How to Achieve Undetectable Glam With the Invisible Makeup Look

What Is Invisible Makeup? 

If you’ve ever looked at someone and thought, maybe she’s born with it… there’s a good chance she applied the invisible makeup technique. Unlike with the aforementioned aesthetics, the goal here is to really look like you’re au naturel.

“Invisible makeup is all about creating a flawless finish that looks and feels like bare skin,” explains James. “It focuses on texture, application technique, and diffusion. Think: lighting tricks, soft-focus skin, and invisible edges. It’s makeup that looks like your skin on its best possible day. It’s not about masking imperfections; it’s about mastering texture, tone, and light so that everything appears seamless, fresh, and undetectable. It’s strategically applied complexion products, feather-light coverage, diffused color, and skin-enhancing finishes that bring dimension without drama. The goal is polished, not perfect.”

Even so, the skin should still display a level of dimension, like any normal face would, as beauty content creator Jade Lily says it should “add glow, warmth, and color to your face.”

How to Get the Invisible Makeup Look

Unlike no-makeup makeup, which can require more steps than its name suggests, invisible makeup focuses more on skin prep, and less on the makeup itself. Overall, the look can be achieved even by a makeup novice with a few slight, easy actions.

1. Dewy Skin Prep Is a Must

“Start with hydrated skin,” James advises. “Use a lightweight, non-greasy moisturizer that sinks in fast. If you skip this step, nothing will blend right.”

Our deeply moisturizing of-the-moment pick is the FIRST AID BEAUTY Ultra Repair Face Moisturizer. It’s a jack-of-all-trades star product that has all the necessary ingredients to make us feel fresh before our makeup application. Lily stands by a hydrating milky toner as a precursor to your base makeup, explaining, ”Getting the glow from that will help enhance the minimal makeup you're putting on.”

2. Apply a Skin Illuminator 

For that lit-from-within glow, lightweight illuminators are your best bet as a base for the rest of your look. We love the KOSAS Glow I.V. Vitamin-Infused Skin Illuminating Enhancer, which can be blended into any hydrating product or complexion product, or worn as a standalone base followed by other products.

3. Apply a Tinted Complexion Product

Whether you reach for a primer, SPF, skin tint, or light-coverage foundation, you’ll want to cover your face with a product that offers a hint of hue. For Lily, tinted SPF is key. “These provide a little color and coverage to even out your skin tone,” she shares. 

James is big on sheer, skin-enhancing primers. “Focus on the T-zone or anywhere texture is a concern,” she advises. “Think blur, not block.”

But she doesn’t skip an additional color-enhancing step, as she suggests following with a skin tint or light-coverage foundation. “Dab a pea-sized amount to the center of your face and blend outward using fingers or a damp sponge,” she says. “The edges should disappear into your skin.”

When it comes to tints and lighter-coverage complexion products, our picks are the ICONIC LONDON

Super Smoother Blurring Skin Tint, the TULA SKINCARE Radiant Skin Brightening Serum Skin Tint SPF 30, and the SMASHBOX COSMETICS Halo Tinted Moisturizer.

4. Spot Conceal

Because this is an “invisible” look, concealer should be used sparingly. “Spot conceal only where needed,” James says. “Under eyes, round the nose, or any blemishes—just tap and blend with your ring finger. Don’t overdo it.” Look for a long-lasting concealer that doesn’t require a ton of powder to set. 

5. Add Soft Highlight

For a natural, lit-from-within glow, Lily recommends using a creamy highlighter that adds radiance without sparkle. “You just look radiant,” she says. “I dab a little on my Cupid’s bow, bridge of the nose, tip of the nose, eyelid crease, and—I know it’s weird—but a tiny bit under my eyes.”

6. Add a Subtle Swipe of Blush

When it comes to looking au naturel, “Cream blush is your best friend,” James says. “Smile, and dab onto the apples of your cheeks. Then blend up and back for a believable flush.” We’re absolutely loving the FENTY BEAUTY Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush in Crush on Cupid. The shade is vibrant at first glance, but it’s a buildable, lightweight formula that melts into the skin and can go as natural or full coverage as you wish.

7. Brush Up the Brows

This isn’t the time to let your eyebrow artistry take the lead. Here, you just want a light swipe of tinted or clear gel for “grooming and lifting,” James says. 

Lately, we’ve been reaching for the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Clear Brow Gel. If there’s one thing the brand knows, it’s brows—so do with that info what you will. 

8. Subtly Define Lashes 

Now’s the time to resist the urge to apply layer after layer of mascara, topping your lashes off with falsies. All you need is a single coat of brown or soft black mascara, according to James, who adds, “I focus on the roots to open the eyes without clumping.”

We can’t put down the E.L.F. COSMETICS Lash It Loud Mascara in Deep Brown. Not only is it effective and affordable, but it’s the perfect shade to wear when we’re going for an invisible aesthetic.

9. Gently Set the Face

For this step, a little setting powder goes a long way. “Set only where you shine,” James advises. “Use a light dusting of translucent powder through the center of the face. Leave the cheeks and high points of the face luminous.”

Our easy, breezy go-to? The KOSAS Cloud Set Setting Powder is soft and effortless, and makes us feel like a million bucks. 

10. Add a Little Life to the Lips

Remember that pinky cream blush we referenced in step #6? You’ll want to take that same product and use it lightly on your lips. At least, that’s what James does. 

“That’s why using a cream formula on the cheeks is brilliant,” she says. “You can have it double up as your lip. Apply with your fingertip and blur and blend out for that perfect just-bitten lip.” 

We’ve tried it for ourselves, and can confirm this beauty hack! 

Invisible Makeup Looks We Love 

1. Natural Beauty Invisible Makeup

We will say, when you’re working with a canvas as beautiful as this one, invisible makeup is no chore. But even so, the makeup artist played up the model’s naturally large eyes with lengthening mascara, pushed up her beautiful brows with a gel, and added a hint of tint to make her pout pop.

2. Second-Skin Stunner Invisible Makeup

The makeup on this beauty is so natural, it’s almost undetectable—but we’re willing to bet she’s wearing a skin tint for her natural freckles to peek through. Additionally, her eyelashes look lifted—an appearance we achieve when we use the BENEFIT COSMETICS Roller Lash Curling & Lifting Mascara in Black. We also see a soft touch of pale pink on the cheeks to match her lovely lips. If we wanted to closely mirror the shade, we’d turn to the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Blurring Serum Blush in Baby Pink 

3. Minimalist Invisible Makeup Master 

When we read that this beauty blogger is actually wearing makeup in this image, we were shocked. She looks so natural and effortless, and we can only imagine achieving this aesthetic by way of a light-coverage foundation (the NUDESTIX Tinted Cover Foundation would be a good pick for this), pale pink gloss (something like a touch of the TARTE Maracuja Juicy Lip Balm Gloss in Rose), and a natural mascara.

4. Pretty Puckers Invisible Makeup

A touch of tinted lip gloss is all this look needs to make a splash. Otherwise, she appears to be wearing a light-coverage foundation, soft black mascara, and a subtle hint of blush on the apples of her cheeks.