If you are a mom, aspiring minimalist, or someone who just wants their morning routine to take less time – listen up, cocomelons. I’m here to help you make a change that will reap benefits for ions to come.
I used to own a TON of makeup. More products than any human needs and I am grateful that no one can give me a tally for the amount of money I used to spend on products I didn’t need. I can now say that for the last year or more I have been able to take my daily routine down to a hand full of products I love, and now use every single thing “to pan” (that’s what beauty blogger say for empty)
This end game for this minimalist makeup capsule is going to be different for everyone. You may not like a bronzer but would take eyeliner with you to a desert island. That’s ok!
I’m going to take you through 6 steps to edit your makeup products and then take you through my drawer to give you a sense of why I picked the products I picked, inspire you to go through your makeup drawer, and fiercely edit.
6 Steps to Editing Your Makeup; Creating a Minimalist Capsule.
Step 1: Take Everything Out!
Yes, everything. It’s human nature to want to skip this step and just shuffle through this drawer, and this bag, and pull out what you don’t want. I don’t want you to come from a place of “don’t want”, instead I want you to come at this from a place of “I love this product”. That mental switch makes a huge difference in any decluttering process! Until it’s all laying in front of you, you can not see the full picture. Go around your house, your purse, your car, and grab every makeup product. Spread it out on the floor. Take it in. That was all once money. That’s fine. The industry says to toss products 6 months after opening for hygiene. Yikes.
Step 2: Categorize Your Makeup Products
Nothing is more shocking than counting how many lipsticks you actually own. (Just me?) All out on the floor in front of you pulled from your purse, your drawer, your makeup bag, your cabinet… separate every product out into basic type categories. Foundations and BB creams. Blush. Lipsticks. Mascaras. Eye Shadows.
Step 4: Pick Like You Are Packing
I want you to go through each category and pick the 1-2 items that you love.
If I told you to meet me for lunch after your gym class, what products would you put in your bag? Pull out the BB cream or foundation you know always works. The blush you love, the mascara you love, the lip gloss… grab those go-to makeup products that you know won’t fail you in the gym bathroom.
Step 5: Pick Your Party Pretties
After you have completed the process of picking your capsule products, anything that becomes a “Night Out” product or a seasonal product – put those in a separate makeup travel bag or drawer. That perfect red lipstick, That smoky eye palette. Those go somewhere else; not in the main drawer/bag. I have a mini set of drawers in my closet that is home to my favorite colorful lipsticks, 2 eye shadow palettes, an eyeliner, a fancy highlighter, and an extra blush a friend sent me. The blush I’m currently using is old (older than it should be) so I will be switching over soon. I do not store my specialty items with my day-to-day products.
Step 6: Say Thank You, and Goodbye.
Everything left over, not your daily rockstar or your party favorite, is probably unnecessary.. Everything expired should go. Let it be a lesson in what didn’t work. Everything still good, pass it on to a friend or post it on Facebook for free. Someone will be incredibly excited to try what you don’t need. Maybe it’s a foundation you heard raves about, but broke out your skin. Say goodbye. One persons “No, thanks.” is another person’s gem
And that’s it! This edit will make it 100 times easier to get ready.
This process just showed you what works for you. So next time to go to press the confirm button on a product you don’t need, you can think back to this process. It creates a freedom, starting a cycle of buying what works for you and what would with stand this decluttering process.
My Daily Makeup Capsule
This is my actual makeup drawer. I walked upstairs and snapped a photo on my phone. It’s not a stressful pile for me to go through. I don’t have to think while I’m grabbing things. It’s exactly what I need to put on my daily makeup look in about 2-3 minutes. This is a drawer that functions for me at a high level.
Sometimes I skip some the brow pencil, or the under-eye concealer. It doesn’t matter. This step in my day has been edited and therefore it is functional without thought.
My Personal Makeup Must-Haves
A BB Cream or Foundation
I Use: Erborian BB Cream in Doré or this $7 one from Amazon
I discovered Erborian’s BB cream on a trip and haven’t looked back. In my thirties, I prefer less coverage. The thicker something is the older it can make me look. This BB cream evens everything out without looking like I’m covering everything up. Unfortunately, they currently only have 3 colorways and skew fair. I use Medium and I’m very fair.
For the Missha BB Cream on Amazon ($7!!) I use shade 23. My uber-famous beauty blogger friend raved about it so I decided to take the $7 leap. It starts out a bit grey but adjusts to my skin within a few minutes. I have been using it for about 2 weeks and love it. Stay tuned.
Speciality Product: I will wear this foundation for a date night or special event. It’s with my specialty items.
Mascara
I use: Vivienne Sabó – Classic French Mascara Cabaret Premiere
An Amazon Find sent to me by my dear friend, actress Natalie Dreyfuss, this mascara doesn’t steer you wrong. It’s under $13 and gives dark black coverage and length minus the spider or raccoon vibes. I’m on my 4th tube. You can build it up or just use one swipe.
Bronzer
I use: Marc Jacobs Tan-tastic! Bronzer
Bronzer makes me feel finished. It’s not necessary for everyone. But #TheRulesAreFake and your go-tos are different than mine. Bronzer sparks joy for me. My bronzer also acts as my eye shadow. You can always use your bronzer for shadow, and your cream/liquid blush for lipstick.
Blush
I have one powder and one cream blush option. If I use my BareMinerals powder, and then my Bronzing powder, sometimes I don’t want to add the blush powder. The MILK cream acts as a lip color as well.
Shop My Beauty Favorites:
Add Ons That Stay in The Drawer
Powder + Concealer
I use: BareMinerals Original Powder and IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye
For days I need extra coverage I use one or both of these. These are items I keep in the drawer for when I have
Brow Pencil
I use: It Cosmetics Universal Brow Pencil
Cream Eye Shadow
I use: Laura Mercier Caviar Stick
Under Eye Corrector
I use: BECCA
My beauty guru friend, Girl Get Glamorous, has an incredible YouTube video explaining how to do your concealer over 35 years old… It’s #1 on Youtube and Google for a reason. She influenced me. I bought this. I love it. The little tub is lasting me forever.
Peek My Add Ons