Beauty: Dare to Bare

The nude makeup look is all about natural radiance, which not only means choosing your foundation carefully, but also keeping skin in tip top condition to avoid that caked-on, artificial look. 

Ensure a flawless finish by smoothing the skin with a good scrub.  If you thought Clearasil products were for spotty, pre-pubescent teenagers, think again –at this moment in time, friends that swear by their skincare products range from teenagers to those in their thirties. Their Clearasil Stay Clear 'n Refine Daily Scrub, £3.89, is my current favourite - while many exfoliators leave me feeling as though I’ve had my face pressed against a sanding machine, this gentle scrub provides just the right amount of exfoliation while helping to prevent future breakouts.

The natural look is also all about flawless, poreless perfection so a good foundation is a must. Chanel's Mat Lumiere Long Lasting Luminous Matte Fluid Makeup, £28.00, is a great way to achieve a matte, natural finish without hiding your natural radiance. Light-reflecting pigments create an even, flawless effect while the silky formula provides unbeatable coverage that lasts all day.

When it comes to concealer, Benefit have two products perfect for the natural look. Their Hello Flawless, £24.50, powder consists of a silky powder that can be layered on for varying levels of coverage while their creamy Playstick Concealer, £25.00, comes in five versatile, matte shades.

The natural look is all about neat perfection, so untidy brows are a definite no-no. Available in four colour combinations, Ruby and Millie's Brow Colour Duos, £10.50, are a great way to tame unruly brows while filling in the gaps for a polished, groomed look. If you really can’t bear to go without eyeshadow, slick on their Eye Colour, £10.50, in Beige or Brown – this silky formula glides on for all-day, creaseless colour. Substitute bold eye colours with an eye shadow containing a hint of shimmer. Bobbi Brown’s limited edition Nude Eye Palette, £42.00, (pictured above, left) contains six nude shades for eyes in three different finishes – pearlised, matte and metallic high shimmer.

Similarly, avoid bright shades of lip colour and go for a tinted balm such as Dior Addict Lip Glow, £19.00 which uses hydrating wild mango to enhance lip colour. For a truly natural finish, keep lips in perfect condition with a treatment such as Dior Addict's Collagen Active Lip
Gloss, £19.00, which uses marine-based fillers to plump and smooth. Another favourite is Clinique's new vitamin C Lip Smoothie Antioxidant Lip Colour, £13.50, which drenches lips in moisture while adding a surge of natural-looking colour and a high-shine finish – Pink Me Up is the perfect, pretty pink and looks great worn with simple, natural makeup and a hint of bronzer.