Whether you call it everyday makeup, no makeup makeup, or clean girl makeup, they all have one goal in common: a minimalist makeup routine. Don’t be fooled either, because you can still get glammed up with a small amount of products. The key here is multi use makeup, or makeup you can use for multiple things. We’ve put together four different minimalist makeup routines ranging from all-in-one to full glam.

To see some of the products in action, check out this video on the Milabu Channel.

Woke Up Like This Makeup Routine

This routine is the most minimal, using all-in-one palettes or stacks for the entire face. Yes, even lip liner and on the eyes! For this look, you can skip mascara and just curl the lashes (if desired) for a little extra oomph. Our favorites for this makeup look include the viral Make Up For Ever HD Skin All-In-One Face Palette or the customizable Makeup Stacks from Trinny London. And, you really only need one brush to achieve this simple makeup look.

MakeUp ForEver HD Skin All-In-One palette review

Make Up For Ever HD Skin Face Palette:

Price: $85

Milabu Rating

(4.2)

Performance Rating

(4.3)

Buy now

Trinny London face stack

Trinny London Makeup Stacks:

Price: $72 – $210

Milabu Rating

(4+)

Performance Rating

(4+)

Buy now

Previous
Next

Minimalist Makeup Routine – 5 (ish) Products

1. Grab your favorite skin tint or cream stick and skip the concealer. We love the Summer Fridays Skin Tint and the MERIT Minimalist Perfecting Complexion Stick.

2. Enhance the cheeks! MERIT Flush Balm in shade ‘Terracotta’ is the perfect blush/bronzer shade. It adds just enough color and subtle warmth to the face. And, bonus points! It can be used on the eyes, too.

3. A brow gel with fibers is the best way to not only set brows for the day, but fill in as well. A top performer for this is the NYX Thick It Stick It! Brow Mascara. It features up to 16 hours of hold while plant-origin fibers thicken brows.

4. To really pull the look together, use a mascara that offers natural, wispy lashes with no smudging. MERIT Clean Lash is one of the best for this.

5. For lips, keep it simple. Use a lip oil (we love the MERIT Gelee formula!) for moisture and color. You can even use a lip liner like the Tower 28 OneLiner that can be used on lips, cheeks, or eyes.

6. (Optional) Use a setting powder or spray if you have oily skin.

Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint

Summer Fridays Sheer Skin Tint :

Price: $42.00

Milabu Rating

(4.7)

Performance Rating

(4.8)

Buy now

Merit The Minimalist Review

MERIT Minimalist Complexion Stick:

Price: $38.00

Milabu Rating

(3.8)

Performance Rating

(3.9)

Buy now

Merit flush balm cream blush

MERIT Flush Balm Cream Blush:

Price: $30.00

Milabu Rating

(4.6)

Performance Rating

(4.5)

Buy now

NYX Thick It Stick It Thickening Brow Mascara

NYX Thick it Stick It! Brow Mascara:

Price: $11.00

Milabu Rating

(4.3)

Performance Rating

(4.4)

Buy now

Merit Clean Lash Mascara

MERIT Clean Lash Mascara:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.5)

Performance Rating

(4.6)

Buy now

Tower28 Lipliner Dupe

Tower 28 OneLiner Pencil:

Price: $15.00

Milabu Rating

(4.8)

Performance Rating

(4.6)

Buy now

Merit shade slick gelee shear tinted lip oil

MERIT Shade Slick Gelee Lip Oil:

Price: $24.00

Milabu Rating

(5)

Performance Rating

(5)

Buy now

Previous
Next

Minimal Makeup But Make It Glam

Go ahead, ask to yourself, ‘how can minimalist makeup be glam?’ Because the phrases are at opposite ends of the spectrum. However, with the right multi-use products, you can achieve a more glam makeup look with just a few products (ok, more than a few. Maybe like 8-10).

  1. Start with a 2-in-1 foundation that has a cream and powder housed in one convenient palette: Patrick Ta Major Skin.
  2. For concealer, you could either skip it all together, use an eye brightener, or a medium/full coverage concealer.
  3. DIBS Desert Island Duo is our pick for cheek enhancers. It’s ultra convenient since it is a dual ended blush and bronzer.
  4. Start with a brow gel, like Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter, to fluff and hold brows in place. Then, fill in any sparse areas with a brow pencil. Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat is great because it can also be used as an eyeliner!
  5. When it comes to eyeshadow, simple is best. Check out our favorite one & done eyeshadows in this article.
  6. Skip the falsies and coat lashes with Lancome Lash Idole Mascara.
  7. Enhance lips with a comfortable, balmy lipstick like MERIT Signature Lip.
  8. (Optional) Use a setting powder or spray if you have oily skin.
Patrick Ta bronzer Review

Patrick Ta Major Skin Creme Foundation + Powder:

Price: $52.00

Milabu Rating

(4.2)

Performance Rating

(4.4)

Buy now

Rare Beauty Eye Brightener Concealer

Rare Beauty Positive Light Under Eye Brightener:

Price: $24.00

Milabu Rating

(3.7)

Performance Rating

(4.3)

Buy now

Kulfi Main Match Concealer review

Kulfi Main Match Crease-Proof Concealer:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.4)

Peformance

(4.6)

Buy now

DIBS Desert Island Duo Stick Review

DIBS Desert Island Duo Blush/Bronzer Cream Stick:

Price: $36.00

Milabu Rating

(4.4)

Performance Rating

(4.4)

Buy now

Benefit Brow Gel reviews

Benefit 24-HR Brow Setter Clear Eyebrow Gel:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.5)

Performance Rating

(4.7)

Buy now

Charlotte Tilbury Brow Cheat Refillable Brow Pencil:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.4)

Performance Rating

(4.5)

Buy now

Best One and Done Eyeshadows

MILABU PICKS – Best One & Done Eyeshadows:

Price: $6.00 – $36.00

Milabu Rating

(4.5+)

Performance Rating

(4.5+)

Buy now

Lash Idole Lancome Mascara

Lancome Lash Idole Lash-Lifting & Volumizing Mascara:

Price: $30.00

Milabu Rating

(4.5)

Performance Rating

(4.8)

Buy now

MERIT Lipstick Review

MERIT Beauty Signature Lip Lightweight Lipstick:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.8)

Performance Rating

(5)

Buy now

Previous
Next

The Clean Girl Makeup Routine

If you’ve been on TikTok or Instagram over the past few months, you’ve seen the rise of what’s known as the ‘clean girl aesthetic.’ Think sleek and simple – minimalistic and effortless. When it comes to the complexion, less is more and glowy is better. Here’s our picks to achieve the ultimate clean girl no makeup makeup look.

  1. Begin with an illuminator for dewy, glowy skin. Saie Glowy Super Gel and L’OREAL Lumi Glotion are two great options for this.
  2. Skip the foundation and use concealer only where needed. Winky Lux Peeper Perfect or NYX Bare With Me work great both under eyes and on spots, and can even be used all over for a light coverage. For the most minimalist makeup, skip concealer altogether and use an eye brightener.
  3. Here’s the best 3-in-1 product: Persona Cosmetics Blush in ‘Teddy.’ This particular shade is the perfect in-between blush/bronzer shade and can be worn on the eyes.
  4. Use a tinted brow gel like Benefit Gimme Brow to add fullness while achieving a feathered look.
  5. For mascara, wispy lashes are the goal. Use a lengthening formula like MERIT Clean Lash that doesn’t add too much volume. If you want more volume, check out Lancome Lash Idole.
  6. Lips are personal, but we love the NARS Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balms. Bonus points – they can also be used as blush!
  7. (Optional) Use a setting powder or spray if you have oily skin.
Saie Glowy super gel lightweight dewy highlighter

Saie Glowy Super Gel Dewy Highlighter:

Price: $28.00

Milabu Rating

(4.7)

Performance Rating

(4.4)

Buy now

Loreal True Match Lumi Glotion

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Glotion:

Price: $15.99

Milabu Rating

(4.2)

Performance Rating

(4.7)

Buy now

Winky Lux Peeper Perfect Concealer:

Price: $18.00

Milabu Rating

(4)

Performance Rating

(4.5)

Buy now

NYX Bare With Me Concealer

NYX Bare With Me Concealer Serum:

Price: $11.00

Milabu Rating

(4.2)

Performance Rating

(4.5)

Buy now

persona dreamstick cream blush

Persona DreamStick Cream Blush:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.7)

Performance Rating

(4.6)

Buy now

benefit Gimme Brow Tinted Brow Gel

Benefit Gimme Brow+ Tinted Brow Gel:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.3)

Performance Rating

(4.5)

Buy now

Merit Clean Lash Mascara

MERIT Clean Lash Mascara:

Price: $26.00

Milabu Rating

(4.5)

Performance Rating

(4.6)

Buy now

NARS Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balm

NARS Soft Matte Tinted Lip Balm:

Price: $28.00

Milabu Rating

(4.2)

Performance Rating

(4.8)

Buy now

Previous
Next

Setting Powder & Sprays

Kosas Setting Powder

Kosas Cloud Set Baked Setting & Smoothing Powder:

Price: $35.00

Milabu Rating

(4.4)

Performance Ratiing

(4.4)

Buy now

Makeup Forever Velvet Powder Foundation

Make Up For Ever HD Skin Matte Velvet Longwear Powder:

Price: $43.00

Milabu Rating

(4.3)

Performance Rating

(4.6)

Buy now

Caliray Surfproof Setting Spray

caliray Surfproof Hydrating Setting Spray:

Price: $35.00

Milabu Rating

(4.7)

Performance Rating

(4.7)

Buy now

ONE/SIZE by Patrick Starrr On 'Til Dawn Setting Spray

Patrick Starrr ONE/SIZE On ‘Til Dawn Setting Spray:

Price: $32.00

Milabu Rating

(4.5)

Performance Rating

(4.8)

Buy now

Previous
Next

Brushes

MERIT Brush No. 1 Tapered Blending Brush:

Price: $32.00

Buy now

Makeup By Mario F1 Makeup Brush:

Price: $30.00

Buy now

Patrick Ta Dual-Ended Complexion Brush:

Price: $45.00

Buy now

IT Cosmetics Heavenly Luxe Flat Top Brush:

Price: $50.00

Buy now

Make Up For Ever Highlighter Brush 152:

Price: $37.00

Buy now

e.l.f. Cosmetics Complexion Duo Brush:

Price: $8.00

Buy now

Previous
Next

What Are Milabu Picks?

Milabu Picks are makeup products that lead the industry in their price categories (i.e. value, pro-grade, luxury) and product type. These products are reviewed and chosen by the Milabu team on a yearly basis. Many of these makeup products exceed the industry standard favorites, and some of them are, to this day, the industry standard leading the makeup industry.

Edited by Maddie

Back to top