The beauty industry is notorious for its endless churn of new products, each one boasting transformative results that often fall short of expectations. Much like the fast fashion industry, it perpetuates a culture of impulse shopping and mindless consumption.
With each new product launch, consumers are bombarded with manipulative advertising campaigns that prey on insecurities, promising flawless skin, long lashes, and the perfect smile—if you just buy their product.
This relentless production of trend-led products to solve problems that don't exist not only fuels overconsumption, it also contributes to environmental issues through excessive packaging, single-use products, and mountains of waste. As a result, many people find themselves with drawers overflowing with half-used cosmetics and a nagging sense of buyer's remorse.
Creating a minimalist makeup routine offers a way to escape 'fast beauty' and its toxic advertising. Streamlining beauty products not only helps to keep makeup bags and bathroom counters clutter-free.
Having a curated collection of essential products, with fewer products to apply and fewer steps to follow, makes it possible to save money, get ready more quickly, and support a more sustainable beauty industry.
What is minimalist daily beauty routine?
A minimalist daily beauty routine involves simplifying skincare and makeup to focus on essential products that enhance natural beauty while saving time and reducing clutter. The emphasis is on quality over quantity, with a curated selection of multi-functional products catering to individual skin needs, promoting a more sustainable and mindful approach to beauty.
How do you simplify makeup routine?
To simplify a makeup routine, focus on including only the most essential steps using versatile, multi-purpose products. Streamlining a makeup routine to include only basics steps and essential products saves time and reduces clutter, while still achieving a polished look.
How to Create a Minimalist Makeup Routine
A minimalist approach to makeup not only saves time and money, it also promotes sustainable habits and mindful consumption. If you're ready to simplify your beauty routine and create a minimalist makeup collection, here are some steps to help you get started.
Assess Your Needs
The first step in creating a minimalist makeup collection is to assess your individual needs and preferences. Understanding what you need from makeup will help you to curate a beauty collection that is tailored to your specific preferences.
Consider your lifestyle, skin type, and personal style when determining which products are essential for you. Identify the products in your current routine that you use on a regular basis and the ones that remain untouched.
Stick to the Basics
When building a minimalist makeup collection, focus on including only the essential products that you need to achieve your desired look. Start with the basics, such as a good-quality foundation or tinted moisturizer, a concealer, and a setting powder.
For eyes, lips, and cheeks, opt for versatile basics that can be used to create both daytime and evening looks, including mascara, neutral eyeshadow, a lip and cheek tint, cream blush and contour stick, and multipurpose balms.
Choose Multi-Functional Products
When it comes to choosing products for a minimalist beauty collection, opt for products that serve multiple purposes. For example, a tinted moisturiser with SPF, blush or contour that can be used as eyeshadow, and a creamy brow tint that doubles as eyeliner.
By choosing multi-functional products with versatile formulas, it's possible to reduce the number of items you need in your beauty collection without sacrificing variety or quality.
Quality Over Quantity
While it may be tempting to stock up on different products in a variety of colours, having a few key products from reliable brands that are long-lasting and well-suited to your skin will save you money and ensure better results.
Prioritise quality over quantity by researching product reviews, seeking recommendations, and testing samples to find the best products for your needs. Once you discover the essential beauty products that work for you, stick with them!
Regularly Edit and Declutter
Maintaining a minimalist makeup collection requires regular editing and decluttering. By assessing your makeup collection frequently, you will ensure that you're only keeping products you use and love, reducing waste and promoting mindful consumption.
Make sure to periodically review your collection to identify any products you no longer use or need. These can be donated or responsibly or disposed of to free up space and keep your collection streamlined.
My Minimalist Makeup Routine
Believe it or not, this blog used to be dedicated to beauty product reviews! But as I learned about minimalism and zero waste living, I stopped buying lots of makeup products and adopted a simple beauty routine.
I found creating a makeup capsule a lot harder than streamlining my wardrobe. Although there are plenty of cruelty-free beauty brands, very few offer affordable and effective low waste options.
What I have managed to do is reduce my makeup routine down to the bare essentials by finding high-quality, versatile products that are both affordable and cruelty-free, if not always zero waste.
To apply makeup I use a set of Zoeva Makeup Brushes, which I clean on a weekly basis using Dr. Bronner Sal Suds Biodegradable Cleaner. I've had these brushes for years and they're all in great condition. The only brush I've had to replace is the 317 Wing Liner Brush.
As a base I start with the Tropic Undercover Cream Concealer to cover any problem areas, which is mainly just under my eyes. I set this using a light dusting of Revolution Pro Translucent Hydra-Matte Setting Powder.
Moving onto my brows, I brush through with a Tropic Eco Artists 3-in-1 Eye Brush before applying the Tropic Brow Boss Defining Powder. If they require shaping, I use a pair of Tweezerman Classic Slant Tweezers I've had for almost 20 years.
I keep my daily makeup really simple by using the Tropic Jet Set Pressed Bronzer as an eyeshadow as well as a blush or contour. Although I do own a small neutral eyeshadow palette for more dynamic looks.
I add colour to my cheeks using the By Beauty Bay Liquid Cream Blush or a Tropic Blush Crush Pressed Powder. Blending and setting with the Revolution Setting Powder.
I keep a tube of Superdrug Vitamin E Lip Balm in every bag to apply regularly throughout the day. But if I want to add colour, I use the E.L.F. Hydrating Lip Core Shine (Happy); a tinted lip balm that moisturises and feels good to wear.
All my makeup is stored in a small MUJI Makeup Bag.