7 ways to enhance your natural beauty

Whilst I love experimenting with makeup, playing with colour and trying out a new or different style, this blog's very namesake is the style of makeup I love most. Today I'm sharing 7 ways to enhance your own natural beauty and embrace being a better version of yourself, including some of my own personal top tips that help me do just that. So if you're interested in a natural, fresh-faced look, keep on reading!

C O M P L I M E N T R A T H E R T H A N C O N T R A S T

Enhance what you have by choosing colours close to your natural hues. Take mental note of the colour your cheeks turn after a brisk walk and find a similar tone in your blush. I find rosy pinks in general that give a soft sheen are pretty universally flattering - I particularly love the Marc Jacobs Air Blush in Flesh & Fantasy as it's so soft and blendable on the skin. Liquid blushes like Daniel Sandler's Watercolour blush, or cream formulas generally look incredibly natural too - my favourites are the Chanel Healthy Glow blush stick in 02 and Stila's Convertible Colour in Peony.

T R E A T Y O U R H A I R

Just a fresh trim can add such life to your locks, which in turn lifts your whole aesthetic. I like to go for a fairly blunt cut so that my ends look nice and weighty (or as much is possible for fine hair like mine!). For my hair, no amount of conditioning is too much, so I like to apply hair masks and treatments as often as possible. I've used the Macadamia Deep Repair Masque for years and it remains a firm favourite - even if only for the smell! A divine, sweet, fruity scent and it's slightly oily texture makes my hair feel delicious and soft. I can't wait to get my hands on the Edward Bess Hair Hero too - it's supposed to make your hair smooth, strong and glossy, and if it helps me get anywhere close to his locks then I'm in.

E A T V I T A M I N - R I C H F O O D S

We all know that beauty starts from within so I won't linger too long. Eat lots of colourful fruit and veg, leafy greens, healthy fats, drink lots of water and don't go cutting out major food groups - a balanced, nutrient-dense diet is failsafe. I do love a good dessert though, and my Healthy Raspberry & Rose Cupcakes are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth whilst getting your fibre and healthy fats - so tasty.

A S E A M L E S S B A S E

I think base is my favourite part of makeup and I think I've become pretty good at getting things looking light, natural and seamless through all the practice! In my mind, achieving this is down to both product and application in equal parts. My favourite foundations are the Hera UV Mist (I love this one), the Etude House Real Powder cushion, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Foundation, and my new love, the Hourglass Vanish stick foundation - I think a velvet finish looks most skin-like and undetectable. I only apply foundation sparingly where I need it - across the tops of my cheeks, my chin and a little between my brows and nose just to even out redness - and blend thoroughly with an airpuff, it's absolutely the best way to apply for me.

My top tip for natural skin is to apply just enough foundation so that you'd be happy to go out if you were to stop there - if my face looks flat, mask-like, or it looks like I desperately need blush, lip or eye makeup to bring the look together then I've gone too far.

L O W K E Y M A K E U P

Yes less is more but enhancing natural beauty doesn't mean no makeup altogether. Rather than do liner, try tightlining your upper waterline with a dark gel liner - my hands down favourite is the Barry M Bold Waterproof liner - it's smudge and waterproof and deep inky black. I like to take a little more on a flat brush and wiggle it into my lashline, just to add the definition I want and make my lashes look a bit thicker - they need all the help they can get!

For lips, I love a soft Bobbi Brown neutral like Italian Rose, but have grativated to oils lately - they feel so great on the lips too. Something like the YSL Volupte Tint In Oil or Clarins Lip Comfort Oil are perfect picks. Rather than sitting on the lips, they sink in for that pillow-lip plumpness I love.

T R Y C R E A M Y T E X T U R E S

I just cannot resist a subtle cream highlight. Something with super fine shimmer and a voluminous texture that picks up the light when you turn your head - divine. Kevyn Aucoin's Candlelight cream has been a long time favourite, it's definitely one of the best. Two newer additions, that have quickly become firm favourites for me, are the Burberry Nude Radiance and Rosie For Autograph's cream highlight, which features in her gorgeous palette - reviewed here.

A top trick that I love to do is to apply some of the REN Beauty Shot along my cheekbones instead of highlighter - it's plump and slightly glossy and is the most beautiful, natural highlight ever.

D O O N E T H I N G F O R Y O U R S E L F E V E R Y D A Y

Inner confidence and happiness shows on the outside, fact, so feeding your ego with positive affirmations can do wonders. Treat yourself to little pleasures every single day - cook yourself a nutritious and tasty breakfast, or read some inspiring quotes, run a bath, write down something that made you happy, do something crafty, give yourself a manicure, or bake yourself a cake and splurge on frivolous cake decorations. Whatever it is, make sure to treat your soul everyday with something little, and you'll soon see and feel the benefits.