How to make nude makeup work for you...

Time to get back to the basics...what better place to start than with your makeup? Are you ready to go Au-natural, or does the thought of barely there makeup freak you out? I know that putting the nude look together can be a bit daunting and can sometimes result in washed out lips or sallow skin...so, here are the best tips and makeup for a fresh and flawless face for Spring. Kudos to everyone at Refinery 29...they always have great tips.

Lips: Powers recommends picking lip colors that correspond with your skin's undertone and level: "Choose shades that are at least as dark as your skin color, if not slightly darker. If you go too light, you risk looking washed out. Lip gloss is usually a bit more transparent and it allows your own lip color to show through. If you choose a pale nude gloss you're basically making a slightly lighter version of your natural lip color; and using a transparent peach tone gloss for fair to medium skin or a transparent orange tone gloss for deeper skin, can add a little life to your lip if a straight skin tone shade looks too dull. 

Thumbnail image: Bottega Veneta fall '11 image courtesy of Redken. 
Above, from left: Derek Lam spring '11 image courtesy of Estee Lauder; Make Up For Ever Lab Shine Lip Gloss, $18, available at Sephora; NARS Madere Pure Matte Lipstick, $25, available at Barneys; Tarte LipSurgence natural lip luster in Buff, $24, available at Sephora.


Eyes: A soft, brownish shadow that's a shade slightly darker than your skin tone is an easy way to enhance your eyes, but Zilber's neutral go-to shadow is peach. "I'm a big believer in peach eyeshadow. It doesn't come off chalky, it brightens without looking like you're wearing any color, and it neutralizes any blue on the lids or around the yes (like veins or shadows). Apply it to the inner corners of the eyes, across the lid, and dust a bit onto the brown bone. I like to finish the look with a few swipes of brown mascara." 

bove, from left: NARS spring campaign image courtesy of NARS; Jouer Powder Eyeshadow in Peach, $20, available at Jouer;Chantecaille Sea Turtle Palette, $79, available at Chantecaille.


Cheeks: "If you're entire makeup look consists of nude and neutral tones, the trick is to make sure you have enough color on your cheeks," says Powers. "Try a mat bronzer that isn't too orange, and apply it to your forehead, bridge of the nose, chin, center of the neck as well as your cheeks. If you make sure that your skin has a healthy glow you won’t risk looking washed out." 

Above, from left: Make Up For Ever Mat Bronzer, $29.99, available soon at Sephora; Catherine Malendrino spring '11 image courtesy of MAC.