Up above, that’s a typical minimal makeup look for me. Here’s what I’m wearing…
- MAC Brun Eye Shadow in my brows
- BECCA Ever-Matte Skin Shine Proof Foundation on my cheeks and around my mouth
- Clinique High Impact Mascara on my lashes
- MAC Pro Longwear Concealer on my undereye area
- Clinique Ginger Pop Cheek Pop Blush on my cheeks
- MAC Patentpolish Lip Pencil in Innocent on my lips
Do I consider myself a makeup minimalist?
Generally, no, not really. I’m a product junkie through and through.
I mean, I usually sit down intending to do something quick, but it so often turns into a full face of makeup! Given any extra time at all, I will gladly keep playing with brushes and makeup until I am forced to stop. 🙂
Poor El Hub… He knows all too well that “I only need 5 minutes to get ready” is code for “See you in half an hour! Maybe. Probably not.”
Sure, there are times, like when I’m tired or just not in the mood, when I don’t wear any makeup at all or just do the bare minimum, like if I’m running out of the house at 8:52 p.m. to buy emergency gravy before Petco closes (it happens more often than you’d think) or when I’m traveling.
For me, my minimum usually involves brows, mascara, under-eye concealer, a little foundation, blush and gloss.
How about you? Do you consider yourself a makeup minimalist, or do you always go full-bore?
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
P.S. Good morning, my friend. 🙂 How goes it? I’m waving a sleepy hello to you this morning.
It’s been quite warm here this week, so we’ve been sleeping with the windows open at night. It’s so nice to have a breeze circulating in the the room, but oh! — I’m payin’ the piper when the birds go cray-cray before dawn.
Don’t get me wrong, there are worse ways to wake up than birds singing… I just wish they’d start after my alarm, LOL!
Which reminds me, Carrot.
No, not the awesome veggie. It’s a new productivity app I just installed on my phone. Two apps, actually. There’s an alarm and a to-do list manager. Both of them have sassy A.I. personalities to keep you on task.
It’s like having a sassy assistant. If you don’t get your stuff done on time, Carrot gets mad and gives you attitude (Haha! Sounds like Tabs). From what I’ve read, the apps are pretty popular.
I guess they’re like tough love? I dunno… Gonna give them a try today, and I’ll let you know.
What’s shakin’ on your end of the keyboard? Happy hump day.
Agata says
I am definitely not. I used to be a few years ago, foundation,powder, eyshadow, mascara, blush and I was out the door. Now, just like you used, even when I am just going to a store I plan on putting on something easy, but it ends up as a full blown face makeup 🙂 But I am ok with that.
Karen says
But do ya contour highlight to go to the grocery store? That’s the big question, LOL!
Agata says
If I get carried away, yes, I do. At the very minimum I put on a blush 🙂
Jazzy says
Depends on if I’m headed to school/work or somewhere else. A typical school/work day includes: BB cream (or light coverage something), undereye concealer, powder, blush, mascara, liner, lip stick/gloss. If I get an extra 5-10 minutes then I throw in winged liner and eyeshadow and a contour. If I had it my way I would wear my drag queen makeup (I’m referring to my night out party makeup) everyday all day. I am just about to buy that new UD Electrics palette….trying to get some more colour in my life!
Karen says
GURL!!! Drag queen makeup all day, every day! I would do the same exact thing if I had hours on end to get ready, no kidding. You’re a girl after my own heart, LOL.
ame says
I am most definitely not. I require many layers of concealer to even minimize the circles, and will not exit my house without the concealer, powder to set it, and at least champagne shimmer shadow over all that (light reflecting), plus brows done and mascara, so usually I just do the full face and add the blush and eyeliner galore. I NEVER wear lip stuff, I am allergic to most products out.
Karen says
Hi Ame!
So, question for you. What’s your favorite champagne shimmer eyeshadow?
Alison M says
Junkies of the world, unite! I chaperoned a Pre-K trip to the zoo this morning, so the makeup was minimal (but still more than the average person). Now that we’re home it’s time to shower and do it up right.
Karen says
Nice. How were the kids? Did they have fun?
Alison M says
They had a blast! The tigers were out strutting their stuff in the new exhibit and my daughter finally worked up the courage to feed the giraffes, which is a huge deal for her. Mega proud mama moment 🙂
Savannah says
“See you in half an hour. Maybe. Probably not.” LOL that is me and my poor man. Btw you look stunning in minimal makeup. I always say to myself “let’s do a lighter look today” but then I end up with a full face and then some. I can probably count on one hand all the times I actually did a minimal look, for all the times I slept through my alarm on one hand. Instead of buying more products I want to work on my application and technique this year. For instance I really want to master winged liner 🙂
Karen says
Hi Savannah,
LOL! Our poor dudes. El Hub’s found creative ways to get around it; I have to hand it to him. If we have to leave the house at 7:30, he’ll say, “7 o’clock the absolute latest! Be ready by seven!” Of course that means that I’ll be done at, like, 7:30 or 7:45.
So how’s your winged liner application going?
Allison C says
I used to be a makeup minimalist, but not any more. Maybe it’s because I’m older now and need more or maybe it’s because there are sooooo many great products out there now for all kinds of different uses. Who knew I needed a finishing powder, lol! Thanks for the tip on the fun app, Karen.
Bella says
My minimum is exactly yours! LOL. I try to make it look as if I’m not wearing much, though…
Karen says
Great minds think alike. 🙂 Do you have a go-to blush shade? Lately mine’s been MAC Warm Soul.
Kim says
I’m definitely a minimalist. I just use makeup to play up the good and downplay the not-so-good. As long as it only takes me 5 minutes to do all that. 🙂 Of course, that doesn’t stop me from enjoying your blog. And I do feel strangely proud when people are wow’d by my makeup knowledge. Especially since no one considers me to be a makeup person. It’s like a secret identity. 😉
brenda says
I absolutely love make up,but when i’m at work (i work on a ship two weeks, after that i’m two weeks at home) i keep it to the bare minimum. It’s just not convenient when your standing in the rain with mascara on,lol! Only some studio fix powder and MAC Brun for my eyebrows, and i’m ready to go! When i’m at home, i go all out on my make up, trying different things. Just love to play with it!
Natalie says
Not a minimalist by any means. I (for real) can’t leave the house without winged liner unless I’m going to cvs at 11pm for candy or am sick. My man is also used to it, lol. I do try and be quick about it, but it’s just so much fun.
Danielle says
On a day to day basis I definitely keep it fairly minimal, similar to yours. I do wear bold lipstick pretty often, but that’s about as crazy as I typically get. I will amp up the eye makeup on special occasions.
GirlinaTrenchcoat says
I used to be a minimalist. 😛 Some primer, powder, blush, gloss and I’m out the door in 5 minutes!
Nowadays it’s more like 30 minutes and 10 products, even though the look is still fairly natural. I like the extra products though, they take it up a notch from “passable” to “oooh pretty”.
Leah says
My version of minimalist is still plenty of foundation, blush, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick so I’m probably not very minimalist really! Feel naked without enough make up on ha ha.
http://leahpaigejones.blogspot.co.uk/
Alison says
It depends what you mean! I LOVE product. I LOVE pigments and formulas and skincare and the way it all works. I appreciate it too much not to have a collection of things to enjoy… I carefully select most of the things that I own, and a lot of them are fairly expensive. That said, I don’t really like to own things that I don’t actually use, so I only buy maybe one item of makeup every month or so.
With my makeup routine, I love taking the time to just relax and do my face and enjoy it. So I don’t really keep track of how long I take, I just sort of let myself take the amount of time that I need. That said, I generally go for a pretty streamlined, simple routine. Sometimes, it’s basically just nice skin, nice lashes and a bit of definition on the cheeks and eyes.
So yeah, I can see how to some, I’d be an excessive and to others, I’d be considered a minimalist. It sort of depends on your point of view!
Leona says
I usually do minimalist makeup everyday, I guess by your definition. Eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, brows, and blush. I usually use a moisturizer with SPF too. That’s pretty much it. Some days just mascara, brows, and blush. Depends if I feel lazy. 😛
Kylie says
I never leave the house without make-up. If I’m running to the grocery store– foundation, blush, eyeliner, and mascara. BARE MINIMUM. If I’m having a minimal make-up workday, it’s more like face primer, eye primer, concealer, foundation, blush, eye liner, & mascara.
Vanessa says
I’m a minimalist too. Upon occasion, I’ll feel artistic and do something bold like a colorful lip or eye, with all the related knick knacks. But day to day, I’ll just do eyeliner and brow powder, concealer or tinted lip balm optional depending on the day. Weekends, I wear nothing.
Iris says
I usually go all out for makeup, unless I’m running a quick errand or it’s a rushed day. 🙂
Sherri says
I used to go lighter, like only wearing Studio Fix Powder as a foundation, but that was it. To me, I don’t like putting on a bunch of makeup to look like I’m NOT wearing makeup. It just seems silly. I love dramatic eyeshadow looks, so I often rock a smokey eye at work.. at a hospital. 🙂
My “light day” would be a correcting liquid to cover my redness. I currently use this product in Neutralize from MAC, which has since been discontinued. http://shop.nordstrom.com/S/mac-prep-prime-fortified-skin-enhancer-spf-35/3206637?origin=category-personalizedsort&contextualcategoryid=0&fashionColor=&resultback=4400&cm_sp=personalizedsort-_-browseresults-_-3_14_B
I set it with MAC’s MSF Natural, with a NARS all-over illuminator in Orgasm on my cheeks. This “natural” look will also include a cream shadow or NYX jumbo pencil, mascara, and lip gloss.
So, to answer your question, no.. I am definitely NOT a minimalist. I love makeup and I’ve been obsessed ever since I was allowed to wear it.
Sam says
I’m all over the place when it comes to makeup looks. Half of the week I work early shifts leaving my house at 6:15am so I usually wear foundation, concealer (or studio fix and concealer), mascara and blush or bronzer and lipgloss.
On the days I have time in the morning I wear primer, foundation, under eye primer, eyelid primer, eyeliner, eyeshadow (maybe a smokey eye), mascara, highlighter, blush or bronzer, lipstick or gloss. I feel more like myself in makeup but I’m okay with going minimal if I need to. To be honest though I feel I get treated differently when I’m wearing full makeup vs minimal (I work in a retail setting)
Sam says
Oh and setting powder lol
Sylirael says
Yes in the sense that I can’t stand having much stuff on my face (i.e. foundation etc).
No in the sense that, given my druthers, I’d wear bright purple lipstick and cobalt blue eyeliner a LOT more often than I do 😉
Deanna says
Lately, I’ve been doing very quick makeup. I have to wake up at 5:30 a.m., and I just don’t feel awake enough to do a full face of makeup. Most days, I wear Too Faced Beauty Balm, Stila eye shadow in Kitten, a light dusting of powder and blush, and some mascara.
I’m looking to simplify my routine even further by finding a good powder foundation. I’m hoping that would allow me to skip the setting powder. 🙂
Allyson says
I love doing my makeup too much to ever TOTALLY keep it simple. My boyfriend/friends are also pretty used to “Okay let me just touch up my makeup! Just need like TWO minutes!” I CAN do my makeup in about 5 minutes which is what people don’t seem to understand. I just don’t WANT to.
But I’ve also gotten good at eliminating products depending on how much time I have. I’ll skip concealer and go straight to foundation, and I’ll stick to a single, low-maintenance eyeshadow color and mascara on my eyes if I’m in a hurry.
Grace says
Definitely not. Putting on a full face of makeup every day for school makes mornings so much more fun!! But if I’m traveling or just going out to run errands/hang out with friends I’ll just put some foundation over a few problem spots, mascara, blush, and a light dusting of eyeshadow 🙂
Fancie says
I don’t wear much on a regular basis but I still wouldn’t consider myself a makeup minimalist lol. I still sport big, full lashes even when I’m not full faced. If I wasn’t so lazy I’d be decked out in glittery lids and bold lips everyday lol.
Chelsea says
My makeup’s usually pretty simple, due to an inability to wake up on time. Foundation or BB Cream (still searching… tried on NARS Radiant Cream foundation at Blue Mercury and in a fit of spontaneity bought it, but I want to scratch my face off from itchiness, so that’s going back…), undereye concealer, blush, brows, mascara, tiny bit of eyeliner…
Poo@beautyandmakeupmatters says
I am not a makeup minimalist too.. when in rush I can go out wth just a lip glosee but usually it includes kohl, liner, Lip colors and a bit of pressed powder.. 🙂
Teh app looks great.. I will search for it too.. 😉
Jackie says
I’m hardly a makeup minimalist…For everyday, I like to wear a full face of makeup. Makeup is so much fun to put on! The only times when I consider myself a makeup minimalist is when I’m going to my dance class and expect to get a good workout or when I’m just out and about running errands on a “lazy day.” Minimal makeup for me consists of wearing just lipstick and blush and sometimes maybe tinted moisturizer and powder on my forehead, as well. I love makeup too much and enjoy putting it on too much to be a minimalist. 🙂
Ankita Singh says
Am I the only one who goes out day after day with just sunscreen and a lipbalm (not the tinted one, that too)? Woah. For me eyeliner/kohl and gloss/lipstick is make-up, and these events occur like once a month. Don’t need a concealer, don’t own one. Foundation and mascara and shadow and blush come out for parties/weddings only.
Damn, I guess I’m a relic.
Erin says
Yeah, normally I don’t wear much or any. When I work in an office, I’ll wear more daily.
Vicky says
Love reading your blogs Hun. I can say I am a minimalist, but because I’m usually rushing out the door to work/Uni and I’d rather half extra half an hour to buy coffee and settle in instead of adding foundation.
I usually just dab on some concealer, liner, bronzer and lip balm..that’s it
Rachel P. says
On a normal day, no- I’m definitely not a makeup minimalist, lol! In the past year, my enthusiasm for beauty and products has grown SO MUCH that you can’t keep the makeup away from me! Even today, I was digesting lunch and prepping for a nature hike, and lo and behold, I ended up in my bathroom practicing my cat eye with a felt-tip liner I had given up on- just to kill time. That is literally so normal for me, and when I went to leave the house, my mom said, “….did you just get made up to go work out?” Which wasn’t the case at all, but it was so funny because I enjoy makeup so much, I didn’t even think about it! That being said, when I am dashing to the bank or doing a serious workout, I will basically just need an alphabet cream or foundation with some coverage for my seriously effed-up skin, and I can function on that alone for very brief periods of time (but I don’t like to). I’m not ashamed of my bare face or anything, in fact I’m very fond of myself (lol) but I do prefer to get all dolled up!