Wish your look was more forest sprite instead of stressed out city girl? The secret is mastering no-makeup makeup! For this Hinhin editorial, makeup pro Anthea Bueno played with monochromatic lips and cheeks to give model Valerie Chua a sweet, fresh-from-the-outdoors vibe. Here are her tips (and favorite products) to get the look!

TEXT PIERRA CALASANZ-LABRADOR

PHOTOGRAPHY TRICIA GOSINGTIAN

SKINCARE

“A beautiful makeup look always starts will well-prepped and primed skin,” shares Anthea.

Start with micellar water to both cleanse and tone the face, followed by an essence treatment lotion, and a moisturizing soft lotion. If your skin needs a little more hydration, apply a moisturizing serum. (Anthea uses La Mer, but choose the skincare that suits your needs.) “Then I sealed it with the Renewal Oil, just so that everything is hydrated and dewy.”

Don't forget to prep the undereye with an eye serum (Skyn Iceland Brightening Eye Serum) to depuff eyebags and plump up eye area.

BASE

Apply primer to smoothen the skin and lightly cover pores. “Since Val doesn't need much coverage, I just used a tinted moisturizer (Laura Mercier) instead of foundation.” For a subtle, ethereal sheen, apply a liquid highlighter (Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter) on the high points of the face.

If needed, use a concealer (Secret Camouflage Concealer Duo by Laura Mercier) to correct spots and redness, conceal dark eyebags, and brighten eyes. Then set with blurring powder (Laura Mercier Secret Blurring Powder for under eye, and later on, Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Finish for the rest of the face—“It has a bit of sheen and not as matte”).

CHEEKS

“I wanted to give her rosy cheeks—a flush of color, very Korean and Japanese-inspired.”

Anthea used liquid contour (Giorgio Armani Beauty Neo Nude A-Contour) for subtle definition on the cheeks. Then, she applied cream blush in a reddish coral shade (Nudestix Nudies Matte Blush & Bronze in Sunset Strip) on apples of cheeks and across the nose for that fresh flush. “I use a brush to apply and blend for a diffused effect.” For a playful touch, Anthea drew in freckles on cheeks and nose with a brow pen (Nyx).

Take note: “I build up all the creams, all the liquids first before I set it with powder. I don't usually bake; I use sheer powders to set everything so it's easier to retouch later on.”

EYES

For a low-key, lovely look, simply apply a wash of color on the eyelid. “I use Becca Bronzing powder (from Becca Be a Light Face Palette) as my eyeshadow, it has a bit of shimmer to add just the right amount of warmth on the eyelid.” Tip: apply a highlighter on the center of the lid (Tom Ford Sheer Highlight Duo) for a dreamy glow.

For full, natural-looking brows: “Instead of drawing the whole brow, I like brushing brows with a tinted brow mascara first (fab find: Heavy Rotation Coloring Eyebrow from Don Quijote in Japan), and if there are sparse areas left, I fill in brows with K-Palette Lasting Two-Way Eyebrow Liquid.”

And on special occasions, falsies are always enchanting. “I usually cut it up in sections before applying it so it's more comfortable for the client, almost like applying individual lashes.”

LIPS

Apply balm (Sukin Paw Paw Ointment) to moisturize lips. Choose a powder color in the same color family as blush, and apply in the center of lips (Anthea recommends using red eyeshadow, or a matte lipstick ”Just try to blend/diffuse it so there's no harsh line”), then blend it out toward the outer corners of lips with a brush. “I try to focus the color more on the center of the lips then apply a slightly darker shade (Chanel Utra Hydrating Lip Color in Rouge Coco) to add more depth to the center of lips for a gradient effect.”

FINISHING TOUCH

“Since mainit sa Pilipinas, we didn't really use too much setting powder, and we just seal the look with a spray (Skindinavia The Makeup Bridal Finishing Spray).”

MAKEUP ANTHEA BUENO

HAIR JAY AQUINO

EARRINGS SOUVENIR

SPECIAL THANKS PHOTO KITCHEN