How To Nail Minimalist Makeup: 6 Nonnegotiable Tips, From Experts

Minimalist makeup is so much more than cleaning out your makeup collection. Yes, the term "minimal" might inspire you to dig through your chasm of lippies and liners and toss the ones that have yet to see the light of day, but "minimalist makeup" is an entire look itself—one that strikes the balance between enhancing your natural beauty and having fun with it. 

It's a dual-pronged venture: On one hand, you're reducing the number of products in your routine, decreasing the clutter, and keeping your vanity, you know, minimal. But minimalist makeup also entails a no-fuss approach: "Let's face it; there's something so liberating about waking up and not having to go through all the motions," says makeup artist Alexandra Compton, product development manager at clean beauty retailer Credo. You're picking a few products (ideally multiuse formulas, which we'll get into later) and rolling with the punches. 

"My biggest tip is to focus on enhancing one feature of your face that you love: eyes, skin, lips, brows, etc.," says Compton. That way, you can still achieve a high-impact look, if you so choose (again, minimalist makeup is not "no-makeup makeup"), but you keep it simple with one focal point. "You're doing the bare minimum, but you're still doing something with a lot of impact," says Crimson. 

There is a time and place for sculpting and contouring, but minimalist makeup is not it. You can use highlighter and blush to carve the cheekbones if that's your chosen focal point, but both Crimson and Compton recommend steering clear of too-heavy coverage. This makeup look is all about ease and simplicity—so let your skin breathe. 

Minimalist makeup doesn't mean you should shy away from color. Quite the opposite! How many looks have you seen with rich shadows or intricate eyeliner designs that still manage to look minimal? Well, it's because they stick to one shade: Just like you should choose one feature to highlight, choose one hue if you decide to go vibrant. 

Of course, it helps to stick to one color story if you're using the same product across your features. We love a good multiple around here: Not only does it save time and maximize your dollar (talk about more bang for your buck), but it pares back your makeup routine by leaving more room in your beauty bag. 

This is where minimalist makeup and "no-makeup makeup" arguably differ the most: With "no-makeup makeup," you may spend ample time in the mirror to make your blush look naturally sun-kissed, to let that highlight read undetectable. With minimalist makeup? It's more lived in and a bit undone—according to Crimson, it shouldn't take you more than 10 minutes.

Of course, the trend has a practical element: Using fewer products is friendly on your budget and on your schedule. Rather than splurging on a handful of palettes, perhaps you indulge in one or two basics to use for your lips, cheeks, and lids. If you previously had products upon products spilling over your shelves, paring your routine down to a few versatile staples feels like a welcome relief. 

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.