9 Easy Steps for a Foundation-Free Makeup Routine

If the thought of leaving the house sans foundation sends you into panic mode, take a breath. There are actually many other makeup and skincare products that can help even out your skin tone without adding heavy or obvious coverage.

One way to wear makeup without foundation is to incorporate a tinted moisturizer into your routine. Try one like L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer, an illuminating moisturizer infused with nourishing glycerin and shea butter. The viral TikTok favorite comes in five shades, and can be worn alone, under makeup, or over makeup. You can even mix it with your foundation on the days that you do wear it for a glowier, more radiant finish.

Skin tints are another of our favorite alternatives to foundation makeup. These lightweight tinted formulas usually have a more watery or serum-like texture than foundation or tinted moisturizer, are easy to apply, and provide a natural-looking finish. We’re fans of the Maybelline Super Stay 24HR Skin Tint + Vitamin C, which provides weightless, skin-like coverage that wears up to 24 hours. The vitamin C-infused formula comes in 18 radiant shades with options for cool, neutral, and warm undertones.

9 Step No Foundation Makeup Look

Now that you’re armed with a little more info about the products that can take the place of foundation in your makeup routine, it’s time to learn how to apply makeup without foundation. We’ve put together a makeup tutorial without foundation to help you do just that.

Step 1: Start with skincare

Proper skin prep can help ensure your makeup goes on smoothly and evenly—which, we’re guessing, is what you’re after. Start by cleansing and moisturizing as usual, then apply sunscreen to help protect your skin from the sun’s damaging UV rays. We love the SkinCeuticals Clear Daily Soothing UV Defense Sunscreen SPF 50, which offers broad-spectrum protection and delivers all-day hydration without a heavy or greasy feel. The unique formula also helps to reduce the appearance of redness and improve skin texture with continued use—potentially making no foundation makeup days your new normal.

Step 2: Prime your skin

After you’ve finished prepping your skin, smooth on a hydrating primer to promote a dewy, healthy-looking complexion. We’re currently loving the NYX Professional Makeup Plump Right Back Primer + Serum. The lightweight formula with electrolytes and hyaluronic acid helps moisturize the skin and grips makeup in place for all-day wear. If you have oily or textured skin or prefer a more matte finish, consider reaching for a blurring primer instead.

Step 3: Apply tinted moisturizer or skin tint

As we mentioned earlier, yes—you can do makeup without foundation and still achieve a smooth, even-looking base. The key is to swap your foundation for a lighter product, such as a tinted moisturizer. This is the step in your no foundation makeup look that’ll help make your base look “finished.” You can use either of the options mentioned above, or try the Urban Decay Stay Naked Hydromaniac Tinted Moisturizer, which provides a buildable, medium-coverage finish and helps blur the appearance of pores for smoother-looking skin.

Step 4: Touch up with concealer

Using concealer without foundation is a great way to camouflage imperfections without looking obviously “done up.” For a natural-looking finish, we recommend using a hydrating, radiant-finish concealer rather than a matte one. The L’Oréal Paris True Match Radiant Serum Concealer is a great option, as it’s lightweight, hydrating, and crease-resistant. Use it to neutralize dark circles, depuff the under-eye area, or conceal imperfections as needed. Just make sure you blend it in well to achieve a flawless finish.

Step 5: Apply blush

While you don’t have to add blush, we think a subtle flush is the perfect way to add a touch of color to your no foundation look. Plus, blush can help complement your face shape when applied properly. One of our current go-tos is the Giorgio Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Glow Blush. The powder formula helps smooth skin’s appearance while adding a buildable, soft-focus glow for sun-kissed look.

Step 6: Illuminate with highlighter

Next, get a little extra glow with a highlighter. Apply the highlighter to the high points of your face, including your cheekbones, down the bridge of your nose, and along your brow bones, for a radiant, lit-from-within look. Be sure to blend it in well so there are no harsh edges or lines. For a subtle gleam, reach for a luminous highlighter rather than an obviously sparkly one—the aforementioned L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glotion Natural Glow Enhancer works beautifully here (just use a shade slightly lighter than your natural skin tone).

Step 7: Swipe on mascara

When you’re wearing makeup without foundation, emphasizing your eyelashes with a few swipes of mascara is a great way to tie your look together. For an instant doe-eyed effect, grab the Maybelline New York Volum’ Express Colossal Curl Bounce Mascara. The innovative formula provides lift, volume, and curl—no eyelash curler necessary!—to even the straightest of lashes, without any flakes or smudges.

Step 8: Fill in your brows

To make your eyes pop and give your brows shape and dimension, don’t forget to fill in your brows. We recommend using the IT Cosmetics Brow Power Universal Eyebrow Pencil to fill in your brows, then defining them with a brow gel. Opt for a clear version for a more natural finish, or use a tinted brow gel for a defined look. If you’re not sure which color brow gel to use, we suggest reaching for a shade slightly lighter than your natural brow color—it should blend in well without overpowering your arches.

Step 9: Finish off with lip balm or gloss

Don’t skip your lips! Adding a hint of color to the lips is the perfect way to complete your no foundation look. Opt for a tinted balm if you prefer a more subtle finish, or get a plump, juicy pout with the NYX Professional Makeup Duck Plump High Pigment Plumping Lip Gloss, which comes in 16 pigment-packed shades (as well as two transparent shades).

Next Up: How to Get a Gorgeous Dewy Makeup Look