Lately, I have been traveling a lot, working a lot and, just generally being tired a lot. This has lead me to a minimal makeup routine (winged liner style). Now keep in mind that I love makeup. Therefore, my definition of minimal is very different from the average idea of minimal. I still wear a foundation, concealer and, powder. Its the rest of the process that gets more simple.
I cut out blush but, use bronzer. I find this works best with a bronzer that has some red undertones or warmth to it (Bobbi Brown has bronzers with a beautiful red undertone), since that can almost double as a blush. I also pick bronzer over blush because I find blush without bronzer can look harsh. Bronzer on its own makes you look warm and healthy. Then I use a powder (or maybe a pencil) to fill in my brows. Something quick and soft. Nothing full-on since the eye makeup will be soft.
On the eyes I use simple mattes. Specifically NARS Madrague duo. Its perfect. But any matte eye look with natural shades works. The winged liner thanks to the amazing Kat Von D Ink Liner (because I just can’t be without it). And mascara. Lots of mascara. For lips I went nude, which goes with everything. I have been crazy about the Bite Beauty High Pigment Pencil in Sable (from the Bite Beauty Best Bite Remix, which I can review if you guys want to hear about it, just let me know in the comments).
What makeup do you wear when you are feeling minimal? Any products you have been loving? Oh and happy Halloween! I need to get into really intense Halloween makeup (which I did not this year) but maybe next year. I’m one of those people who can never think of a good costume and end up figuring something out the night of from the contents of my closet. I always tell myself I’ll be better next year and so far, I have not been. Lol. Oh well.
beauty and the eyeliner 
It’s not so much fun when there’s just no time/energy for makeup in the morning! My bare minimum routine, like for walking to the grocery store, is tinted moisturizer or BB cream with SPF (Too Faced BB Cream in Vanilla Glow) plus mineral powder with SPF (Tarte), tinted brow gel (Anastasia) and tinted lip balm with SPF (Fresh Sugar).
But I’m really happier if I start with concealer, BB/CC Cream with SPF and setting powder (IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye and CC Cream, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Dim Light). I’m with you on sticking with bronzer if it’s going to be only one cheek product, but most bronzers are kind of dark for me and need a lot of blending, so I’ll turn to the Hourglass powder in Radiant Light to use as a cheek color. Basic eyes for me would be MAC Paint Pot in Painterly from lashes to brow, tightline with Inglot gel eyeliner, apply plenty of mascara and a sweep of something shimmery across my mobile lids, maybe Laura Mercier Caviar eye stick in Orchid, or NARS Dual-Intensity eyeshadow in Callisto, Lysithea, or Dione, or Ardency Inn Manuka Honey Enriched Pigments in Disco (I want to try Sunday and Heaven for this, too). The neutral contoured eye look, even winged liner, doesn’t seem to do much for my hooded eyes, especially through my eyeglasses. The tinted brow gel can be enough for me by itself if I’m in a hurry, doing a casual look or a fairly subdued (for me) eye. Lipstick is a must for me, a bright color for sure if the rest of my makeup is minimal. If I don’t have time for outlining my lips with pencil, I’ll apply the lipstick straight from the bullet then slightly blur the edge with a finger or cotton bud. Then I don’t have to worry about keeping a crisp edge during a busy day.
The hardest part for me is keeping the eye look simple, I really have fun using lots of different colors, adding powder to cream or pencils, etc. Also, if I use more than the teeniest amount of blush I can end up having to spend a lot of time blending. Occasionally, in despair, I’ve applied more CC Cream or IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Redness over top of too intense bronzer/blush. If you ever need to do this, the MAC Masterclass large oval brush is the perfect tool for the job.
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Its really not fun. Haha. You are so right. Hopefully I have some more time soon and I can really play. I want to do something fun and colorful soon on the blog too 🙂
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