The Only 12 Products You Need If You’re 40ish And Want That “Clean Girl” Makeup Look

Is it a trend? Or does it just make good sense?

by The Candidly Team

This title is basically a trick because you know and I know we just mean “natural” makeup. Although maybe there is something a little extra to “clean girl” makeup. It’s like, extra natural. Extra glowing. Extra ethereal. It’s the kind of makeup where people will say to you “Wow, you look so fresh and rested and luminous” and not “your makeup looks great.”

There’s a difference.

Let’s gaze upon some of the most beautiful women alive with this clean girl look:

 
 

So much of what makes these looks gorgeous is the fresh skin and the highlighting of one feature. Nothing looks heavy, nothing looks like it’s sitting on the skin, and everything seems fully blended and beautiful. And 98% of the success of these looks is in using the exact right products that are basically foolproof.  

And there are a lotttttt of products in this “minimalist” category. A lot of mediocre products. A lot of products you absolutely do not need because their marketing is better than the product itself.

But we have tried hundreds of them, and these 12 are undeniably the best. 

No rebuttals. 

 

1. iS Clinical Super Serum Advance Plus

Weird that we’re starting a list about makeup with a serum? No! This look is nothing without glowing, lit-from-within skin. And that is impossible to achieve naturally without some kind of vitamin C in the morning. Helpful that it’s also one of the 3 key anti-aging products derms recommend us 40+ gals use every. single. day. This one is our newest favorite. Insane, immediate (and all day) glow.  

Use the code CANDIDLY to get 15% off.

Price: $158

 
 
 

2. Furtuna Skin Due Alberi Biphase Moisturizing Oil

We follow up with an oil (if you’re super duper dry you can mix with your fave thick moisturizer) but if you shake this up, and then press it onto your face and neck (and CHEST), you won’t believe how perfectly natural your foundation will look o top of it. It glides on and looks just like your skin. Just…better. 

Use the code CANDIDLY25 to get 25% off.

Price: Starting at $100

 
 
 

3. Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Stick Blur + Smooth Tint Stick Foundation

Foundation sticks are sort of the minimalist’s dream, aren’t they? They seem so easy and on-the-go practical and yet, most of them are just drying and shitty. Not this one. It might be the best foundation stick of all time. Amazing for all skin types, skin tones, covers redness, rosacea, darkness, all of it, but once blended (with the brush below) it just disappears and you never think about “wearing foundation” for the rest of the day. 

Price: $36

 
 
 

4. Clé de Peau Concealer SPF 27

This is a ludicrously priced concealer. Understood. Except there is NO concealer on earth that covers better, while still looking undetectable. You need a pin-point amount of this on a small brush for the darkness near your tear ducts, any blemishes, perhaps the veins under your nostrils. It is so unbelievably opaque that you need only a tiny dip into the tube each day, so in fact, you’ll have it for at least a year, and your cost per wear is 2 cents. So it’s basically free. 

Price: $75

 
 
 

5. Merit No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush

We love how short this brush is. Why are most makeup brushes so stupidly long? This one fits easily in any makeup bag, and it’s made for the LEAST skilled among us. Smear your stick foundation on your cheeks like cat whiskers, blend to the heavens with this brush, and then look closely at your skin in the mirror. Perfection. You won’t believe it. 

Price: $32

 
 
 

6. Jones Road Miracle Balm

You know that glossy glowy cheekbone you see on celebs and never know how to get your own cheekbone to look like that without looking like some glittering ghastly disco ball in person? Welp. This product is how you get it. So much glow and zero glittery chunks. Just dig your fingers into the hard balm and press onto cheeks, nose, anywhere really. You’ll shine like the top of the Chrysler building. But not in an oily way. If you don’t know what color to get, try dusty rose. It’s universally perfect. 

Price: $38

 
 
 
 

7. Charlotte Tilbury Mini Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

The cult-fave powder that looks like nothing on the skin and just sucks up oil. We love it in this mini size so we can throw it in our bags without a whole fanfare. 

Price: $28

 
 
 

8. Merit Solo Shadow Matte Eye Color in Vachetta

This is the only cream shadow we’ve ever used that doesn’t crease. The shades are natural and hazy and gorgeous and even if you have no idea how to do your eyeshadow, just smear some of this on haphazardly and it’ll look good. Swear. 

Price: $24

 
 
 

9. Victoria Beckham Satin Kajal Liner in Cinnamon

We recently discovered this magical shade (and formula) and even tho there’s a sea of eyeliners on the market, this one has something others don’t. It’s almost in between shades, and it can create the simplest, cleanest smokey eye of your life. With zero skill. 

Price: $32

 
 
 

10. Tower28 MakeWaves Mascara

In addition to glowing skin, feathery lashes are a cornerstone to clean girl makeup. Clumps are not welcome here. Nor are flakes. Simply put, this is the only mascara we use anymore. Nothing is more fluttery and nothing stays put like this mascara. And it’s formulated for the most sensitive of eyes. 

Price: $20

 
 
 

11. Chanel Rouge Coco Flash Lipstick In Boy

We have officially lost our minds about this lip formula, and in this particular shade, called Boy. It’s so bare and beautiful and has that “your lips but better” feeling without ever looking like a corpse. We also love it in THIS color which is our newest obsession in life. Don’t be scared. 

Price: $45

 
 
 

12. Mac Retro Matte Lipstick in Ruby Woo

A wildcard eh? Sometimes there is nothing more pure and perfect than glossy skin with a red lip (as evidenced by Tracee above) and there’s a reason Ruby Woo is everyone’s favorite red: it looks amazing on everyone. And it will look amazing on you. 

Price: $23

 

Images from:

 

At The Candidly, we try a lot of stuff so you don’t have to. We only recommend things we truly love, and that we think you’ll love, too. All products are chosen independently by our creative team, and all details reflect the price and availability of products at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to, The Candidly may earn a commission.
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