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By Sophie Joaman • August 2, 2022 • 9 mins read
You might’ve noticed, but we’re kind of makeup crazy here. We love it all. From full-on glam to a radiant minimal look and everything in between- Makeup is one of the most versatile and adaptable art forms in existence. So what about a minimal makeup look then?
If we start at the very beginning of the spectrum, what makes minimal makeup such a great one to have in your repertoire?
For starters, minimal makeup takes minutes and uses fewer products/tools. Talk about being economical and time-saving! Some days are also just minimal makeup days- get up, get dressed, makeup on, and leave the house, with minimal fuss.
That doesn’t mean to say we want to banish the full-glam makeup. Or ditch the sultry smokey eye. It’s just that minimal makeup is there for us on the days when we just don’t fancy a full face of glam.
Also, a minimal makeup routine is a truly understated practice in our opinion. Not only is it quick and easy, but it also allows lets you to show off more of your natural beauty.
Embracing a basic routine is a fantastic way of showing off your best features, while still enjoying makeup that makes you feel good.
Not that you need any more convincing, but a minimal makeup routine is also perfect for all levels and experiences of makeup users too. Whether a beginner or a seasoned pro, the minimal look is incredibly achievable.
So if you are new to makeup, you will definitely find the minimal routine beginner friendly.
Minimal makeup is hot right now and trending everywhere. It is also entirely stylish and deserves to be talked about more. That’s why we’ve put together the ultimate guide to nailing your basic makeup routine with an easy step-by-step guide.
If you are a beginner in the world of makeup, you might be a little daunted by all of the different trends and looks out there. Social media has done wonders for learning how to do makeup, but it can become a tad overwhelming if you’ve never practised before.
You might just not know where to start. In that case, starting with a minimal makeup routine can really help you to master the fundamental basics of makeup before moving on to other looks.
And, if you’re not someone who fancies fuller-glam looks, a minimal makeup routine can even become your go-to. It’s perfect for everyday wear and looks great no matter what.
To get the minimal or ‘basic’ makeup routine down to a T, you’re going to need certain products and tools to get you started. Luckily, you really don’t need too much though.
A few staple products and tools are usually enough to complete the entire makeup look. Plus, doing the minimal makeup routine uses less product in general, so you won’t have to overbuy.
Some good products to get you started with this basic makeup routine include a primer, foundation (or tinted moisturiser), an eyebrow pencil, mascara and tinted lip balm lipstick.
You can also add a blusher and bronzer if you wish. Don’t forget to consider a translucent powder and setting spray to complete your look. All of these products are at their root, the basic products in makeup.
You can, of course, jazz them up if you wish to move on to the next level, but ultimately they’re the key makeup bag essentials that every makeup beginner should start off with. All of these products are also available in drugstores, to make it even easier for you.
While building your minimal makeup kit, you should additionally purchase a few tools to help you apply your makeup smoothly and perfectly. This includes a beauty blender or foundation brush to blend product into your skin and give you that flawless base.
A powder brush is also an absolute must-have in your makeup bag and will really help the distribution of product on your face.
It doesn’t matter if you are a makeup pro/lover or a complete beginner, the most basic/minimal makeup routine is a universally easy one to achieve and in just a few simple steps.
This truly is the perfect routine for everyday makeup wear and thankfully one that, once on your face, requires very little touching up.
Starting off with a clean face, apply a moisturiser to your skin, making sure to massage it well and then leave the product to absorb completely into the skin for a few moments.
Moisturising your skin will help to create a smooth base for the rest of your makeup to glide on to. It will also help to keep your skin and subsequently, your makeup, fresher for much longer.
If your skin is on the drier side, moisturising can stop your foundation from becoming cakey or cracking throughout the day, so don’t avoid this step. You can choose a day cream with helpful ingredients such as hyaluronic acid to keep your skin looking hydrated.
Or if you are more oily in general, choosing a silicone-based moisturiser can help to control oil from sitting on the skin and wreaking havoc on your makeup later on.
If you want to keep your makeup as basic as possible and perhaps forego the foundation, you can certainly choose to use a BB cream or tinted moisturiser instead.
This will give you the hydration you need, while also giving light coverage to the skin. Extra bonus points if your tinted moisturiser has SPF in it to keep your skin safe from UV rays and sun damage.
The other path you can and should take if you are going to use foundation is to apply a primer after your moisturiser. Primer helps keep your makeup grounded to your face. In other words, your foundation is less likely to budge or slip.
Apply a coat of primer evenly over your face and again, allow the product to seep into your skin a set before moving on to foundation.
Having done the prep work, you can now apply your foundation. Using a foundation brush or beauty blender, apply a few dots of product to each point of your face and begin to blend in well.
Ensure that the product is covering your face completely so that you don’t have any harsh lines or missed spots. After your foundation is in place, you can then set it to keep it in place and stop it from sliding.
Firstly, dust a light layer of translucent powder over your face with a powder brush to seal your makeup in place. Using a powder whether in a loose or compact formula can help to absorb any oiliness on the skin and keep your make-up looking flawless all day long.
This is especially helpful if you have oily or combination skin. If your skin is on the dry side, however, you can still use powder, but use it sparingly and keep it to the areas that need it the most, such as anywhere you get shininess.
Once you’ve applied the powder to your face, ensure that you dust off any excess product to really seal the deal. The final thing to do within your foundation/base routine is to set your face with a good setting spray.
This does the same thing as a powder in that it keeps your makeup where it should be. It also keeps your skin looking much fresher and more radiant, for much longer.
To set your foundation in place, hold the spray slightly away from your face and spritz it all over to get the best effect. Leave the spray to absorb into the skin before moving on to the next part.
Of course, if you would rather do this step at the very end of your makeup routine, this is also fine and actually something a lot of people prefer.
One of the best ways to get a stunning, minimal look is to fill in the brows naturally. This means avoiding any harsh lines and instead adding product that will highlight the brows in a much more understated way compared to more glam looks.
To do this, you can start by brushing your eyebrows and choosing a pencil, gel or liquid, up to one shade darker than your natural colour.
The goal here is to keep your eyebrows as natural as possible, so try and keep the colour close to your own.
To then achieve the perfect basic brow, simply brush the pencil through your eyebrows, without applying too much pressure.
Here, you are really going to want to just fill in any gaps in the brow and avoid outlining them too much. So think gentle and light touches, to get that effect.
It’s ultimately up to you how much you go in with this, but for beginners especially, filling in the brows like this is much easier and more successful.
The next thing you can do with your minimal makeup look is to add a few coats of mascara to your lashes to lengthen them and open up your eyes.
A great tip for opening up your eyes also is to curl your lashes with an eyelash curler before applying mascara to them.
This will really make a difference, so don’t be afraid to give your eyes that boost first. Then using your mascara wand, apply the first coat of mascara to your eyes.
Do the other eye while the mascara dries and then go back in with a second coat. A great tip here is to make the most out of the wand by using the tip to get more product onto your lashes (from the root to the tip). This also helps to add that gorgeous length to your lashes.
To finish off your minimal makeup routine, add a tinted lip balm or a gloss to make your lips look voluminous.
There you have it! In just a few easy steps, you have the ultimate minimal makeup routine to save you time.
The best thing about a minimal makeup look is how effortless it is, so if you are looking for something beginner friendly, or just want a quick routine for the mornings where you just cba, the minimal makeup routine may just become your new favourite go-to.
