Flawless in Five: A 5-Step Minimal Makeup Routine For Everyday

Estimated reading time: 5 minutes

Makeup can do so much. It can transform your appearance for costumes or fun. It can also help you hide imperfections or try out a new look. But let’s face it, most days, we all need a quick routine that will look great but without too much effort or time. Introducing my minimal makeup routine.

Using just five easy steps, I have a consistent makeup routine that can easily elevate my look. While it’s fun on occasion to take my time with makeup and add extra details, this minimal makeup routine is a great way to look fresh and classic.

Keep reading for my minimal makeup routine in five easy steps.

my five-step minimal makeup routine

STEP 1: Even Out Your Complexion

Foundation doesn’t really have a place in my minimal makeup routine, but with a good concealer, you don’t even need it. I put a little Pat McGrath Sublime Perfection Concealer under the eyes using my BeautyBlender to cover any blemishes and give full but natural coverage that stays all day long. Plus, I use it consistently and still haven’t run out of the tube I opened four months ago. It also doesn’t settle into those pesky little lines around the eyes.

STEP 2: Define Your Eye Brows

While I let my concealer get a little tacky before blending it, I fill in my brows. My eyebrows are sparse, and the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz will give you the illusion of fuller, thicker brows while still looking natural, a perfect product for a minimal makeup routine. Soft Brown is the perfect color match for me.

I’ll follow that up with the Anastasia Beverly Hills Strong Hold Clear Brow Gel and lightly brush my eyebrow hairs up and out.

STEP 3: Add Some Glow

Bronzer always gives me that natural, youthful, lit-from-within glow everyone’s always talking about. Thus, it earns a spot in the five-step minimal makeup routine.

I rotate between the NARS Samoa and Fenty’s Coco Naughty. 

STEP 4: Wake Up The Eyes

I like to focus on getting long and voluminous lashes, especially for a minimal makeup routine. Since I’m not using eyeliner or eyeshadow, I want the mascara to complete the look of the eyes.

I like mascaras that don’t flake or smudge like Pat McGrath FetishEyes™ Lengthening Mascara. And for a more affordable drugstore option, I reach for the L’Oreal Voluminous Original Mascara. 

After I’ve concealed and colored my face with the products listed above, I coat the undersides and top sides of my lashes with a few flicks. I like to get the brush as close as possible to my lash line. I wiggle it back and forth as I comb up towards the tip of my lashes. For a fresh daytime look, I use one coat. I’ll use two or three coats for an evening look and apply the mascara to my lower lashes.

TIP: Blinking your eyes as you wiggle and comb the brush through is a great trick to separate the lashes. It will also help prevent clumping.

STEP 5: Add Some Shine and/or Color

For lips, you’ll catch me with a gloss or red lipstick. 

For glossy lips, I reach for the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Heat Universal Lip Luminizer + Plumper – Lemon Lava and the Pat McGrath LUST Lip Gloss – Bronze Divinity. Both provide a beautiful golden shimmer tiny that’s not thick or goopy. I also love just putting on a lip balm, like the Paula’s Choice Hyaluronic Acid + Peptide Lip Booster. 

For my classic red lip, I reach for The Lip Bar Liquid Matt – Bawse Lady, NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil – Mysterious Red, or MAC Retro Matte Lipstick – Ruby Woo. 

TIP: Don’t rub your lips together after applying red lipstick because it pushes the product out towards the lip line, making the lips look unfinished.

I’m ritualistic in my everyday makeup routine, especially when I find products I feel are made for me. This minimal makeup routine makes doing your makeup quick, easy, and effortless. And because there are only five products, doing your makeup on the go is a breeze.

All of these items can be found at Sephora.

Do you have a minimal makeup routine?
What are your go-to makeup products?