In a world moving away from full-coverage foundations and heavy contour, skinimalism has emerged as a refreshing approach to beauty. It’s about letting your skin breathe, celebrating your natural features, and using just enough product to enhance what’s already there. You don’t need to ditch your make-up routine completely. Here are some tips for the days when a full face feels like too much.
With brands like Rhode and Glossier, it’s easier than ever to achieve a seamless, natural look. Dewy skin and simple make-up have become timeless staples and some of the biggest beauty trends in recent years. Minimalism in make-up is less about doing nothing and more about knowing exactly what not to do.
Skin First: The Art of a Clean Base
Whether you’re going for a sheer skin tint or spot concealing, skin prep is everything. Think of your face as a blank canvas. Your skincare is the key to painting your make-up beautifully. A moisturiser with hyaluronic acid gives a plump, fresh base. If you’re on the oilier side, look out for niacinamide to help balance and prep.
Remember sun protection. A tinted SPF can be a good option for evening out your complexion without the need for a skin tint. If tinted SPF isn’t for you, a lightweight skin tint will melt into the skin rather than sit on top of it. You might want to highlight your freckles by ditching the skin tint altogether.
Taking the time to prep your skin helps everything that follows feel more natural and considered.
Layering Up your Base
Completing your base is about mastering sheer layers with a light hand, especially when applying concealer or blush. Cream formulas work best here, melting into the skin for a more seamless finish. Spot concealing can even out the complexion without covering it entirely, while a soft cream blush adds warmth and a healthy glow.
It is important to avoid ashy or grey tones, particularly on deeper skin tones, to maintain a natural, radiant finish.
Once the base is fresh and light, shift the focus to one or two key features. This is where the artistry comes in. A bold lip, fluffy brow or clean lid can create the kind of contrast that keeps the overall look intentional and polished.
Eyes and Brows
Brows and lashes are the quiet stars of a skinimalist look. You can curl your lashes to open up your eyes, but not all minimalism means skipping mascara. Softer formulas are a great option. For fair lashes, using a brown mascara can accentuate the lashes naturally. A good budget-friendly option is the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High. It comes in both Black and Brownish Black and has a lightweight formula with added volume.
Fluffy, uncarved brows will keep the look fresh and modern overall. For a laminated brow effect, Refy’s Brow Sculpt can help slick the hairs down without committing to a lamination treatment. If a more natural, fluffy look is for you, opt for a tinted eyebrow gel to add colour and gently hold the brows in place.
These small details keep the face feeling open and effortless without overpowering your natural features.
Lip Treatments
Whether it’s lip tint or gloss, a natural colour that matches your undertones is key. Your go-to natural lip combo could come in handy. For me, that is a matte pairing of a lip stain and lip liner. It is minimal effort and requires little reapplication. A great option for a glossy finish is Glossier’s Balm Dotcom or Elf’s Glow Reviver Melting Lip Balm.
This simple step keeps the look polished without overpowering the rest of the face.
Skinimalism is about self-acceptance and using make-up as enhancement, not as a way to conceal your natural features. Don’t be afraid to get shade-matched for products at any step of your routine to achieve that barely-there look. This isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. It is about doing whatever works best for you.
Skinimalism is about texture, not perfection. Let your skin breathe. Let your ‘imperfections’ peek through.
Header image by Ivy Elix @ivy4eva