat of Perversion Mascara for a lash lift unlike any other.
Matte Neutral Eyeshadow
If mascara or nude lipstick are the most popular everyday makeup products on this list, matte neutral eyeshadow is at least the runner-up. This ultra-versatile beauty essential can produce a long list of lewks with nothing but your UD Pro Medium Eyeshadow Brush and one or two shades from your Naked palettes. Charcoal? Try a diffused eyeliner for a smudged and simplistic take on the beloved smokey eye. Taupe? Take your brush and sweep across the lid to add natural depth and dimension. And then there’s cream, which can be paired with just about any other everyday makeup essential, like lip gloss or brown eyeliner, to bring the natural glam up a notch.
There’s something effortlessly chic about matte neutral eyeshadow, like the shades called Skimp and Stark from our Naked2 Basics Eyeshadow Palette! They’re simple, warm, sophisticated and let your everyday eyeshadow looks speak for themselves. It also doesn’t hurt that using a single matte neutral shade in the morning is way quicker than a full-blown cut crease or halo eye, giving you some extra sleep before you slay the everyday makeup. A little Urban Decay-approved tip for extra oomph? Try concealing under your eyeshadow, to the side of your eye, for a clean shadow effect that’s a total matte masterpiece.
Kitten Wing
There’s a purrrr-fect way to blur the line between everyday eyeliner and the full-blown glam beloved by our Urban Decay fam, and it's called the kitten wing. A simpler and daintier, yet just as divine, take on the classic cat eye… you can’t go wrong with a one-minute flick. You’ll use half the product in way less time, making the kitten wing ideal for on-the-go and everyday eyeliner looks. Basically, you can envision it like the girl-next-door-esque, naturally gorgeous little sister of the long-loved traditional cat eye, equal parts ultra-cute and feline fierce.
As for the technique, it’s as simple as it sounds, and the slimmer your wing is… the less your patience will wear thin. It’s ironic, isn’t it? Put away your cotton swabs and reach for the 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, because it’s time to say “meow!” at your new masterpiece. You can begin at the outer corner of your eye, drawing a mid-width line along your top lid towards the center, making the liner thinner as you move along. You’ll then connect your top liner with your bottom waterline to sketch a line, also applying the product on your lower lid thicker from the outside and becoming thinner as you glide inwards.
Now that your upper and lower line is in place, it’s time to create the kitten wing! Simply use your pencil to produce the tiniest pop of color, forgoing the 45-degree angle of your typical cat eye in favor of a flawless flick. There’s no need to draw the outline and then color in, or extend too far past your eye… as a single stroke of your hand will do wonders for your everyday eyeliner looks. Just add a coat of mascara or sweep of neutral eyeshadow, and your everyday makeup will be feline-level flawless.
Nude lipstick
We simply can’t say no to a nude lipstick. It elevates any beauty look with timeless luxury and understated elegance, while never leaving out the Urban Decay edge that we hold dear. It’s easily paired with either neutral or bright eyeshadow, matte or dewy foundation, brown or black eyeliner… you get the gist. But even if worn alone, a nude lip is a transformative everyday makeup technique that locks down any look. Once you find the best shade for your complexion, undertone and all, that’s when you know you’ve found your ride-or-die for office days, after-work activities, casual weekend shenanigans and everything in between.
Once you’ve determined your skin tone and undertone, whether it be warm, cool, or neutral, that’s when the natural everyday makeup magic happens. Seriously, our lush lineup of lipsticks offers something for everybody. When it comes to our Vice Lipstick, the fair-skinned beauties should opt for the shade called Naked, a rose nude, while those with medium complexions will look lit in Liar. Olive skin looks divine with orange-toned nudes, like Depends on Traffic. As for deeper skin, you’re always in for berry, cherry, or warm brown nudes, like the Vice Lipstick shades called Hideaway and Hitch Hike.
And we can’t forget Vice Lip Bond, the unbreakable liquid lipstick that delivers instant shine and intense color for up to 16 hours. Yes, even when you’re in the mood for nude. This lineup features three incredible colors made to look naturally flawless on all skin tones, and it’s kind of a big deal. Grab the sandy nude shade called Safe Word, warm apricot Please, or toffee-nude Law of Attraction to top off your everyday looks like a dream. Because there’s no better bond than one between a natural makeup lover and their nude lipstick.
Matte foundation with a side of SPF
First things first, we want to make it clear that you need to wear sunscreen every single day. It’s what shields your skin against environmental stress and helps keep the wrinkles away! But instead of wearing it alone or only in your tinted moisturizer, why not show kindness to your complexion by layering SPF underneath your matte foundation? More specifically, the Stay Naked Liquid Foundation, which is customizable to your preferred level of coverage to help you elevate your everyday makeup looks.
Even makeup techniques in the “simple” and “natural” categories can be taken up or down depending on your mood, along with the amount of blush, highlighter, or bronzer you have on hand. The thing that never changes, however, is that the best everyday makeup looks come down to the proper canvas. And we’re telling you that a matte foundation on top of your SPF-rich moisturizer or spray-on sunscreen is everything. It keeps your skin protected against things like fine lines, age spots, and more, while giving you up to 24 hours of shine-free and streak less coverage that puts the “everyday” in everyday makeup.
Matte is the best everyday foundation finish for several reasons. For one, it’s long-lasting and leaves you with a flawless second-skin finish for hours on end — ideal for office days or running errands. It’s also shine-free in more ways than one, absorbing oil on the face to avoid greasy moments while creating a non-sparkling canvas for those who live and breathe matte. Use your makeup tool of choice to blend out Stay Naked for light, medium, or full coverage, and let your subtle and sleek complexion provide the basis for your best natural everyday makeup looks. After you’ve applied your SPF underneath, of course. One last thing...don’t forget your All Nighter Ultra-Matte Setting Spray, the mattified version of our OG product!. It sets your makeup to create a very breathable and natural-looking matte finish for up to 16 hours!
Naturally glowing skin
You didn’t think we’d forget our dewy skin enthusiasts, did you? A lit-from-within glow is one of the most versatile beauty trends of all time, a must-have for day-to-night makeup that lights up any look. For now, we’re going to focus on the “day” part, as dewy skin enhances your everyday makeup looks to the highest degree. It’s sheer, sparkly, and catches people’s attention (plus the sun’s reflection) without going overboard, which is basically a dream for those who can’t get enough shimmer. And we’re not talking about dipping every feature in highlighter, though we totally approve of that too, but rather a subtle radiance that’s understated yet striking.
You may have heard the tricks to achieving naturally glowing skin without products — dry exfoliation, eating your veggies and proteins, avoiding blue light from your devices. It’s all accurate, but don’t underestimate the dew-inducing powers of sheer and sparkling face makeup. Like our Hydromaniac Tinted Glow Hydrator, perhaps? This medium-coverage foundation gives you a fresh glow finish for up to 24 hours, hydrating your skin every step of the way. Things escalate even further with our Quickie Multi-Use Concealer, the long-lasting formula that covers up imperfections and leaves you with a beaming complexion. You’ll always have a guilt-free glow with these Urban Decay face makeup products, resulting in naturally radiant skin that helps to nourish, hydrate, moisturize and more at the same time!
We want to know about your favorite natural makeup looks for any occasion, whether they’re on this list or not! Visit @UrbanDecay on Instagram or Twitter to tell us your go-to's for natural glam.
