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While I’ve never been a full glam gal, I’ve definitely found myself veering towards a lighter, more natural makeup look in recent years.
To be honest, I think this is the case with a large portion of the makeup community!
We’ve seen foundations being replaced by skin tints, lip glosses being replaced by lip oils, and a general transition from powders to liquid and cream products.
Dewy, soft makeup is having a moment… but I think achieving a true no-makeup makeup look is actually quite tricky.
That’s why it pays to have the right products on hand!
Perricone MD recently sent me a few bits from their No Makeup collection to try out and, I can’t deny, they’re a minimal makeup lover’s dream. With sheer coverage and hydrating formulas, Perricone MD have truly got the no-makeup makeup thing down to an art.
If natural, skin-enhancing makeup is your bag, you’ll want to keep reading!
Who is Perricone MD?
I briefly introduced Perricone MD in my Cold Plasma Plus+ review, so definitely go and check that out if you haven’t already!
For the uninitiated, Perricone MD is a luxury beauty brand that was founded in the 90s by anti-ageing expert Dr. Nicholas Perricone. The brand focuses on three key pillars which, applied together, minimise inflammation and unlock better skin, these are: following an anti-inflammatory diet, taking nutritional supplements and using antioxidant-rich topical skincare.
How does makeup come into this then? Let me quickly explain…
About the No Makeup collection
Perricone MD’s No Makeup line is, as the name suggests, all about achieving a healthy and natural no-makeup look with sheer, skincare-infused products.
The collection includes all your everyday essentials: lipstick, foundation, eyeshadow, mascara, and bronzer. And they’ve just added a couple of newbies to the line-up – a No Makeup Lip Oil and a No Makeup Blush Balm. I’ll be reviewing both (along with other No Makeup bestsellers) down below!
Perricone MD No Makeup Lip Oils
One of Perricone MD’s newest launches, the No Makeup Lip Oils are pure hydration in a tube. They’re smoothing and emollient without feeling sticky or gloopy. And they leave the most beautiful glossy shine that blurs lip lines and makes your lips appear super plump and nourished.
Infused with superstar ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid and pomegranate seed oil, it’s perhaps not surprising how conditioning these are. Perricone MD’s skincare expertise really comes into play here!
If you’re someone who suffers with constant dryness or flakiness, you’re bound to get on with these lip oils. I find myself reaching for them on a daily basis just because they are so comfortable to wear.
To make application as quick and easy as possible, these have a chunky doe foot applicator which means it takes just a swipe or two to evenly get the product on your lips. Super handy if you’re on the go!
These do transfer a bit, so you will need to top up throughout the day. But the longevity is actually pretty good for a lip oil. I can get a couple of hours wear if I’m being careful when I eat or drink!
This lip oil comes in six shades: Lychee, Guava, Pomegranate, Pink Grapefruit, Raspberry and Plum. Given the names, I half expected the collection to be sweet and fruity, but all shades are actually vanilla-scented. These are all quite sheer too. They look quite intense in the tube but once applied you get a subtle wash of colour that creates that perfect ‘your lips but better’ look.
Perricone MD No Makeup Blush Balm
I’m a sucker for a blush stick so the No Makeup Blush Balm is one of the Perricone MD products I was most excited to try!
First of all, I love the size of this. It’s really compact – I’d say no bigger than a lipstick – so it’s amazingly transportable. You can slip it into a purse or pocket, it’s really not going to take up much room at all.
I also love that this is pigmented but still very blendable. A few taps with your fingers and it melts right into the skin. I definitely prefer applying it with a brush, as you get the most even application this way, but you don’t necessarily need any tools to hand to use this product – your fingers will do the job!
Currently, this only comes in one shade. I think this could work for a range of skin tones, especially since the colour and intensity can be built up, but I would like to see more shades in the future! When swatched this looks quite dewy, but when I blend it out on my cheeks, I find that this has more of a soft matte, powdery finish. It’s not tacky or transferable, and it has an almost second-skin feel. I really like this!
Perricone MD No Makeup Mascara
When it comes to mascara, I’m more interested in length and definition than I am fullness, and Perricone MD’s No Makeup Mascara definitely ticks this box for me.
It’s great at separating lashes without any causing any clumping. And, though it does obviously add some volume, because this is a ‘soft black’ shade it enhances your lashes in a really natural looking way. This is a great in-between if you’re not keen on brown mascaras but equally don’t love jet black ones either!
In terms of both formula and application, this is one of the most interesting mascaras I think I’ve ever tried.
This has a gel serum consistency, so it feels super lightweight on the lashes. I often forget I’m even wearing it and, as someone with sensitive eyes, that says a lot!
Perricone MD describes it as a ‘2-in-1 lash treatment & mascara’ which is meant to not only intensify your lashes, but to nourish them at the same time. The inclusion of biotin, avocado oil and tocotrienols makes this a great lash strengthener.
Now, let’s talk applicator!
The wand is pretty unique and, for me, took some getting used to. But now that I’ve mastered it, I love the results it gives. The brush is flat with short bristles on the sides to build volume at the root. There are also longer bristles on the front and back to separate and define the lashes. It’s a really cool concept and I like that you can achieve a different effect simply by rotating the brush!
Perricone MD No Makeup Instant Blur Priming Moisturizer
Next up is another 2-in-1 product: the Instant Blur Priming Moisturizer. This is a day cream that has the mattifying power of a primer. It preps the skin for makeup application, offering hydration but also helping control excess oil production.
Unscented and ultra-creamy, this is a silicone-rich formula, so it does have that classic silky, soft feel to it. I like how it glides onto the skin, and I think it does a pretty good job at minimising the appearance of pores.
It’s thick but it doesn’t feel heavy on the skin, which is key for me in a moisturiser. Also, as someone with combo skin, and a T-zone that tends to get shiny throughout the day, I can attest that this successfully keeps the oil at bay.
The one sticking point for me is that I’ve struggled to find a place for it in my morning routine. Sunscreen is usually the last step in my AM skincare routine, and I’ve found that it’s slightly tricky to apply SPF on top of this moisturiser.
Instead, I’ve taken to applying this product on top of my sunscreen in the areas I get oily. It still works well this way, though it does feel like I get more use out of it as a primer than a moisturiser.
Perricone MD No Makeup Highlighter
I feel like highlighter is usually a giveaway that you’re wearing makeup, so I was curious as to how Perricone MD would incorporate this product into their No Makeup collection.
I shouldn’t have had any doubts because this dewy champagne highlighter is beautifully sheer and subtle!
You don’t get that metallic strobe effect that so many other highlighters tend to produce. Instead, the glitter in the No Makeup Highlighter is super fine, leaving a soft, diffused shimmer on the cheeks. No stripes or patchiness here!
With a lightweight serum consistency, this highlighter also feels really comfortable on the skin. It’s not heavy or sticky, and it doesn’t highlight texture or sink into fine lines (as powder highlighters seem to do).
I find the best way to apply this is to dot the product on the high points of my face and gently tap it in with my fingers. A sponge or brush will reduce the shimmer so be careful not to over-blend!
This doesn’t give an in-your-face type of glow but the subtleness is perfect for those who prefer a natural, more minimal look.
Which product from Perricone MD’s No Makeup collection has caught your eye? Let me know!
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