“Natural beauty takes at least two hours in front of a mirror”.
Pamela Anderson.
Hello, young padawan
Yes, you read that right, and yes, you’re on the Chill by Caro blog, written by Caro. And yes, your faithful servant is anything but minimalist, especially when it comes to beauty, but what can I say? A reader challenged me on Instagram, and I must take it up for the blog’s honor. The challenge is simple: a minimalist makeup routine for sunny days, or if I can’t manage that, just a complexion routine.
Well, let’s be bold and crazy. We’ll take on both.
So here we go with a five-product complexion routine and a few extras that will form a complete minimalist makeup ritual in eight articles, adding a touch of light and playfulness.
One choice of tinted product
Because we don’t all have the same skin, needs, or expectations, here are three complexion products to help you complete the first step. It’s up to you to choose your favorite, or to remember the one tucked away at the bottom of your drawer that you loved so much, before you forgot about it.
The first, my current favorite, almost finished, and which I repurchase every year, is Madara’s SPF 30, also seen in this article here. It’s sunscreen, yes, but it has a very light tint/coverage, and gives a “my skin, but better” look. For those who like the no-makeup effect, you’ll love this. It’s suitable for all light to golden skin tones. Note: It’s now available in SPF 50, but I haven’t tried it yet.
Dr. Hauschka’s tinted Emulsion is the absolute all-rounder that will give you a healthy glow in any situation, while reducing uneven pigmentation. In your day cream or SPF, it will give a lovely tanned effect that has the advantage of disappearing when you remove your makeup (unlike self-tanners, ed). In a day cream or SPF, it will enhance your complexion, and in your winter foundation, it will even out any golden tone you might have for sunny days if your skin has tanned. Its pleasant, neutral, and non-overpowering botanical scent will appeal to everyone, and the ingredients, like witch hazel, will take care of your skin. I also talk about it here and here.
Typology’s tinted serum is my great find this year. It contains antioxidant vitamin C and hydrating and protective aloe vera. I chose a shade just a little darker than my natural skin tone for a natural, healthy glow. I should point out that this tip is valid provided that the product is easily blendable on the skin, that you don’t need a lot of coverage, and that there isn’t too much of a difference between your skin tone and the product’s. You should be on a half-tone up, apply it in small quantities, and blend it well into the neck.
I really appreciate the result of this product on the skin, which is more and more beautiful (so natural, almost invisible, according to my criteria, ed) hour after hour, and lasts all day. Easy to work with, three drops are enough for a very natural effect, for a “my skin but better” result.
Continuation and end of the complexion routine
And we’ll start with my tip. No, it’s not cheating, since it’s a single, tiny product that serves as a bronzer, contour, powder, and highlighter all in one. Haha! You didn’t see that one! This thing is initially for the eyes, so double cheating, but it’s also perfect for the complexion, and can therefore be used on the eyelids if you wish. It’s the small, round, six-color blending eye palette Artclass by Rodin from Too Cool For School, in neutral brown. I should point out that the highlighter is great as an eyeshadow or in the inner corner of the eye, which is what it was designed for, but too glittery to use as a complexion highlighter, unless it’s a really sparkly night out! For those with different skin tones or desires, I’ve seen similar products here, here, there, here, and here.
Even a minimalist beauty kit needs a concealer that can also be used as a corrector. My choice is Haus Labs, in shade 11 light neutral, which I chose based on my actual skin tone. It contains fermented arnica to help decongest. It provides a blurring effect, illumination, and concealing with buildable medium coverage. It also lasts all day.
Victoria Beckham’s highlighter in shade Pearl is truly my favorite for the summer months, which I also talk about in this article. It’s super natural, has good staying power, and can be worn alone or over makeup on the upper cheeks, brow bone (top and bottom), the bridge of the nose, and the inner corner of the eyes. It illuminates the face and provides a beautiful natural glow, without looking greasy or glittery, which is not always what you want, lol.
A good lipstick in a pencil format that doesn’t take up space, the color of your lips, “but better,” as makeup artists say. I found it, and it’s anything but new. I’ve been repurchasing it for over ten years, and I’ll continue to do so, because it’s excellent. My best lip shade is Valkyrie from the Nars lip pencil range. Mine is the old version, repurchased two years ago, and it’s still as great as ever.
The little extras for a complete and minimalist makeup routine
A good mascara in a minimalist makeup bag is worth it! Right now, I’m having a blast with a burgundy mascara from Maybelline. It casts a barely noticeable shadow on dark lashes like mine, but in direct light (sunlight, or with a spotlight on your face, ed), it’s noticeable, yet it’s both subtle and pretty. On blondes, it’s even more noticeable, but the burgundy isn’t harsh, so it’s super pretty too, and natural (meaning wearable at the office if you’re an accountant or notary, for example, ed). A little touch of playfulness while remaining natural and minimalist—you asked for it, Caro delivered! Lol.
Also, this mascara comes in black and is absolutely fantastic, no matter the shade. It lengthens and volumizes, lasts all day without flaking, and washes off with water. Pure bliss! And for the craziest among us, it also comes in bright blue, bright pink, glitter, eggplant, green…
And as a little extra, there’s the eyeshadow and blush.
For a touch of highlight on the eyelids, I’m going with Glossier’s Lidstar eyeshadow in Cub, which is natural and easy to blend. It’s a marvel, and I’ve already talked about it several times on this blog, here and here.
For the blush, I love this little product from Fwee, a Korean brand. It’s part cream, part mousse, super easy to blend, and comes in countless colors, so it’s impossible not to find something you like! I chose the shade Feel’n, a pretty brown with a lovely orangey-pink touch that suits all skin tones. This little product is also a cheat sheet because, with a small silicone-tipped pencil, it can be applied to the lips to create a beautiful matte veil of color that I find very flattering.
So here’s this minimalist makeup kit containing a foundation product, a concealer, an all-purpose powder bronzer for the face and eyes, a highlighter, a lipstick pencil, and a few little extras for fun, like mascara, blush, and eyeshadow to apply with your finger. Minimalist, yes, but fun!
Have a great weekend, and see you next Thursday for new adventures.
XO 🌵
