Minimalist Makeup Looks to Try This Spring

Five fresh-faced trends from the runways.

The Spring/Summer 2022 runways saw no shortage of minimalist makeup.

Fashion houses from Alaïa to Bottega Veneta paraded supermodels with cheeks blushed as if pinched, faces slicked with dew, and brows enviably brushed up to feathered perfection.

For Toronto-based makeup artist Robert Weir, minimalism in makeup is a “less is more” approach to beauty. “Minimal can mean either focusing on one feature at a time or doing makeup so subtle that your natural features become the statement.”

Still, the term minimal is not to be taken too literally — as even these laid back looks require some effort. Below, Weir talks to FASHION about how you can recreate these model-inspired minimalist beauty trends for the spring season like a pro.

Flawless face

At Collina Strada and Alaïa, models embodied the “no makeup” look with skin so flawless it appeared au naturel. To achieve the same barely-there finish, Weir suggests reaching for a tinted moisturizer, BB cream, or CC Cream. “With moisturizer as the base, it gives a moist look while the sheerness of it allows the natural glow of your skin to come through the makeup.” Apply this lightly all over the face, and finish with concealer only in areas that require extra coverage. For application, opt for brushes or fingertips over sponges as they may absorb too much of your makeup.

The wet and dewy look

Channelling springtime dew, the wet look caught our eye at Bottega Veneta and Jacquemus. For this trend, Weir prefers using a cream highlighting product to create a slick finish on the high points of the face such as the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, under the brow bone and the cupid’s bow. Keeping it real, he also reminds us that this glass-like look is not the reality for those with more textured skin. “If you’re battling acne, scarring, rosacea and things like that, the dewy look can sometimes accentuate the texture more, so it’s a luxury for some people to naturally have skin that can pull off that really dewy look.” With your skin’s texture in mind, you may be more selective with your product placement — but anyone can do it.

Pinch me baby blush

As per the trends seen on Altuzarra and Brandon Maxwell runways, a neutral swipe of blush over the apples of the cheeks adds warmth to any minimalist beauty look. “I love cream products for this because they tend to melt into the skin and lightly fade throughout the day,” says Weir. Rare Beauty’s Stay Vulnerable Melting Cream Blush comes highly recommended by Weir in five natural looking shades from pink to berry for all skin tones. “I’m a melanated man and I work on a lot of beautiful melanated women — don’t be afraid of blush just because you’re dark,” says Weir. “It’s for all of us.”

Born this way brows

Throughout the years, the shape of eyebrows have fluctuated between ’90s thin to bushy and everything in between. For Giambattista Valli and Isabel Marant, Spring/Summer brows are brushed and low-effort looking. To mimic this look, begin by brushing your brows up. Weir’s personal brow hack involves using got2b Glued hair gel. “It’ll hold down a lace front wig so you know your eyebrows are good,” he says with a laugh.  Using a clean spoolie brush, apply this gel to set your brows in place. Got thinner brows? Fear not. Weir assures us that these fuller brows are still within reach. “I like to use a brow pen as opposed to powder or a pencil and take some time to draw hair by hair to fill in the gaps and it still looks super natural.”

Ultra glossy lip love

We’re taking cues from Victoria Beckham and Blumarine as we declare glossy lips are in — thank you Y2K revival! The preparation for this high-gloss lip begins with hydration. “Usually when I’m doing full glam on someone the first thing that I apply is a lip mask so that it can start soaking in while I do the rest of the makeup,” states Weir. The rest, he says, is simple. “Even in a dimly lit room if you have a clear gloss on it’s going to reflect everything around you,” says Weir. “It’s a way to add drama without adding colour.”

Essentially, minimalist beauty trends are all about enhancing your natural self.“There’s something about a minimal makeup look that exudes confidence” says Weir. “It looks cool because the person is owning who they are.”