How to Create Your Perfect Minimalist Makeup Collection

If you are hoping to streamline your beauty routine, creating a minimalist makeup collection is your best bet. You will save yourself a ton of time and money by decluttering your makeup bag and only keeping the essentials.

The Benefits of a Minimalist Makeup Routine

In a perfect world our minimalist makeup bags would be empty.

We could all wake up fresh-faced and ready to go.

Actually, I know many simple-living women who gave up makeup years ago.

I am not one of them.

My skin tone is uneven and pale. As I have aged, by lashes and brows have thinned to almost transparent. Without makeup, I am often asked if I am tired….don’t you just love that?

Since I am not going to give up makeup altogether, I figured that I would create a “capsule makeup collection” just like I created a capsule wardrobe for my clothes.

I much prefer my minimalist makeup routine, to my former cluttered cosmetics drawer and I think you will too.

Here’s why:

Let’s your natural beauty shine through

Honestly, I love makeup and what it can do for women. When used correctly it can:

-Boost Confidence
-Hide Imperfections
-Give you a more pulled together and professional look

Personally, I am all for anything that makes us feel better about ourselves. So if that means putting on a little makeup each day – then let’s do it!

Also, having a daughter I hope to set a good example for her when it comes to makeup.

I know that she will want to wear makeup someday, and she has already commented about how natural my makeup looks compared to other women and girls on social media.

My hope is that this helps her to emphasize her natural beauty with makeup instead of spending hours watching makeup tutorials on YouTube and doing a full contoured face just to go to school.

Saves Time

No more mornings spent trying to decide which shade of eyeshadow to wear – or desperately searching through your cluttered makeup drawer for your favorite lipstick.

When you choose a makeup palette that is classic and timeless you realize you don’t need trendy cosmetics to create your best look.

With your streamlined makeup routine you will find that it takes just minutes to get ready in the morning – which gives you time for all the other stuff you have to do.

You will also spend less time shopping for makeup.

I have realized that all of my minimalist makeup essentials are available on Amazon so it takes just minutes to re-order.

SO MUCH EASIER than trying to go to Sephora with my kids!

Saves Money

This is a no-brainer, but it’s worth mentioning.

I have girlfriends who have gone into serious debt over makeup.

Like, thousands of dollars.

According to money.com the average woman will spend $43 when purchasing makeup.

Just a few trips a year and that’s hundreds of dollars.

When you declutter and streamline your makeup bag you save money by reducing the number of products you use.

And we all know that most of them end up wasted or never used anyway.

Minimalist Makeup Essentials

Our culture has a serious obsession with beauty – and cosmetics companies take full advantage of that.

Everywhere you look there is an ad for a product telling you that it will improve your appearance.

It’s easy to be enticed by clever marketers into purchasing anything targeted to cover up your insecurities.

Over the years, I have been persuaded to try hundreds of products from inexpensive drugstore brands to high-end products sold by my dermatologist with the promise that they would work.

The truth: few of them live up to their claims.

Eventually, I decided to toss the dozens of cosmetics and skin-care products that were cluttering up my bathroom cabinets and create a minimalist makeup collection instead.

Over time I was able to find products that are foolproof, affordable and do the job.

While creating your minimalist makeup collection be sure to look for:

-Dual purpose products (takes the place of 2 products you currently use)
-High quality products that work don’t run or smudge
-Companies that use natural ingredients that are beneficial for your skin

Here is what I think are the essentials to have in your minimalist makeup bag:

Foundation or BB Cream with Sunscreen

If you have flawless skin you can skip this part, but I don’t think many of us are in that boat.

(If you are…I am totally jealous and happy for you at the same time.

This step is just to create an even skin tone and protect your skin from sun damage.

I love that so many products contain sunscreen now, so products do double-duty.

What I use: bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Tinted Hydrating Gel Cream SPF 30

Eye Shadow

Be sure to choose a neutral hue with just a hint of shimmer.

This will allow you to build up the color as needed to take your look from daytime to evening, or for a special event.

I tend to prefer cream based shadows because they go on quickly and evenly and don’t make a powdery mess. They can also do double duty as eyeliner.

What I use: Revlon ColorStay Crème Eye Shadow

Eyeliner

Because I have thin lashes, I use eyeliner everyday. However, it’s also a great essential to have on hand to create a more dramatic look for evening or a special event.

I love eyeliners that are smooth or even liquid that go on easily without tugging or pulling.

What I use: Rimmel Soft Kohl Eyeliner

Mascara

Ok, if I had to choose just one minimalist makeup essential, mascara would take first place.

Just a few coats of this stuff makes you look awake and draws more attention to your eyes.

Even on the weekends, when I might not do a full face of makeup I still use mascara because it’s so quick and easy and really makes a difference.

What I use: L’Oreal Paris Makeup Voluminous Mascara

Blush

Blush, or rouge as my grandma always called it, is my next favorite right after mascara.

You want to choose a light color that brings warmth to your face. Try to avoid too much shimmer, or unnatural tones.

To create a natural look the best advice I ever saw was to exercise, then look in the mirror to see what color your cheeks are and try to find a blush that matches.

What I use: NARS Blush

Lipgloss

Lipstick has always felt too thick and cakey for me for daytime use.

I much prefer a hydrating lip gloss with buildable color.

What I use: Burt’s Bees 100% Natural Moisturizing Lip Shine

So those are what I consider to be my absolute must-haves for a minimalist makeup bag.

Notice, that I only use one product for each area of my face.

In the past, I used to:

-Layer three different eyeshadows
-Use two blushes for contouring
-Kept a handful of lipgloss on hand because I was a sucker and bought them all the time.

Switching to one product for each area has really helped to cut down on the number of cosmetics products I use, and I feel that my overall look is still very similar.

The Extras

I do have a few more products that I keep in my makeup drawer that I use from time to time depending on my schedule or the events I am attending.

Powder

To minimize shine and build natural looking coverage.

What I use: bareMinerals Powder Foundation

Eyebrow Filler

Thick brows are all the rage these days, but a filler is also helpful as your brows begin to thin. This is the best and most natural filler that I have found over the years.

What I use: Benefit BrowZing

Concealer

Perfect to cover the occasional blemish or brighten the under eye area. I also love to use concealer as an eyeshadow base or primer. It just seems to make it stay on longer.

What I use: Benefit Boing Brightening Concealer

To Review: Create your own Capsule Makeup Collection

Choose neutral colors to create a natural look

I promise you won’t regret skipping out on the latest makeup trend. Just look at your pictures from high school if you need to be sure.

Find Dual Purpose Products

Foundation with sunscreen, cream blush that can be lipstick too, eyeliner you can use to fill in your brows. All of these products will help you cut down on the clutter in your makeup bag.

Keep one (go-to) product for each area

Ditch the duplicates and simplify your makeup routine with one eyeshadow, one blush, one lip gloss etc.

Avoid Makeup Palettes

They are SO tempting and adorable, but they are expensive and you never end up using all the colors.

Choose a small yet functional makeup bag

Instead of tossing your products in a drawer, keep them nice and tidy in a makeup bag.

Choose one that is small enough to store everything you need, but still helps you to limit what you can fit inside.

There you have it mama!

My favorite tips to help you create your perfect minimalist makeup collection.