I have tried the minimal makeup thing before. It either ended up involving more products than usual or comments from friends/colleagues along the lines of "you look tired/ill/rough/hungover".
Makeup has always been a way for me to look better than my natural self. It's my game face to the outside world, disguising the tiredness and replacing it with brightness.
The thing is though, I have always loved that look of skin. Fresh skin with nothing on it. It looks good in daylight - no hints of caked on slap - and I am convinced that not wearing foundation must do good things.
So the other week I decided to give it a whirl.
Well, kind of. I didn't exactly go cold turkey but I really tried to use the bare minimum.
It went something like this:
* Slap on NARS Creamy Concealer in Custard below the eyes, around the nose and on chin...basically everywhere. Blend in and then promise yourself never to be without such a great product ever again.
* Apply some sort of colour on the face. This can be bronzer (FACE Stockholm in Capri) or it can be a blush. The key is warmth so that you don't get told you look like crap when you get to the office.
* Do something with eyebrows. Those patchy bits need to be filled in and doing that adds some structure. Very necessary! (Not pictured but it has to be MUFE Aqua Brow).
* Get an eyeliner and create a flick on the outer half of your eye. Don't take it all the way in. If you do, your eyes will look like pinholes. I used Chanel La Ligne - not the easiest product in the world to work with but if you want a black/black then this is a must!
* Apply a lot of mascara. Better yet get eyelash extensions. Minimal makeup challenges fully endorse cheating.
* Get a lip product on. Go for something glossy. Maybe MAC Underage because applying it makes you feel nostalgic or maybe it's By Terry Baume de Rose which makes you feel oh so sophisticated (and poor).
Leave the bathroom, carry on with your day and come 5pm look in the mirror and admire your shiny T-zone before touching up the concealer and bronzer.
And that's pretty much it.
So what have I learned in reducing the routine?
a) It takes a nano second to get ready in the morning which leaves more time for procrastination/alarm clock delay tactics.
b) I no longer feel self-conscious/worried about whether my foundation matches my skin tone, whether my shadow has dropped on the top of my cheeks or if I look like I am wearing too much for daytime.
c) NARS Creamy Concealer is a must. I LOVE this stuff and would recommend it to everyone. It does remind me of MAC Moisturecover but I think this is perhaps slightly creamier in consistency. I have heard some reports from users who found it drying. I personally didn't but I have normal skin that is probably more oily than dry. You cannot buy NARS in Dubai but I got this from Space NK - Link!
d) Good skin days are key. There are two products I have been loving but I will mention those in another post. Hint: REN and Dr Sebagh :)
I think this is my new "thing". Foundation is still lovely to wear at night but during the day, and especially during the summer, it's nice to keep it simple.
I might do a "What I am wearing" kind of post every week - sort of a retrospective with a review of key products. What do you think?
PS. I feel like this post reads as very dramatic..."oh look at me trying something so out there/brave"...I take makeup way too seriously!