Many of us are choosing to skip full-on makeup these days and opting for a minimal makeup look. Embracing a bronzed glow or a minimal makeup look gives off a more natural vibe that translates well, notes Meredith Baraf, a celebrity makeup artist in New York. The secret to pulling off this look requires a modest collection of products that expands well beyond cosmetics. It starts with focusing on the health of your skin. “If your skin looks rested, hydrated and happy, your makeup can simply accent your natural beauty,” says Baraf.
Ready to rock the minimal makeup look on your next Zoom call? Incorporate these expert tips into your day-to-day regimen.
1. IMAGE Skincare VITAL C Hydrating Facial Cleanser (6 fl. oz.)
One of the most essential elements to creating a flawless, low-key look is starting with freshly cleaned skin. Work in a hydrating cleanser that dissolves any existing makeup and impurities on the skin while simultaneously giving the skin a boost of antioxidants. IMAGE Skincare's VITAL C Hydrating Facial Cleanser does just that thanks to ingredients like vitamin C and superoxide dismutase, which fight against free radicals lurking in the environment that cause oxidative stress in the skin. It also contains soapwort, a cleansing botanical extract that has soothing properties.
2. Sunday Riley ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream 1.7 oz
To combat dryness and keep skin as supple as possible so that your makeup goes on smoothly, it’s best to up your hydration game. Be sure to use a lightweight moisturizer that’s not too heavy but rich in texture, like Sunday Riley’s ICE Ceramide Moisturizing Cream. The formula is enriched with ceramides and vitamin F, which help protect the skin’s barrier and maintain proper hydration levels. It also contains coconut, which reduces moisture loss and red algae to lock in hydration.
For an even higher dose of hydration, use SkinCeuticals Hyaluronic Acid Intensifier—its key ingredient, hyaluronic acid, can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water! It also goes the extra mile by containing purple ride extract, which preserves the hyaluronic acid content in the skin.
5. RMS Beauty Master Radiance Base (0.5 oz.)
If you are going for a glowing, radiant look, make sure not to forget a highlighter. “Highlighting helps the makeup look more dimensional and also adds a fresh feel when the light hits those highlighted points,” says Jessika Bekteshi, a makeup artist based in New York. She’s a big fan of RMS Beauty’s Master Radiance Base, because of its ability to luminize the skin and unveil a natural glow. “Use your finger and gently dab the highlighter to your cheekbones, inner corner of the eyes and your cupid's bow, making sure to blend for a seamless, natural look,” she says.
7. Kjaer Weis The Cheek Collective 0.3 fl. oz.
To give your skin that sunkissed glow and accentuate your natural features, add a pop of pigment to your cheekbones. We recommend the Kjaer Weis The Cheek Collective, as this includes a variety of cheek products to help you achieve a natural-looking glow. A subtle dab of Kjaer Weis' blush to the apples of your cheeks delivers a rosy flush. It comes in different hues and is infused with skin-loving ingredients like jojoba oil for moisture, gardenia extract, which provides antioxidant benefits, and rsa rubiginosa seed oil to help fight signs of premature aging.
