EMBRACE MINIMALISM IN YOUR MAKEUP ROUTINE

In an industry where beauty trends ebb and flow, one timeless approach has managed to anchor itself into our makeup bags and routines: minimalism.

Minimalist makeup is all about achieving that natural makeup look – a celebration of your innate beauty that works to enhance your features by adding just a few subtle touches. Here at YSL Beauty, we understand the art and science of minimalism – and our range of products and accompanying techniques will allow you to achieve simple makeup looks for a flawless, radiant finish. Below, we’ll delve into the world of minimal makeup and give you the tools to effortlessly incorporate and embrace minimalism in your routine.

What is minimal makeup all about?

Minimal makeup is more than just a trend – it’s a celebration of the features that make you unique. It's a gentle nod to your authentic beauty, a way of embracing and cherishing what sets you apart from the rest. Guided by its “less is more” philosophy, minimalist makeup products tend to favour more simple makeup looks that don’t seek to hide or transform, but rather work to enhance your individual and unique features with a soft, understated elegance.

The products you select should, therefore, be designed and formulated to complement – rather than mask – your natural beauty: and, in doing so, give you a fresh, radiant minimal makeup look that instils confidence all day long.

How to create minimal makeup looks in 7 simple steps

Creating a simple makeup look doesn’t always mean skimping on style or bowing to boring – instead, it’s about strategically choosing products that will accentuate your most prized features.

YSL Beauty has a star lineup of products that will help you achieve that coveted ‘no makeup’ makeup look. Let’s step through what you might need to consider when creating a minimalist makeup look.

1. Prep your canvas for a smooth and hydrated base.
2. Build a flawless base with foundation.
3. Lightly conceal as needed.
4. Enhance your natural flush.
5. Strategically employ bronzer and highlighter.
6. Softly define your eyes with earthy tones.
7. Swipe a touch of colour across your lips.

Read on as we guide you through each step of this simple makeup look.

Step 1: Prep the canvas

Begin your minimalist makeup journey by gently cleansing and moisturising your face to ensure a smooth and hydrated base.

For a breakdown of our favourite skincare tips, explore our guide on how to do skin prep for makeup . Following your skincare, you’ll want to prep your face for your simple makeup look with a primer that gives your makeup longevity while softening and blurring any imperfections.

For this, we recommend YSL’s Touche Éclat Blur Primer Gold. This light-infused primer utilises an advanced technology to provide a transparent gel which softly diffuses light and unifies skin tone. Visible pores will appear reduced, your skin’s texture will be smoothed, and your inner luminosity – which all minimalist makeup regimes should aim to accentuate – will be boosted.

Step 2: Build a flawless base

When it comes to achieving that coveted minimalistic makeup look, building a flawless complexion is your bread and butter. To do it right, though, you’ll want to source products that complement your skin tone and features. YSL’s Le Cushion Encre De Peau Foundation is an essential addition to your minimal makeup routine: pairing long-lasting moisturising powers with a luminous matte finish that will allow you to achieve a flawless base for your simple makeup look. Apply it sparingly on any areas of high colour – such as nose, chin and forehead – to even out your skin tone for a relaxed, pared-down look.

Step 3: Lightly conceal

Although light coverage is part of the minimalist makeup lexicon, concealer can still have a place in your simple makeup kit. The key is to use your concealer sparingly, targeting only the areas that need an extra touch of coverage, such as under the eyes and around the nose with YSL’s All Hours Concealer.

Formulated with an 85% skincare base, this concealer delivers all-day hydration alongside 24 hours of creaseless coverage.

Step 4: Enhance your natural flush

A minimal makeup look doesn’t mean foregoing colour completely. Select a soft, natural shade of blush to add a hint of flush to your cheeks. To optimise that simple makeup look, choose a shade that most closely matches the hue you turn when you’re blushing. Reach for a cream blush that blends seamlessly into your skin, and will give your complexion a healthy, radiant and luminous glow. Focus on the apples of the cheeks and just a touch across the nose.

Step 5: Add warmth and highlight

While we can save the ultra-sculpted look for full glam makeup, a dusting of bronzer can still align beautifully with minimalist makeup. Take a light dusting of the All Hours Hyper Bronze across the cheeks, either side of the nose, and just underneath the hair line to subtly warm up your face.

Finesse your complexion with YSL’s Touche Éclat Illuminating Highlighter Pen. Enriched with micro-lightening pigments and skin-comforting marigold, this magic pen will softly sculpt your facial features with a natural, luminous minimalist makeup finish.

Step 6: Bring soft definition to the eyes

Emphasise that glistening sparkle in your eyes by introducing some soft definition to embolden your minimalistic makeup look. YSL has a range of eye makeup products with an extensive collection of eyeshadows, mascaras and eyeliners. We recommend setting your sights on YSL’s Couture Colour Clutch Eyeshadow Palette Desert Nude for an unapologetically earthy, cream or nude shade that will softly contour your eyelids and enhance your natural eye shape.

Pair it with YSL’s Crushliner, a longwear retractable eyeliner that you can use to create a subtle line along your upper lash to add definition without overpowering your eyes. And remember: when it comes to makeup for simple looks, less is more – particularly when focusing on the eyes.

Step 7: Use a touch of colour on your lips

Finally, complete your minimalist makeup look with a natural shade from YSL’s Rouge Volupté Candy Glaze Lipstick, one that will enhance your lips’ natural colour for a polished, sophisticated finish. This is a tinted butter lip balm with a double care formula that will see your lips nourished and flawless for up to eight hours of wear.