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The Perfect Minimal Makeup Routine To Try in 2022

By Sophie Joaman • August 2, 2022 • 11 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 makeup 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. A swipe of tint on your cheeks, a touch of brow gel, and a coat of mascara can go a long way in enhancing your features effortlessly.

Embracing a basic routine is a fantastic way of showing off your best features, while still enjoying makeup that makes you feel good. A little lip balm or balm for a fresh, hydrated finish, along with an SPF-infused base, can keep your skin glowing all day long. 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. A touch of lipstick, a defined brow, and fluttery lash moments make all the difference while keeping it effortlessly chic.

Minimal makeup look 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. From defining your brow to adding a swipe of lip balm or tint for a fresh finish, we’ll cover it all to help you achieve a flawless yet effortless look.

Basic Makeup Routine For Beginners

If you are a beginner in the world of makeup look, 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 practiced 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 brow pencil, mascara, and tinted lip balm or lipstick. 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 a lash curler can help enhance your mascara application for a more lifted look.

The Most Basic Routine

It doesn’t matter if you are a makeup pro/lover or a complete beginner, the most basic/minimal makeup look is a universally easy one to achieve and in just a few simple steps. This truly is the perfect routine for everyday makeup look wear and thankfully one that, once on your face, requires very little touching up. A quick swipe of lip balm or lipstick, a defined brow, and a coat of mascara on your lash can keep you looking fresh all day. Plus, with SPF in your routine, your skin stays protected while maintaining a natural glow.

Step 1: Apply Your Moisturiser and Primer

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 look 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 full face of makeup later on. If you want to keep your makeup look 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 and set before moving on to foundation. Don’t forget to define your brow, enhance your lash with mascara, and finish with a swipe of lip balm or lipstick for a polished everyday look.

Step 2: Foundation And Set

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 look in place.

Using a powder, whether in a loose or compact formula, can help to absorb any oiliness on the skin and keep your full face of makeup 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. A good setting spray with SPF can even provide extra protection throughout the day. 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, such as defining your brow, applying a coat of mascara to enhance your lash, or adding a touch of tint for a natural glow.

Of course, if you would rather do this step at the very end of your makeup look, this is also fine and actually something a lot of people prefer. A finishing touch of lip balm or lipstick can complete the look with effortless elegance

Step 3: Fill In Eyebrows

One of the best ways to get a stunning, minimal makeup look is to fill in the brow naturally. This means avoiding any harsh lines and instead adding product that will highlight the brow 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 color.

The goal here is to keep your eyebrows as natural as possible, so try and keep the color close to your own. A soft tint can also enhance your brow, giving it a fuller yet natural appearance. 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 brow like this is much easier and more successful. Pairing this with a touch of mascara on your lash and a swipe of lip balm or lipstick can effortlessly complete your everyday makeup look.

Step 4: Mascara and Finishing Touches

The next thing you can do with your minimal makeup look is to add a few coats of mascara to your lash to lengthen them and open up your eyes. A great tip for opening up your eyes also is to curl your lash 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 lash.

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 lash (from the root to the tip). This also helps to add that gorgeous length to your lash. To finish off your minimal makeup look, add a tinted lip balm or a gloss to make your lips look voluminous. A soft tint can enhance your lips naturally, while a bold lipstick can elevate the look effortlessly.

There you have it! In just a few easy steps, you have the ultimate minimal makeup look 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 look may just become your new favorite go-to. And don’t forget, adding SPF into your routine will keep your skin protected while maintaining a fresh, glowing complexion!

Author Image

Sophie Joaman

Sophie Joaman is a freelance writer with a real love and focus for fashion, beauty, lifestyle and culture. With a Master's degree in Journalism and Media Communications, Sophie is ​​currently an ongoing contributing freelance writer for Cohorted Cult-sister website of beauty subscription box Cohorted. She was also a contributing writer during London Fashion Week and London Fashion Week: Men's from 2015-2018.

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