There are makeovers and there are makeovers. Some, the dramatic tv variety, create a glamorous event-ready look while never letting the made-over person see herself in the mirror until the final reveal. I always worry that the happy recipient won’t have a clue how to recreate her amazing face when she’s home alone with her tote bag full of new cosmetics.  What good is an over-the-top makeover if it only benefits you for one day?

My kind of makeover is pretty much at the other end of the spectrum, aiming for an easy-to-do soft daytime look that can be amped up a little for evening when needed. And we use only natural, mineral-based cosmetics.

Clients usually watch every step in the mirror, asking lots of questions and interacting in color choices as we go along. If they want it to be a lesson, I’m happy to explain what I’m doing. If they are already well-practiced with their own makeup art, we often dialogue about products, colors and application tools for fine-tuning their cosmetics and skin care routine

Always the objective is for them to be happily self-sufficient, able to accomplish the application on a daily basis in their personal window of time they have in the morning. This is where the word minimal is elevated to utmost importance.

Here is a 9-step ( approx. 9-minute) mineral makeup app. that easily becomes a quick second-nature routine:

1- concealer—powder or cream, dot on blemishes/spots & blend

2- foundation—liquid or loose minerals, one or two light layers

3-eyeshadow—a light underbrow highlight & earthtone lid color

4- eyeliner—pencil or wet-brush powder, close to lash line

5- brow color—light fill-in w/ shade  same or lighter than brows

6-mascara−  good ingredient variety that needs only one coat

7-blush/bronzer—brush on  lightly to accent cheek bones

8- lip liner—a light line to match lip color

9- lip color—shade slightly darker then natural color of your lips

Assuming you are using all the right colors for your skin tone, this sequence can really max your look with a minimum of time. For ultra-minimalists or the severely time-crunched, try a short-but-powerful 5-step version with concealer, foundation, brow color, mascara and lip color.

You can see a YouTube video that shows me describing some of these steps during a mineral makeover. Thanks to wonderful  client-model Anna Tate and my husband, Martin Brossman, for his great video editing!

Need a jump start for your own makeup routine? Come in for our February Valentine special, a free mineral makeover with a cosmetics purchase of $30 or more at Nature’s Face makeup and skincare studio in Raleigh, NC.