Maybe it’s that fresh New Year feeling kicking in a month late, but I’ve been a on a mission to downsize + organize everything in the house lately.
It probably also has something to do with the fact that I started reading Marie Kondo’s book The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up. Anyone else reading this? I’m thinking we should all get together so we can talk about this phenomenon of a book. Bring your own beverage. :)
Anyway, my bathroom drawer has been the focus of late — I wanted to get my makeup bag down to just three products: mascara, eyeliner, and tinted moisturizer. I mean, I usually only use three or four products on a daily basis, but I still had extra makeup floating around in my bag.
You know, just in case I need that charcoal grey glitter eyeshadow one day.
It’s hard to get rid of “just in case” things. I’ve gotten to the point where I can ruthlessly edit a closet … but I still tend to get stuck when I try to reduce other stuff in the house.
However, makeup has an expiration date, and I can’t actually remember the last time I wore eyeshadow (much less glitter eyeshadow) so I have a feeling I’m not going to reach for it over the next two years.
So I let it go — along with a lot of other stuff.
Although … I did keep a blush and a couple of fun lip colors in a separate spot for special occasions. Date night and stuff.
All in all, I ended up with five products in my makeup bag.
It feels so good to open my makeup bag and see just five things. It makes me want to breathe deeply — much the same as when I open my closet and see a small wardrobe.
Here’s what I settled on:
- Smashbox Primer + Redness Reducer / Don’t panic when you see the color of this stuff. It’s awesome for reducing redness — my skin has all kinds of red undertones, so it’s excellent.
- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer / MEGA thanks to all of you who took the time to share your tinted moisturizer recommendations with me on Instagram. I walked around Sephora, phone in hand, referencing all your comments. :) I ended up going with this one because it blended so easily. No egg sponge needed.
- Elf Mascara / This stuff stays on forever — no raccoon eyes. And … it’s $1. I’ve been using it for a nice long while.
- Sephora Retractable Eyeliner / Now that I have bangs, I don’t have to worry about the top half of my face — I have to tell you, it’s pretty nice. So I just use this super handy two-in-one tool to lightly line my bottom rim + smudge it to oblivion for a softer, lived-in look.
- Burts Bees Lip Balm / Always and forever.
You know what’s really cool about this? It takes me about a minute and a half to put on makeup now. No blending tools needed, no tricky products. It’s simple.
Also! I’m now and forevermore a fan of travel sized makeup. I’ve never actually finished a regular sized bottle of foundation because it ends up going bad before I can use it all up. So I got a little too excited when I discovered these travel sizes. And if you’re trying to transition from drug store brands to department store brands, they definitely make it a little easier on the ol’ wallet.
Do you have a minimal makeup bag? What’s in it?
xo
P.S. Wondering why I’m not going organic? Over the last two years, I’ve been slowly adopting a more natural approach to beauty — starting with what I put in my body + mind.
But, when it comes to products, I give myself room to change my mind. Sometimes, I choose not to color my hair or use makeup. Then other times, I decide to play around with all things beauty. I’m okay with this. For me, right now, that’s my happy blend of naturalness + made-up-ness. My own way of celebrating life + honoring what I’ve been given.
I am reading that book right now and love it so far! I actually saw it referenced in one of the comments on this blog and it sparked my interest, so I picked up a copy and have really enjoyed the insight. I find myself nodding or smiling at something every few pages and can’t wait to put some of the ideas into practice. I’d love to hear you share your thoughts on the book when you’re finished…it seems right up your allery. I’ve been on a journey to simplify my makeup routine too and recently downsized. I still have to work on my nail polish collection…eek! Also, burts bees is the BEST. I love their tinted lip balm and use it everyday.
I love this- you have such great views on organizing…I’d love to read that book with you, haha ; ) I feel exactly the same way about being healthy, because there’s just so far you can go before you lose the cool things about “you.” It’s a very thin line between looking beautiful in your own unique way and staying healthy. Some days I decide to take it easy on my hair while using a few unhealthy makeup products- so I love your thoughts on balancing this! I only use 5 products at the most…but I did save some lipsticks because I am addicted to having tons of shades of lip products, haha.
Hi Caroline!
I’ve been reading your blog each day since last summer and enjoy it very much! Over the last couple years I have significantly purged and organized my entire home. YOU helped me to realize I basically already wore a capsule wardrobe, but yet still held on to all the other stuff. I pared way down and this has been so freeing and I am amazed and loving it. I am commenting for the first time today because over the weekend I read Marie Kondo’s book which you referenced above. It touched me and hit me so hard that what I thought was an organized house is now getting an entire second (and much better) purge and I don’t think I will sit down until it’s done! It’s exhilarating! That is a great reference for your readers. Keep up the great work!
I love this! I’ve always been minimalistic in my makeup bag. Even now I only use tinted moisturizer, powder, blush, eyeliner and mascara. One added tool I use is a eyelash curler because my lashes are SO not there in the mornings. I do have one eyeshadow in my drawer for fancy date nights but I use it so sparingly that I have to look at the instructions each time on where to put each shade.
Love it! I recently also realized that I’ve been holding on to glitter eye shadows (bare minerals!) just in case.. but then I always go for the same eye shadows off of my NAKED palette. I’m far from being as streamlined as you, but I feel like this post has given me some kind of permission to let go of my random makeup bits!
I recently purged all my eyeshadow after trying the Naked Basics palette. Now I have that one for travelling, and use the Naked 2 palette for everyday, and that’s it! It’s been great!
I am also in a need to clear up my little make up counter/top of my drawers. I however have a slightly more the more the merrier attitude when it come to my make up, yet my list of daily staples is pretty basic.
I use Urban Decay Naked 2 Palette eyeshadows but I am waiting to treat myself to the simpler Naked Basic Palette, Bobbi Brown Gel eyliner and currently using Dior Iconic waterproof mascara. Oh and some powder in my brows!
However even when I had good skin I still lusted after a perfect blank canvas for my face so now even more so with a permanent breakout thanks to my contraception I need heavy duty foundation. So I use Estee Lauder Double wear, because I need something that will last all day because I never have time to look in the mirror once I leave the house in the morning. And normally I switch to the light variety for summer. I am, however at the end of a bottle so with my lack of funds I am thinking of trying something different so a travel size bottle of something new seems a great idea.
I randomly was at a barns and noble and came across the book a month ago. The book is so interesting and have started to go through it and start to get rid of things that don’t bring joy. It can be a little difficult but man does it feel good to get rid of things that just took up space. I have the book hard copy and will be passing the book on. I use to have a bunch of books that I would keep. But, I had narrowed down my collection and after reading this book I only kept my absolute favorites that I reread. Other than that I tend to donate or pass my books along. So in a few weeks ill be passing this book along as well.
Well, you have inspired me to not only have a capsule wardrobe but also a capsule nail polish collection. I used to be a “collector” (hoarder really) of nail polish. At some point I had +600 bottles. Right now I have just 10 that match with my capsule wardrobe and that is all thanks to you. I still keep some special ones in storage. Like that 24K gold top coat. But I’ve been slowly downsizing and are sending most of my babies off to homes where they will be appreciated an used! When would I have time to use 500 polishes? Now I know the answer would be never.
Fortunately my make-up bag is just what I always use, around 9 items in total including a blush brush, an eyebrow grooming brush and eyelash curler.
I totally do that with my nail polish too! I think it is a great way to feel put together, no guessing on what you will wear and what nail polish will go with it, because it all goes together! :)
Right? I just love to have my digits painted and it saves time, guesswork and it’s funny but the limit in colors makes you be more creative on designs!
I had 402 bottles at my peak of owning nail polish. Even now, I’m holding onto colors that I haven’t used. Now I’m down to 150ish, but am much better about purging the ones I don;t like for whatever reason. I keep a box on top of my nail polish helmer, and once it’s full I put it in the lobby of my apartment building for my neighbors to pick through.
I love this! I am a repeat offender of holding on to make up “just in case.” I have a daily make up routine that is quite minimal (mascara & moisturizer) but my ”just in case” stash needs some serious help. I need to come to terms with the fact that I’m never going to master the smokey eye so I should just toss all those charcoal and black eye shadows for once and for all! P.s. your little note at the bottom really spoke to me. Last year I made the conscious decision to only purchase beauty products that weren’t tested on animals. The exception, my make up remover from Sephora. I beat myself up about it at least once a month but in all honestly, its the only product I’ve found that doesn’t burn my eyes or leave a super oily residue. I need follow in your footsteps and honor the good choices I’ve made and not stress over decisions that ultimately work best for me.
I am definitely going to check that book out! I have drastically downsized my makeup routine over the last year and a half, but I think I could purge a few more items. This post has inspired me to do that and I love the idea of travel sizes!
My everyday makeup bag is pretty minimal. It looks like this
Smashbox Primer – I use the clear gel one but I’ve been tempted to try the redness reducer one
Shashbox pressed powder – I put it on with the beauty blender – I will take that egg sponge to my grave :)
Brow pencil
neutral matte shadow and beige cream shadow
whatever mascara sephora gives me for free
Hourglass Ambient finishing powder
I spend at max 5 minutes putting makeup on before work. I only wake up 20 minutes before I need to leave so that is all makeup will ever get.
I love makeup. I have a separate bag for weekends which is not at all minimal. I do try to clean out anything old or that I never use.
I keep my shampoo products all natural, and I have even played with making my own shampoo.. But with makeup I haven’t taken the time yet to research ingredients and natural/organic options..
Hi Gabby! Oh, I’d love to hear if you end up making your own shampoo + how you like it. :) xo Caroline
So I gave my homemade shampoo about 4 weeks.
I made a shampoo that was roughly 1/4 cup organic cococut milk (the full fat canned stuff), 1/3 cup castille soap, 1/2 tsp oil (I used avocado), and some drops of essential oil – I used peppermint once and lavender once. After a week or so I started adding some all natural no SLS baby wash to the mix – it made it soapier. Otherwise its very milky and hard to not spill all over the place.
At first I tried following what the internet said and using apple cider vinegar as “conditioner”. My hair felt nice, but it didnt look nice when it dried. Generally I wash my hair at night, throw it in a towel and go to sleep and don’t put any product in it. And I didn’t like the way it was drying and didn’t want to add any mouse or creams. So I ended up going back to an all natural conditioner after about two weeks.
Overall, it was kind of a lot of work. The coconut milk doesn’t last very long so you have to keep it refrigerated and make the right amount for it not to go bad. Sometimes I want to try again and experiment with some other “recipes”, there are tons out there to try. There is a whole “no poo” movement that is all about using only baking soda and apple cider vinegar. But I don’t think that’s for me. I’m too mentally attached to sudsing in the shower.
Cheers to you for making your own shampoo! I admire the ladies who just go for it, even when they decide it isn’t their cup of tea.
Have you ever tried WEN? I have extremely thick, curly-most-places-but-wavy-other-places, super dry hair and MAN. WEN totally works. I went from using LOADS of product on my hair and still not getting the results I wanted consistently, to now just using that and not using any products at all. Craaazy. I also don’t wash my hair every day, so the extra price doesn’t bother me. Plus, the health of my hair and the lack of other products makes everything simple and makes me happy. If my hair accidentally ended up absorbing some of the oil-based moisturizers I use, then John Masters Organic’s Evening Primrose shampoo (from amazon / whole foods) is my weapon of choice.
Not quite to the level of making my own shampoo, but I tried rinsing with apple cider vinegar for the first time last week, and the results were amazing. Soft hair and a flake-free scalp despite my psoriasis being in the middle of a flare-up. I think I’m going to start including it in my routine at least once a week!
The ACV definitely made my hair feel soft. But the way my curls were looking seemed to say to me “please give me some conditioner”. I probably could have tried to make some hair masks or pre-treatments for more moisture. But there are only so many hours in the day. :)
Chloe – I have curly and in some places wavy hair too! haha
yeah, my curl definition could be better, but my real goal was the love it gave my scalp. Having to spend a few more minutes and put a little more product in my hair in the mornings is totally worth it to be flake-free.
This is great! I’ve been feeling the same way about wanting to go through every room, nook and cranny in the house to downsize, leaving myself with only what is truly necessary. (A big reason for that is your blog, and I thank you for the inspiration.) I have a similarly minimal beauty routine, and it feels great in the morning to know exactly what I need to do, and it doesn’t take very long. I could even cut out 1 or 2 steps if I really wanted to. Thanks for sharing this special peek into another area of your life. :-)
Thanks for the post! I really enjoy your site. Question – do you put the primer or the tinted moisturizer on first?
Hi Meredith! I do primer first, then the tinted moisturizer. :) xo Caroline
I actually read Kondo’s book recently and it really changed how I think about ‘things’ and ‘stuff’. It’s so refreshing to think about things more positively in terms of how items make you feel.
I am part Japanese, so a lot of what she says in the books had a littler more relevance to me since I have been inside Japanese homes and apartments. I can’t wait to hear more about what you think while you read it!
I have also been trying to get my makeup routine as simple and straightforward as I can. My work is fairly casual combined with the fact that my skin has FINALLY stopped breaking out that I basically just curl my lashes (but no mascara) and then conceal under-eyes and leftover acne scars and I am good to go. It has taken me years to be comfortable enough with my skin to get to this point, though.
Keep up the good work, I love your posts!
Any secrets as to how you got your skin to stop breaking out?
I have ALWAYS had horrible skin / tried hundreds of products over the years…I’ve finally got my skin under control (not perfect) but so much better than I can ever remember it being. Here’s 5 things I now swear by:
1. First Aid Beauty Face Cleanser
2. Clean and Clear persa gel 10 – lots every night (consistency is key at first)
3. Josie Maran Argan Oil – few drops every morning / balances out Clean & Clear drying
4. Estee Lauder Double Wear – used as concealer for spots (used to be twice as good, but the latest one I bought is still awesome at covering up)
5. Diet – not one I wanted to incorporate but I actually had a food allergy that was intensifying my breakouts and running my immune system down. Look up “elimination diet” if you think that might be a factor. Not fun but totally worth it to feel better and look better too!
Anyways, hope that helps! Everyone’s skin is different b/c I tried a ton of things that worked for other people but not for me. Sorry I tried to keep it concise, but could really go on and on about this stuff in much more detail. I just remember being in a place desperate for a solution and if this could help anyone…I definitely want to share!
I know many people have said “I’ve tried everything under the moon!” and I truly have tried many products for my skin, but I believe there is only so much that be done on the surface level of skin to combat acne. I also don’t think it’s ONE glorious thing that did it for me.
Here’s what I did: I minimized, gentle-fied, and natural-lized my products for skin and cosmetics. I like to stick to as natural (no parabens, etc) products as I can. I also don’t believe in treating my skin like a war zone and the acne the enemy because that just left my face lobster red, parched, and sad.
All the normal things you hear like more/better sleep, more water, less dairy/sugars/alcohol, less stress are definitely things that contribute. I did take a zinc supplement daily for about a month and a half and I think that also helped, but have cut back on it since it was making me sleepy.
The truth is: I don’t know. I can’t really pinpoint what combo of things truly made it happen. I am 24 and might’ve grown out of finally. Or maybe taking zinc for a bit helped. So much of what I’ve done over the years is trial and error. I have many scars (both colored and pitted) from pretty severe cystic acne during college, so I know my skin will never be “perfect”. I am finally comfortable with it.
My simple advice to you would be don’t despair. You are not your skin. Trust that the breakouts will not always be there.
Just commenting in case its helpful for you or anyone else reading the comments, but there is a LOT of great and scientifically based (from the scientific research community) advice on http://www.skincare-addiction.com/. Sensitive skin, hardy skin that still breaks out, you name it – they can help with suggestions and a great community.
As for me (bad acne from age 12-26, finally clear now for over a year, change apparent within 2 weeks of new routine) I wash morning and night with CereVe hydrating cleanser, moisturize with CereVe moisturizing cream (incredible value and multi-tasker, yes, it comes in a tub), and exfoliate with Stridex maximum strength pads. The switch from drying cleansers (stuff that foams and makes you feel “squeaky clean”) and overly aggressive physical exfoliants (e.g. St. Ives Apricot Scrub), to products that were gentle yet effective was an enormous help.
Oil cleansing can be great as well – I use straight mineral oil (it has a much better comedogenicity rating than coconut oil) on days when I wear makeup. There are a few oils out there that are drying, but most are very lovely moisturizers. :)
My minimal makeup products are:
Make Up For Ever Face & Body > Doesn’t break me out, applies like a lotion, and light coverage that manages to conceal my left-over acne discoloration.
Covergirl Clump Crusher > I hate clumpy lashes and so many mascaras require real effort to prevent clumps. This mascara is a no brainer for me.
Jordana Fabuliner in Dark Brown > I love dark brown liner and this one is so easy to use. I can do a simple wing or a straight line super quickly.
ELF Studio Blush > This is like the only blush that I’ve found that doesn’t break me out. It’s pigmented and pretty and adds in enough color so that I don’t look sick.
Caudalie Lip Balm > I don’t particularly love this balm, but it works well enough.
I keep a large bag of makeup because I do eyeshadow and stuff about 2-3 times a week. However, it’s not like it would be terribly hard to walk to a different room to get a shadow palette when I need it. BRB, going to go pair down my makeup bag now.
If you only want 3 items in your make-up bag (I know you have 5 right now), doesn’t lip something HAVE to be in there? I love Clinique’s Black Honey, it’s a little shiny/glossy, but not like lipstick. Lipstick makes me look like an old lady. Actually, I hope Clinique still makes it because I have the same problem of keeping make-up for years and years and I haven’t had to buy Black Honey for ages. Keep up the great work, Caroline!
I definitely love your little blurb about choosing to go natural or synthetic products on your face. I used to be an all or nothing gal, but realized that I should be more flexible. While I love natural products, I also need to remember that I live in modern times and should use how far we’ve come to my advantage and not punish myself for not ‘staying true’. I think this is important for people to remember; learn the lesson and apply it to your life, don’t just follow blindly.
I’ve been looking for a tinted moisturizer that’ll work for my skin tone. I have to use MUFE foundation because they’re the only ones that can match my odd shade.
Sincerely, Tania
A friend gave me this book for Christmas. Right now I’m on the part on discarding the clothes and how to properly fold. I’m really loving the book and her approach so far. I use pretty minimal makeup, but I do have a few products that I keep for those occasions that require me to look a little fancier. Like a nice eyeshadow palette and a few different colored blushes for different times of year. But really on an everyday basis it’s just tinted moisturizer, some concealer, powder and blush. Sometimes mascara, but lately I can’t be bothered.
I’m a total make up minimalist myself, and on top of that, I like all of my makeup to be as tiny as possible in order to be easier to travel with. Right now I am down to 3 products:
RMS Beauty Un Cover Up – all natural concealer / foundation (when needed). One tiny jar will last me between 4-6 months of daily use. It’s plenty moisturizing on it’s own so no need for a separate moisturizer, but if I want some coverage to even out wind-chapped cheeks I can put rose hip oil on first and the concealer just effortlessly blends into a light tint that neutralizes any redness.
Kjaer Weis Mascara – Super dark, stays on well, no flaking, the tube is smaller than even a travel-size mascara, and it’s completely non-toxic so it doesn’t irritate my sensitive eyes. It also smells amazing!
by Terry Ombre Blackstar Melting Eyeshadow stick in Bronze Moon – Ok at $43 a stick this is pricy and it’s not the cleanest, ingredient wise, but it’s the only eye makeup I’ve ever loved. I have deep set eyes so eyeshadow never even shows up on me, and eyeliner makes my eyes look even deeper and smaller than they are. I use this as eyeliner on the top and bottom and it makes my green eyes pop like nothing else. I’ve tried to replace it with cheaper versions, but no one else does comes close so I keep shelling out for it. Thankfully one tube will last me about a year since I use very little of it at a time.
I also have Burts Bees tinted lip balm that I keep in my purse, but I barely use it now that I am eating better. Perpetually moisturized skin is a lovely, unexpected benefit of green smoothies and Omega3 capsules.
I just finished Kondo’s book and have reorganized my closet, drawers and jewelry. Clothing wise made me realize I sort of already have 2 capsule wardrobes, 1 for work and 1 for the weekend. By only putting items back in the closet and drawers that give me joy, I am wearing what I love and getting ready in the morning has been pretty much effortless. Will be doing this in the house one category at a time…
Now for makeup. I used to work as a makeup artist for many lines and LOVE makeup and skincare. I have minimalized my skincare (cleansing oil, oil as moisturizer and a balm when I am dry) and it’s all natural. Makeup is hard – while I have gotten everything I use into a small makeup bag that fits in my medicine cabinet (was in 2 large makeup organizers) it is not all natural as I really would like it to be. I have tried all the natural lines and can’t find a mascara or eye products that I like (they don;t last and I don’t have time to redo my makeup during the day). My Staples are:
Gressa Minimalist Correction Serum Foundation – amazing, natural and lasts all day
RMS Living Luminizer – natural
RMS Lip2 Cheek – natural
Bobbi Brown cream Shadow – not so natural, but awesome!
Bobbi Brown Gel Liner – see above
Bobbi Brown Mascara – see above
Ilia Tinted Lip Conditioner & Glosses – So awesome and natural too
I think if you are eating clean, exercizing and trying to use mostly clean products, a few not-so-clean ones are fine, especially if they “give you joy”.
Thank you Caroline for being the sunshine in my morning emails!
I’d love to know what oil you use for a moisturizer. I’ve been trying to find a good one.
I just ordered it on Audibles! i can’t wait to start listening to it!
I love Marie Kondo’s book! Just finished reading it a few weeks ago. So many things she said really resonated with me and now I look at all of my possessions differently. I appreciate the things I keep more, and I feel less guilty when I do get rid of something because she reminded me that even if I didn’t use the object that much, it still served a purpose in helping me learn more about what I do and don’t like, so I can thank it and move on.
Also, you should see my sock drawer. I thought she was crazy when she talked about not rolling and bunching socks, but on a whim I decided to fold them and arrange them vertically like she suggests, and now I can’t believe how happy it makes me every single day to see all my socks lined up so neatly (plus they take up half the room they did before!). It’s the little things in life…
I just finished the book and it was great! Currently working on throwing as much as I can away, haha. My plan is going down to these basics (as you’ve listed basically) but I like to wear eyeshadow too much so I’m going to add the Urban Decay Naked Palet. I can’t wait to have one shiny go to palet and forget rustling around in drawers for a million different eye shadows. Seriously, I think I have two drawers just filled with eye shadow right now! WHAT. Haven’t quite made it to the bathroom organization though as I started with my bedroom closet! haha.
Love to hear about you downsizing your makeup routine. I recently found that I could use my bronzer for both a blush and my eye shadow so it has helped me reduce my makeup bag by one item. I only use an under eye concealer, a foundation powder, mascara , my bronzer, and lipgloss/lipcolor. It takes me about 3 minutes to do my makeup which is so nice.
I haven’t read the book you suggested yet, but i have heard all about it and will probably get it next after i finish my current book. Love your blog, it really makes me contemplate just those fashion items we need to feel beautiful.
Isn’t it just so satisfying when everything in front of you accomplishes your own little daily goals? Such a simple joy. :)
For me, that means:
Korres Quercetin & Oak Primer
Perricone MD No foundation foundation
Tarte liquid eyeliner
…and if I am feeling really fancy, bareMinerals eye brightener, and Juice Organics blush.
I love that — the power to find what works for you and just revel in the day.
No, I do not have a minimal makeup bag but you may have just encouraged me to clean house! Also, you are now the second blogger in the past two days that I’ve seen mention this book! I’m thinking it may be high time I go out and purchase a copy :)
ooh….that book sounds right up my alley…I’d love to get together and chat about it! Have you done a post on all your favorite minimalist/personal development books? I’d love to get every book because that kind of material is right where I am at!
and I love your p.s. on this post!
Read it over Thanksgiving, totally love it!
Great post, Caroline! I, too, always forget about makeup expiration, but since starting this minimalism journey have been using it instead as my best excuse to discard. Do you happen to have a reference sheet anywhere for when types of makeup expire/become hazardous? It’s always sooner than you think!
My personal struggle is in living my double life, as a bike mechanic (and all-around jeans girl) and a professional jazz singer (complete with ballgowns and glitter). After reading your post, I’m thinking that perhaps two separate makeup bags would do the trick. They would look a bit like this:
// EVERYDAY
– foundation: Maybelline Dream Liquid in Light 3.5
– concealer: Body Shop Tea Tree Blemish Stick in Light
– mascara: CoverGirl Natureluxe in Black
– eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Bourbon
– lipstick: Revlon Super Lustrous in a neutral pinky shade
+ Beauty Blender (to apply foundation)
// ON-STAGE
– foundation: same as above
– concealer: same as above
– mascara: something truly waterproof and non-flaking — suggestions?
– eyeliner: Urban Decay 24/7 Pencil in Zero or Oil Slick
– brow definer: any neutral, matte brown shadow or pencil
– eyeshadow: I have a dollar store favorite palette of shimmery neutrals
– glitter: Wet n Wild Color Icon Glitter Single in Brass
– lipstick: Revlon Super Lustrous in any bright red shade
+ Beauty Blender, angled brush for brows, eye brush for shadows, separate brush for glitter
Even ^that^ is a significant downsizing from the mess I’ve got going on right now. Suggestions?
I also think I’m going to take Into-Mind’s advice and put all the fancy-pants hair products I don’t need all the time in a drawer somewhere with the “on-stage” makeup bag. A place for everything, and everything in its place!
I’ve been dying to read this book! I actually just cleaned out my closet with this method and I just feel so relaxed when I open my door. I really need to do this to my bathroom too, including my makeup. I saw when you posted the teaser to this on Instagram and it got me thinking about how I can pare down my own makeup. Right now I’m down to tinted moisturizer, mascara, blush and eyeliner. LOVE your blog Caroline!
Yes! I read Marie Kondo’s book over the holidays too. Life changing indeed. I’ve been through all my possessions once already and I’m still so excited about the results, I want to do it at least once more to see what I missed the first time!
Hi Caroline,
I discovered your blog through another favorite blog and I love it! I’m still in the process decluttering my clothes and am getting closer and closer to my capsule wardrobe! The absolute BEST part is that I wear my already owned favorite pieces all the time now instead of waiting for a special occasion to do so.
I love your topic of the day today. Lately, I’ve been thinking about and questioning my minimal makeup routine. In my teens and early twenties I was the girl who wouldn’t be caught dead without my brows done and lipstick on. In my thirties, I had kids…two girls. I didn’t want them to see their mamma struggle with “beauty” so I did a lot of internal work to go minimal. Now that I am in my 40’s my daily makeup/beauty routine consists of a cleansing oil, moisturizing oil and Burt’s Bees tinted lip balm and/or lip gloss. I also eat well, drink lots of water, and take my vitamins. I do have a makeup bag where I have my ” special occasion” makeup products but I don’t use it very much at all. You have inspired me to go through the bag and only keep the few items I will use.
Your blog has been a real gem and I love getting your mail in my inbox! Thank you!
I just read Marie Kondo’s book and loved it! I thought her simple concept about asking whether an item brings you joy or not was a great one–easy to apply, and startlingly effective.
I must admit I don’t really have a minimal makeup bag . . . I have a zillion lipsticks that could probably be pared down. I have 2 foundations I love, a few illuminators, a few blushes, and mascara. My downfall, clearly, is lip products :).
Just finished reading that book (out loud with my husband actually!) and loved it. Part “yes, finally someone agrees with me!” and part “so THAT’S why that never works for me”. I’ve also discovered tinted moisturizer in the last year and it makes me so happy!! Although I’ve still hung out to my full set of makeup for fancy days, the tinted moisturizer does almost as good for every day and take 5% of the time to put on! It’s so easy that I’ve actually worn makeup a lot more, instead of being intimidated by the time and effort to put a whole fancy face on. Thanks for sharing what’s in your makeup bag because I’m always looking for new recommendations of great, hard-working products.
Recently I’ve been reducing the amount of beauty products I use and now every time I open up my makeup drawer, I feel happier!
Right now I use (1) concealer, (2) my homemade mattifying powder – which works great!, (3) eyeliner, (4) my favourite eyeshadow palette (Maybelline The Nudes Palette), and (5) mascara as well as a few lipsticks.
TRAVEL SIZE!!!! BRILLIANT! A friend and I are planning to start a book club based on this book – I’m really looking forward to the discussion and support!
I haven’t read that Kondo book yet but I plan to soon. My makeup routine is fairly minimal: wash, moisturize, powder foundation, blush, mascara and lipgloss. One thing that I’ve discovered that speeds up my morning routine is a towel I found at BB&B. It’s the Aquis by Brittane super absorbent microfiber towel. It’s fantastic and well worth the $20 price. I get out of the shower, wrap my hair turban like in this towel, put on my makeup and then take the towel off. My hair is almost dry. It literally takes me 3-4 minutes from start to finish doing my hair. Actually thinking of buying another towel for when this one is in the hamper.
Oooh weird. I went through my make up bag and threw away all my eyeshadows and ‘stuff’ today too and went out and bought this exact tinted moisturiser! I kept all my lipsticks though as I wear it most days. Still looking for a great brown mascara but everywhere only seems to do black!
Covergirl does also brown and brown/black mascaras which are real good for the price point!
My minimal makeup bag includes: pressed powder because I’m super oily, concealer, mascara, a lip product (either balm or gloss), and blush.
Marie Kondo is my hero! I wish more of her books were translated into English, she actually has a few more that go into the details of her method. My husband is Japanese and having visited his family in Japan, seeing their homes – so many of the examples and suggestions are spot on with life in a small Tokyo apartment.
I think a key takeaway I had from her book, compared to other philosophies on minimalism that abound on the web, is her focus on keeping what you love rather than trying to own only what is essential. The difference in mindset takes the guilt off of owning more than the absolute minimum number of things, and puts the focus on increased joy. The “less stuff” part is a by-product, and so even those who don’t strive for minimalism can relish in the feeling of only owning things that spark joy.
My mom also read her book this fall, and we’ve both been applying her strategies in the suggested order – the result has been enormous. Whether you have a small 1br apartment (me) or a huge 5br farmhouse (parents), the concept of keeping only what brings you joy can be applied. I pulled 5 garbage bags of clothes out of my closet for Goodwill, and the amount of other kodomo we’ve purged is easily several car loads. Her words on parting with gifts you don’t care for were magical to me, as was the demand to get rid of every scrap of paper that isn’t essential. I *highly* recommend a tiny shredder once you get to that step! I got a great one on Amazon that’s shoebox sized, shreds credit cards, and helps us deal with mail we don’t need but that can’t quite go into the recycling bin as delivered.
Anyway, I would LOVE to participate in a book club type discussion on her book! :) Maybe a special post with a timeframe where we can all chat in the comments?
I love seeing that every ones “minimal make up” is a little different. Right now I use everything in my bag everyday (with the exception of bronzer, but I use it often enough to keep it. ) It’s a relatively small bag and I feel good about it.
I use a tinted moisturizer, cover up, eyeliner, Tarte shadow palette that also works on my brows, blush and mascara. I probably could get rid of a few brushes but it’s not a huge issue.
My craft supplies on the other hand….
Agreed, some of the “minimal” routines people are listing are triple what I have the patience for every morning! Kudos to all you patient people.
I use a BB cream, dust Tarte clay powder on shiny areas, and swipe on eyeliner and mascara. My New Year’s resolution last year was actually to wear eyeliner every day, since I was starting to skip that step (see: impatience) and it was making me look 100% less awake.
My makeup routine is already pretty minimal. I am intrigued by the primer + tinted moisturizer, but unlike most people I did NOT like the way the Laura Mercier looked on my skin.
My routine is:
concealer: estee lauder double wear (this is new to me and I like that it isn’t super thick)
pressed powder: clinique stay-matte sheer (I like that it isn’t heavy and that is matte. I have oily skin so I really like this. I also weirdly don’t like to cover up all my discolorations, a one color face looks weird to me, esp. when you can’t see freckles. Freckles are awesome!).
mascara: define a lash by maybelline (I like that this separates all my lashes and makes them spiky)
eye liner: nars in black (I like that is smudgeable. also, a bobbi brown trick I discovered on my own is to put eyeliner just below the eye lash on the upper eyelid to make you lashes appear thicker. This is all that I use eyeliner for.)
eye shadow: l’oreal gilded bronze (I put this only along my lash line. Another trick for minimalism without looking overdone. I love this bronzey-brown with my olive skin and ran out and when I went to the drugstore I inadvertently bought the same one again! haha).
lip balm: Sugar by Fresh (free from sephora. does the trick).
I also have lots of Nars and Yves St. Laurent lipsticks I love but I only wear them 1-2x a week. And sometimes I do all bronze or all grey-metallic shadow for funsies.
Love the encouragement to clean out my makeup bins… personally, I have way too many lipsticks. Does one girl need 40 variations on “pale pinkish brown”? No, she does not.
On the other hand, I get my brows and lashes tinted every three months (they’re normally white-blonde) so I have little need for mascara or eyebrow pencils – bonus!
1. Travel-size makeup = GENIUS. This is going to change my life (or at least fatten my wallet). THANK YOU!
2. Totally on board with not prioritizing organic makeup (I think what goes INTO your body is a higher priority), but… my eye doctor recently told me that I was having itchy irritated eyes because I was literally getting dirt and chemicals in my eyes. Per his instructions, I started gently scrubbing my eyes with baby shampoo and a clean cotton pad when I wake up – which TOTALLY works to clean your sensitive eye area and prevent crap from getting in there and rubbing around all day – and switching to organic Physician’s Formula mascara. Guess what? Works just fine and makes me feel less paranoid about my eyeballs.
Oh man! Ok one more book for my wishlist! I just bought The Art of Possibility so I need to start reading that first, I think. :)
Love the fact that you love Burt’s Bees, first of all, and now I can check out some of that makeup you listed, because I have no clue what to do with makeup so I just use eye shadows (neutral colors) and eyeliner.
Travel size is the way to go, though. I do that with perfumes and body mist sprays so I can always try new ones and that way I don’t get bored or sick of the fragrance.
See, I bought a mascara, planned to use it often but didn’t. Shelf life tells me I should toss it, so out it will go, ha!
Anyway, do share any other tips you have for beauty! Hair, lotions, etc! We want to know it all!! LOL
My weekend makeup is just tinted sunscreen, mascara, blush and sheer lipstick. For work, I use a more opaque foundation (still with sunscreen) and lipstick and a pale, neutral eyeshadow.
For what its worth, most makeup lasts MUCH longer than the official or unofficial expiration dates. Really, as long as it smells fine and the texture is normal, its fine. Often those dates are a way to get you to throw away and buy more stuff.
Not that it changes the joy of a minimalist routine any, but getting normal sizes is fine if you’ll use it all up. Bigger sizes typically mean less packaging waste and are cheaper per ounce. Just something to consider :)
I have a semi-minimalist routine for makeup and very minimalist hair care, but I’m inspire to go through some of my “special occasion” stuff and toss the things I won’t use. I sometimes have a harder time tossing makeup because while I can donate barely used clothes, that’s not really an option with that foundation I wore twice. I’ve learned to buy makeup from places with good return policies and try samples first so I don’t end up hoarding products just because I sent money on them.
Because SAD (Standard American Diet) and conventional body-care & beauty-products were making me sick, I started having to eat grass-fed meats & organic produce, as well as using organic store-bought & home-made body-care & beauty-products: I’m now Very healthy and my skin & hair glows.
After a very long and intensive trial-&-error search, I now very very happily use RMS (un-cover, and on special occasions un-powder & luminizer) and Vapour (primer & eyeliner & lips, and on special occasions cheeks), and I use & love Honeybee mascara. The mascara was the toughest search for me because I Demand that it 1) last all day and evening until I go to bed with 2) absolutely NO flaking and 3) absolutely NO smudging/raccoon-eyes.
There were a couple of inquiries above about oils to use for cleansing and skin care; I found the following blog-entries about what type of oils to use by Minimalist Beauty extremely helpful for me in my clean/organic skin-care routine:
http://www.minimalistbeauty.com/tag/oil-cleansing/
Thank you for sharing your findings with us Glenda! :) xo Caroline
You’re welcome, and Thanks So Much for your Wonderful Blog! =D
I’ve been trying to streamline my makeup routine too, but I’ve had a hard time curbing my “lip crayon” enthusiasm. I love those things! My everyday routine includes smoothing on a few drops of Kahina Giving Beauty Argan Oil, then foundation (I’ve been going between Tarte Amazonian Clay and BareMinerals). If my dark circles are prominent, I use my Josie Maran Argan Crayon concealer. Then it’s Tarte blush, CoverGirl mascara, and a lip crayon/balm to finish. I try to mostly use natural/organic products, but I’ve never found a mascara to transition with! I’d love to know any suggestions other ladies have.
Have you seen the Younique line and mascara? Natural stuff, and absolutely wonderful results. My friend talked me into it and it’s been worth every penny.
Yes! I have been reading the life-changing magic of tidying up. I did clothes, books, and papers so far. Well – I have an old laptop to deal with yet – consider that papers…. I am looking forward to more tidying up – it is life changing!
My daughter sent me your Capsule Wardrobe concept after I tidied up my clothes. It is such a great next step!
Can we please discuss the book? I’m reading it too and would love to hear your thoughts!
thanks for the inspiration! i’ve been meaning to take out all of the unnecessary “just in case” items from my makeup bag, too.
http://csconfetti.blogspot.com
i have been reading the Marie Kondo book- I am actually re-reading it now! And documenting my experiences using her method on my blog.
And yes, her book is TRULY life- changing!
I just checked out your blog and read through some of your posts — loved reading about your journey so far! I just finished the book yesterday and am so eager to get started. I’ve done a lot of de-cluttering in the past (especially in my closet) but I know I still have so much excess. Reading the book definitely helped me understand that it’s okay to let go of things no longer serving a purpose in my life or bringing happiness to me. Thanks for sharing your insight!
Now you’re making me want to go through all of my toiletries and do the same cleanse!! I’ve always held onto things way too much because I see it in the store and think I need it, but get it home and only use it for a week until I discover I have it 3 months later. I’ve been trying (for the past few years…..) to just not buy new products until I use the old ones completely or until they don’t work anymore – kind of like a Project Pan type approach – but I don’t feel as good as I probably would just getting rid of somethings. Thanks for posting! It will probably help in the struggle of getting rid of things. (:
Hi Caroline! I found that rosehip oil is really good for my redness. I use Trilogy’s organic one, and use it as a night cream.
I wear Max Factor black mascara, Bobbi Brown gel brown eyeliner to make a tiny flick, Clinique Almost Foundation and bronzer. Oh and lip balm. And I recently made my own shampoo with one part coco powder and one part cornflour (cornstarch in America?). I have dark hair and it works like a charm.
I’m excited to read this book. Also, I love reading the others’ comments and that you’ve created a little community on your blog.
Hannah x
I definitely applaud you for downsizing major areas of your life. I don’t use that much makeup either but I’m not at a point where I could live with only 5 products… I love having options especially when I’m not an expert in the makeup area.. :) Maybe one day.
Love this book (I even just wrote a post about it http://mycreativephotography.co.uk/2015/02/03/on-the-kindle-the-life-changing-magic-of-tidying/). I kind of want to take a week off just to sort through our flat (almost regretting having booked a holiday next week).
Also yay for minimalist makeup. Most days I go bare faced because I just run out of time but I am grateful to whoever it is that invented tinted moisturiser. One of my favourite products is the Ilia multi-stick which can be used as a blush or to add some colour to your lips and eyelids. I’ve also definitely moved to products which don’t need additional tools (so all stick and cream based stuff).
OMG I LOVE that book! I even bought it for a friend for Christmas, and I’ve re-read it three times. I’m SO glad you discovered it. I just moved across 4 states, and it was so liberating to know that everything I brought with me brings me such joy, as she states to do in her book. Now, when I look around, I’m not just shuffling things around. I see things that I love, and each thing has its place. It has really changed my life and my outlook on what’s important. LOVE it!!!
I’m currently in the process of downsizing my makeup collection, which isn’t actually that large in the first place, but I’ve found this post very helpful.
An e.l.f mascara is a staple in my makeup bag… I have no idea why people pay more for mascara when e.l.f have some pretty amazing ones!
:-)
This is awesome! I need to minimize my makeup collection so badly!
I love that you posted this about your makeup bag. I have been trying to downsize my daily makeup routine and for the most part I have been using items that other than my foundation come in a stick form. I love Nudestix Eye Pencils that come in beautiful neutral shades and have a sharpener on the cap so you don’t have to keep up with an extra thing in your bag. I also love Nars Multiple. Have great colors and are super blend-able; I use mine for both cheeks and lips when i don’t want to go with just lip-balm.
I bought myself a copy of Marie Kondo’s book as a “congratulations-for-finishing-finals” gift this year, and I absolutely loved her quirky yet practical advice. Even though I’ve been on a mission to downsize and simplify for a few years now (hello, life of a military wife!), she had nuggets of wisdom that, in a sense, gave me permission to let go of some things I had been holding onto – papers, for example. She says that “papers will never spark joy,” and she is so right!
I admit that I’ve also been folding my socks a little more gently since reading her chapter on clothing storage. We’ve got to be a little kinder to those hard-working socks! :)
my sock drawer was overflowing when I balled them up! now that I’ve folded them, I am not attacked by socks falling out of the drawer every morning!
I love this post – I’ve been thinking about minimal makeup all month. 2015 is the year I finally admit I don’t like wearing eyeshadow or lipstick! I’m shrinking my wardrobe but still wear a lot of colors and prints, so having a set makeup routine makes me feel more like myself in varied outfits. To curb my desire to blow money at Sephora on impulse buys, I asked my parents for a few months’ subscription to Vegan Cuts Beauty Box this year. I get new products that I feel better about supporting, and it’s easier to use up the travel sizes and samples. Now I only walk into Sephora if I run out of an essential – and no impulse-buying $50 more makeup! My downsized makeup bag has Tarte foundation & brush (keep going back to it no matter what I try, though I switch to tinted moisturizer in the summer), Tarte or ELF mascara, eyelash curler, Urban Decay eyeliner, Mary Lou-Manizer (used instead of eyeshadow every day cause it makes me look awake), and lip stain made from beet juice. I stash Hurraw lip balm everywhere & I’m set for most occasions. Now if I could just make myself throw away all the beautiful overpriced makeup I bought and won’t use…
Caroline – I LOVE this post. It just satiates a part of my mind. I don’t know about you, but there are days I spend hours just obsessing over minimizing my beauty products. Maybe there’s irony in the fact that I’m not being minimalist in “mind-time” (is obsessing mentally over something for hours efficient use of time? are mental obsessions minimalist? hmmm).
What I discovered is that having good skin (and comfortable in said skin) is highly conducive to beauty product minimalism. There was a period of half a year where I suffered from severe acne (due to stress, spite of the acne gods, etc.) where I had to use an enormous amount of beauty products to conceal my terrible skin. I’m now at a point a year and a half later where I can (somewhat) confidently go out with just a light tinted moisturizer because I no longer have major skin blemishes to hide. I’ve also shifted my view on my personal beauty. In the past, even at times when I had flawless skin, I still wore relatively heavier makeup on my eyes to elongate, enhance their appearance, etc. I did it both because it was “fun” and because I thought it made me look better. I’ve had a paradigm shift ever since coming out of my major bout with acne – I appreciate my natural appearance much more now and don’t have as much desire to alter my appearance as much through makeup. This has simplified my makeup kit significantly.
The other key thing I found is to understand my beauty goals and use multitasking products where possible. For example, I know there are 3 essential things that I want to achieve with my look: even, colour, highlight. I practice restraint and stick to the minimum that can achieve these goals.
So what’s in my everyday makeup bag now? I am proud to say only 4 items:
1. Maybelline Dream Fresh BB Cream SPF 30 (even, moisturize, & protect)
2. Joe Fresh Blush in Petal (colour)
3. Maybelline Eye Studio Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Gel Shadow in Inked in Pink (highlight eyes)
4. Revlon Balm Stain in Honey (colour & moisturize)
This is so great! Working on my all natural routine at the moment, its actually a lot of fun figuring out how you can use things like cooking oil (like olive oil) as a moisturizer.
http://korinsusanne.blogspot.no
I just read that book on Sunday. So far, I am 5x 45gal bags of stuff to goodwill, 3x 45gal bags of trash into it! (I also just put a few items in my apartment lobby and those have been snatched up too!). I am loving reading various view points on the book. I live in a 500sqft studio apartment, and the place already feels calmer and I enjoy being home more. This weekend, once I have more room in my car, I will tackle the kitchen and be done!
I discovered your blog over the holidays. It has inspired me to get off my rear and actually simplify my life, not just talk about doing it! I cut my wardrobe in half overnight. I left the get-rid-of pile on the floor of my room for a week (just in case). The entire pile went to Goodwill! Now I will only purchase what I need and high quality.
I am 45 and still have breakouts! My advice on this is eat as clean as possible, drink lots of water, and completely cut out carbonated beverages. Carbonation is my #1 breakout trigger. I use a Norwex body cloth on my face and body. You do not need soap with these amazing cloths! My face broke out a bit more at first upon using my cloth but now it is great.
With make-up, I either wear a lot, or none! Last summer I chose to take no make-up on vacation. Man was it freeing! My daughter tells me I am beautiful without make-up, so does my husband. I really try to embrace that, but it is hard! I think women are way too critical of ourselves, or at leat I am! :)
this was really helpful! this morning, i counted up my absolutes: tinted moisturizer, undereye concealer, blush, mascara and tinted lipbalm. my extras come from trying out new brands or versions of these products–i keep thinking i’ll find something even better than what i currently have! constant wishful thinking…
Hey there! A little bit late to the game but if you love eye shadows or other powder items, I would totally recommend “depotting” them and putting them in a little Z Palette to declutter. http://zpalette.com/ There are lots of tutorials on Youtube, blogs, etc. how to do it!
I have the smallest “travel” one and I’ve downsized two eyeshadow palettes and one blush into it (including trashing two pans I never used), and it’s what I use for everyday stuff so I only have to grab one for my eyes and cheeks. I’ve also got a slightly bigger one that I keep my other eyeshadows in, consolidating a bunch of palettes and also loose eyeshadows that I never seemed to use because it would involve opening them all up (I wear eyeshadow daily so my collection may be bigger than yours!). Now I just grab and go and what I own is getting used! great to have after you purge your makeup and want to downsize the space even more, the amount of packaging space you save is amazing!
My minimal makeup bag (is not super minimal, but for someone who LOVES makeup it is!). it all fits in a basket that lives in my bathroom, along with my brushes:
(1) Eyeshadow. My two go-to palettes are Two Faced in “Natural Eye”, Wet n Wild in “Silent Treatment” ($3! Amazing quality and gorg neutral shades!)
(2) Blush. Right now I bump between Revlon Matte Blush in “Perfectly Peach” and Milani Baked Blush in “Berry Amore” depending on how much oomph I want/need
(3) Eyeliner. Have a few that I circle between, in black, brown, and purple.
(4) Mascara. CoverGirl Lash Blast in the orange tube. Every time I come back to it I always think “why did I leave?!”
(5) It Cosmetics Bye Bye Undereye Corrector + a sample pot of powder to set. Mainly concentrated on the undereyes and a little around the nose.
(6) Rotating selection of lip glosses, stains, and lipsticks. I have them in a little box in my bathroom and pick as desired. One good color (which I think you might like) is Lipstick Queen in Medieval. Nice sheer Vitamin E treatment with a hint of color.
I have other shades (from my makeup hoarding days!) but I keep that in the closet in a little plastic organizer. I’ve actually been using a “wardrobe” idea with this makeup for the past two years, and will swap out colors depending on the season (and my own changing skintone). Keeps me out of bordeom and also keeps me using up my things!
I finished Marie Kondo’s book a few weeks ago and absolutely loved it! Upon finishing it, I felt happier and ready to finally get rid of a lot of things I felt guilt about not wanting anymore.
I have a bag of makeup that I enjoy but don’t wear every day, so I keep my daily options on my bathroom counter: concealer for inner eyes, shadow for brows, mascara, and a bright lipstick or gloss for days I feel like looking a little fancy. The entire process takes about two minutes.
As for the rest of my stuff, I am trying to use up my makeup and like to create small capsule collections from within the larger pool. I pull from this when going out at night or on weekends. I use each capsule for about a month and then choose new products – it allows me to make a serious dent in whatever I’ve chosen and feels like I just got a bunch of new makeup without me having to spend money or waste what I already have.
Benefit’s Benetint is always on me – perfect flush for the cheeks and lips!
I join with everyone who loved Marie Kondo’s book. My tidying has kind of stalled while I decide whether to sell or donate some items, but I think that a book discussion would get me back on track.
Love your minimal makeup bag too. : )
Great blog and wonderful post! Thank you!
I recently read Marie Kondo’s book, The Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up, too!
My current make-up bag (5 items): Minimalist Corrective Serum Foundation by Gressa, Red Apple’s “Vogue” Lipstick, Red Apple’s The Lash Project Mascara, Inika Eye Liner, and an RMS Beauty Eye Shadow.
(I have very sensitive skin, so that limits what works well for me.)
I use the lipstick for blush, if needed. I only wear eye shadow (and lip stick), if dressing up. With Valentine’s Day coming up and being on a five week trip, I brought it along.
Just found your blog, and I am loving it! I love the idea of a minimal makeup bag,
Lovely post :) My makeup bag contains a Pixi lip balm/crayon in Craving Coral, and two of their eyeliner pens – one in Black Noir, for everyday, and one in Sage Gold for special occasions. and a double sided tool with a smudging tip for the liner on one side, and a lash brush/ brow comb on the other side. I cut the stick into two because it wouldnt fit into my tiny makeup bag. so i suppose that makes it two tools lol.
I’ve managed to pare down my beauty routine to a splash of warm water, followed by a few drops of rosehip oil. Once a week I’ll use a exfoliating pad (First Aid Beauty). Sometimes I’ll also do a yogurt-honey face mask. Plain castor oil (from a clean empty mascara tube) on my lashes every night for over 5 years now – i cant remember the last time I used mascara. (i bought some clear mascara for the tube, but cleaned it out the same day.. hate the stuff)
i dont own any spf *gasp* wait wait, dont kill me just yet. i avoid going out in the sun and cover my face with a thick scarf if i’m spending more than 20 minutes out :) so there goes the need for the evening cleanse as well.
my hair routine was so simple. dilute apple cider vinegar+honey left in for 10 minutes, and argan oil as serum/treatment/whatever. but i moved to a cold place and my scalp started freaking out. so i had to bought some herbal essences naked shampoo. im glad i did, even if not for my hair, because it smells like a bodywash my mum used to use when i was 6 which sadly got discontinued.
so now hairwash = time travel.
now fragrance is one place im starting to explore, despite developing a headache with most perfumes. i found two (from B&BW) that i really like, and now im on a hunt for a third, something that will resemble a (discontinued – whats up with that!) scent that i stole from my dad and wore to the beach when i met the love of my life in 2008. basically hunting for another time machine.
was that a rant? sorry.. :)
I don’t, but I want to. I’ve told myself that when I have my collection down to an amount that will fit in a make up bag, I can buy a pretty make up bag. I guess rewarding myself with something new isn’t really in the spirit of minimalism, but it’s what works for me :)
I use Laura Mercier tinted moisturizer, too! I also love Nars wand concealer, L’Oréal Manga mascara, Nars lipstick in ‘Gipsy’, and Benefit Gimme Brow. That pretty much sums it up :)