There are two kinds of beauty enthusiasts: For the sake of generalization, we'll separate them into two groups: the makeup minimalists, and glow-all-outs. The latter group doesn't mind rising at the crack of dawn to moisturize, prime, prep, and apply products with a surgeon's precision (read: with a dozen different brushes, all of which have been individually chosen). And not only do they love a blowout, but they find an hours-long beauty routine — complete with two different round brushes, a Beachwaver, and a straightening iron — cathartic. The makeup minimalists, however, would instead opt to sleep in, and generally save their contouring skills for the weekend. Sure, we all enjoy collecting makeup palettes and new hair products, but the biggest difference lies in the application: minimalists generally prefer using their hands to do their makeup and hair — and typically with a few foolproof hero products that last all day long.
One company that might come to mind for the minimalist is Glossier: The millennial brand is known for its breezy, devil-may care attitude toward makeup, and thanks to products like Cloud Paint and Boy Brow, looking like you made an effort can take seconds — no complicated palettes or foundation brushes necessary. Now, the fashion set is taking that same approach. Backstage at the New York Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2019 shows, artists embraced the art of effortless glam — and nixed their brushes and tools in the process, too. That's right: Aside from minimal touch ups and detailing, professional makeup artists and hairstylists used their own digits to create billion-dollar looks. "The more tools and products you use, the harder it is to make [your hair] look easy," Guido Palau, Redken Creative Director, told TZR backstage at Longchamp. "Use products sparingly so that it looks more effortless."
Ready to make your routine — and possibly, your life — a whole lot easier? Get the stories behind the glam at Linder, Monse, and R13 below.
Monse
"The idea is that you're on a sailboat, not wearing any makeup," Erin Parsons, key makeup artist for Maybelline, tells us backstage. "You're sunburned, but not in a pink way. In a sun-kissed way." If the models didn't need foundation, Parsons didn't use any — just a bit of Instant Rewind concealer, and Baby Lips on the cheekbones for highlight. For a natural flush, she used the brand's Color Sensational Shine Compulsion Lipstick in Chocolate Lust on the cheeks. "The product becomes one with the skin when you press it in," she notes. "It becomes authentic and real." You know, like sunburn.
R13
Backstage at R13, key makeup artist Hannah Murray says that she wanted the girls to look "tough and punky," which she achieved through a dewy complexion. But to keep skin from veering into greasy, oily territory, Murray, used her fourth finger (which is the lightest to touch, she says) to push in MAC's Strobe Cream and Clear Gloss into the models' skin, "so that it becomes the skin," she emphasizes.
Linder
Hairstylist Peter Gray barely picked up a tool backstage at Linder, opting to use texture-enhanching Redken products (we like Powder Grip 03 Texturizing Powder and Rough Paste 12 Texturizing Hair Paste) and chose to celebrate the models' natural texture. "It's like when Viola took her wig off [on How To Get Away With Murder]," he tells us. "You don't have to have blow-dried, perfect hair to be beautiful."
