What You Need to Create a Fresh, Minimal Makeup Look

What You Need to Create a Fresh, Minimal Makeup Look

The “no makeup” look is hardly new. Fresh, glowy skin, wide and bright eyes, softly accented and defined features, and natural, rosy hues to add life to lips and cheeks. We’re not after cakes on foundation, a smoky eye, and contouring up the wazoo, just something to freshen up our features and give us that “I woke up like this” look. If you aren't experienced with makeup and makeup application, achieving this barely-there look can be a little daunting. We’ll talk you through all the products you need, both skincare and makeup, to create and maintain a fresh-looking face, day in and day out.

Skincare

Every makeup lover knows that no amount of makeup in the world will be able to create a successful look without skincare. To have glowing, dewy-looking skin, you need to have a base of fresh face makeup and healthy skin to work with. Skincare is the foundation of the house: without it, everything else will crumble.

Firstly, you need to chemically exfoliate once a week. Chemical exfoliants come without the potential drawback of minute tears in the skin's surface or scrubbing yourself raw. Exfoliating creates a smooth surface for your fresh makeup look. Next, you need to cleanse your face morning and night with a soft cleanser. Removing dirt unblocks pores which means no breakouts! Last but not least, you need to moisturize from the inside and the outside. Drink plenty of water and apply moisturizer (and SPF, even if you’re staying indoors) in the morning and the evening to keep your skin supple and smooth.

You don't need an entire battalion of skincare products, just a few well-chosen things that give your skin all the love and care it needs. Remember that your skin's needs change with the seasons: lighter oil-free products in summer and heavier, more moisturizing products when the harsh winter weather comes around. Take all the time you need to find out what your skin needs (many skincare lines offer consultations) and only use products that line up with your skin type, or you may encourage skin problems. Our skins are as unique as we are, so learn as much as you can about yours!

Makeup

1. Primer

First things first, prime your surface like any good artist! The primer keeps your pores makeup free and gives something for your foundation or BB cream to hold onto all day long. Even if you don't use foundation, a primer can keep other products on your face and smooth out your skin for glassy perfection. Primer and foundation are the only two steps of this process in which fingers alone will suffice to spread and rub the product into the skin.

2. Foundation or BB Cream

If you don't like makeup covering your whole face, avoid foundation. For a fresh look, we advise using minimum coverage or a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. This gives your skin a uniform look without making it mask-like and completely covered up. The key here is to blend, blend, blend. All foundation products should be blended over the jaw and onto your neck, and all the way into your hairline. Apply with a brush and blend with a beauty blender for a flawless face. If you need concealer, apply it in darkened areas or to cover blemishes. Let the concealer dry a little before you blend it out, also using a beauty blender.

3. Color Products

Since we’re going for a natural look, we advise that you use cream blush and eyeshadow. Apply the product to the back of your hand and then apply little bits to the cheeks and eyes. Build if you need to, and blend for a natural flush of color. We advise using a damp beauty blender to blur the color out across our skin for the most natural, sunkissed look possible. Applying your blush on your cheekbones and over your nose gives a summery glow. If you need lip color, only opt for a tinted lip balm: anything else will be too solid a color for a natural look.

4. Highlighter

Again, as we’re going for a natural look, we advise that you choose a non-glittery highlighter and go for a liquid or a stick. Apply highlighter sparingly to the inner corners of your eyes, your cheekbones and temples, the tip of your nose, and your cupid's bow. Blend these so that it looks like a natural glow, and the light bounces off these high points on your face. Only highlight where light would naturally catch your features at these high points.

5. Setting Products

We advise that you go for just one: a setting spray. Once all the above products are on your skin and have dried, spritz setting spray lightly all over your face from a distance of around 30 cm away. Stick to a few light spritzes rather than properly wetting your carefully applied makeup. This spray wets the products on your face just enough that they dry stronger and are less likely to smudge off your face during a full day of wear. Let your face dry before you move onto your brows and lashes, or you’ll have panda eyes the first time you blink.

6. Brow and Lash Products

The color of these will depend on your hair color. The simplest brow product you can use for a natural look is a brow gel. Use clear if your brows are full enough and colored if you need a little darkening and filling in. Brush your brows upward and allow them to set for a fluffed-up look. Go easy on the mascara, and try a brown color, even if your usual color is black. Brown looks slightly less harsh and a little more natural on many faces. If you like an extra fluffed look, apply slightly more of your brow gel and pat the brow down to dry them in place when they’re as fluffed up as possible from being brushed upwards. Before you apply your mascara, curl your lashes with a lash curler that has been warmed under a hairdryer: the heat helps set the curl. Start right at the base of the lashes and wiggle the brushes you lift slightly, then swipe the rest of the way up. Two to three layers is the maximum amount you should ever use on your lashes.

Wrap Up

It’s as simple as that! These are all the basics you need to have on hand and all the steps you need to take to give yourself a fresh-faced, minimal daily glow. If you stick to your skincare routine, your skin will be so naturally glowing and happy looking that you wont need a truckload of makeup to even out your skin tone or brighten up your face. This fresh-faced, minimal makeup routine is the perfect choice and keeps your costs down when purchasing makeup.