For what it’s worth: Minimal does not mean boring. (Far from it!) Below, makeup artists fill us in on how to nail the modern look. While you might conflate minimalist makeup with “no-makeup makeup,” the two are very much distinct. See, the latter is still pretty detailed—even though it’s hailed as an effortless glow, it takes time and skill to truly get right. “You really have to focus on getting all of these intricate details correct,” says celebrity makeup artist A.J. Crimson. Whereas with minimal makeup, it’s more of a tap-and-go process. That’s why even negative space eyeliner looks can still appear minimal in the right context; if you choose to focus on the lids, go for it—just keep your cheeks, lips, and brows on the natural side. You can always use your concealer to your advantage by applying precisely in the areas with the most discoloration (typically under the eyes, around the nose, and any spots you’d like to cover up). Crimson also recommends starting in the center of the face and working your way out to the perimeter of the skin to make the result as subtle and bright as possible. See here for our favorite creamy concealers to choose from. For example, if you swipe a fuchsia number (like Beautycounter’s Satin Powder Blush) on the apples of your cheeks, use that same color across your lids or dab it onto your lips. Or if you’re partial to an electric blue hue (like this Kosas number), sweep it lightly over your cheekbones for a subtle, ethereal highlight. Bottom line? You can go bold with color without going overboard. “Try using your blush or bronzer on your eyelids patted in with fingertips and on the lips for a soft monochromatic look,” Compton suggests. Crimson’s partial to a lipstick-as-blush moment: Tap the bullet onto the cheeks and diffuse with your fingertips, and perhaps run it through the crease of your eye as well. See below for our favorite multifunctional buys (or you can always just repurpose a proper lipstick or cream blush). “It’s getting to the end result of your beauty [look] faster without overthinking it,” he adds. “You’re just tapping in color. The liner [may not be] perfect, but you’re still achieving our beauty goal at the end of it all.” But minimalist makeup itself is also, in a way, freeing. Especially in a world rife with video calls and virtual hangs, “maybe you became used to seeing what you look like every day and fell in love with yourself in a whole new way,” says Crimson. As a result, maybe you actually forgo the concealer (dark circles be damned) but still feel like swirling on a rosy blush or having fun with shadow to add some life to the equation. “It’s this breath of fresh air, really, in regards to beauty,” says Crimson. Compton agrees: “Makeup is not a mask but an empowering tool to boost confidence and spark joy,” she says. “We wear makeup on our own terms because we love doing it, not because we have to.” That’s not to say we should completely abandon glitz and glamour—we just might have two or three products to nail the look rather than a robust 10-step regimen.
