Every day there's another new "makeup-free" selfie: a photo of an unbearably beautiful star just being real, no makeup on, staring into the camera, and looking awesome. Sometimes they appear about as "real" as a Pixar production (see: Kim Kardashian). Other times, they're annoyingly natural (see: Gwyneth Paltrow "smizing" while drinking a bottle of water).

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Although, at its core, the no-makeup movement (#nomakeupmonday) has the best of intentions, a lot of the times the celebrity versions of these “makeup-free” selfies just make us feel inadequate. We suspect that some of the celebs may be cheating with concealer and tinted lip balm, but regardless, these photos don't reveal all the facials, lasers, serums, and other little helpers that make Hollywood stars the beautiful people they are. And let's not underestimate careful posing. The recent mid-sip-of-water selfies by Paltrow and Lupita Nyong’o are essentially classic duckface — cheeks sucked in, lips pursed and pouty — in disguise. And then there's Miley Cyrus's makeup-free selfie (one of many, actually) from a few months back, which featured a sexy pillow pose.



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“Of course, selfies are a little different [than regular photos] because you can take as many shots as you want and learn to play with lighting,” Christopher Truffa, makeup artist and U.S. brand ambassador for Clarins, tells Yahoo Shine. “No makeup doesn’t mean that you can’t be your own lighting director and have a few tricks."



Want to fake your own no-makeup look? Here's the sneaky way to look gorgeous and natural with a few little helpers. We won't tell if you won't.



Rule #1 Start with clean, hydrated skin. According to Truffa, skin is the star here. “Underneath all the glitz and glam, beauty starts with an amazing complexion. Even if it there’s no makeup, you can be sure that good skin plays a key role in this. First, prime the skin with a good hydrating serum to enhance that natural glow.” Our suggestion: Boots Expert Sensitive Hydrating Serum, $7.49



#2 Skip lipstick and gloss in favor of a good, shiny lip balm. Lipstick or super shiny lip gloss are dead giveaways that you’re faking it. Instead, use a moisturizing lip balm — like Nyong'o's now-famous go-to tube — that has a touch of sheen to it (i.e., not hard, waxy ChapStick). Our suggestion: Clarins HydraQuench Moisture Replenishing Lip Balm, $24.



#3 Use a tinted moisturizer or self-tanner. No matter what your skin tone, a little extra color and moisture on the skin will always look beautiful in photos. “Just a little bit will give you a light and natural glow,” says Truffa. Our suggestion: Yes to Grapefruit CC Cream Lightly Tinted Moisturizer, $16.49.



#4 Add a pop of cream blush on cheeks. A pretty flush of sheer color just on the apples of the cheeks is a small but amazingly flattering touch: It enhances bone structure and “adds an adorable flush,” says Truffa. “Just lightly apply a touch of it to the apples of the cheeks and blend in really well.” Our suggestion: Revlon Photo Ready Cream Blush, $12.99.

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#5 Massage products into the skin. “Never pull or tug your products," says Truffa. "Always warm up the product in your hands and gently press it onto the skin. It will activate microcirculation and get rid of all impurities and puffiness. If your skin is healthy, you will only need minimal makeup to rock these no-makeup selfies.”



#6 Don’t forget the brows. Clean, well-shaped brows are essential. With virtually no makeup applied they’re more important than ever for framing eyes and defining the face. Our suggestion: Ulta Ultimate Brows Shade & Shaper Pencil, $8.



#7 Try a BB cream instead of foundation or powder. On camera, these two things are a dead giveaway. "Definitely not the way to go,” says Truffa. “There are so many light coverage options nowadays — BB creams, highlighters, bronzer — that will allow you to play up your features without screaming 'heavy makeup alert.'” Our suggestion: Garnier Skin Renew Miracle Skin Perfector B.B. Cream, $12.99.

