The death of the clean girl may be well and truly upon us, with the pop divas of the current era—Zara Larsson, for one—leading the charge for maximalist beauty. Rhinestones, vibrant hues that scream and shout, and dramatic details that draw in the attention from all the eyes in the room. Yet, it may be argued that the quietly understated will never lose its power, even as intensely bold looks find their footing in the beauty sphere. Ultimately, the restrained elegance of an indiscernible, barely-there beat will remain in every beauty aficionado’s make-up rotation. Case in point: stars like Zoë Kravitz, Hailey Bieber and Mia Goth have all adopted variations of this look in recent months, proving that simplicity, surely, will never go out of style.
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To be sure, there is more than meets the eye when it comes to perfecting barely-there make-up. What may appear effortless and straightforward, in fact, requires a more experienced touch. When the look is this clean and bare, honing in on the details becomes much more important. Compared to a full beat, the clean, minimal aesthetic requires a lighter hand, and requires restraint, to know just the right amount of product that should be applied. Sculpting and contour are kept to a minimum, then softly diffused. Lip pigments—only in near-nude shades—are feathered out for a natural finish. Blush should give that lit-from-within radiance, rather than simply sitting on the skin.
Best known for her natural beauty looks that are glamorous yet timeless and refined, is Singapore-based creative and co-founder of make-up collective Arly, Airin Lee. A large part of her portfolio is centred on bridal make-up—yet another sign of Lee’s sure-handed approach to beauty that will stand the test of time. Ahead, Vogue Singapore uncovers the intricacies of make-up that begs to go unseen with Lee.
Barely-there make-up is often described as “effortless,” yet it can require serious technique. How do you define it personally?
For me, barely-there make-up is a way of thinking. It’s about knowing when enough is enough. The challenge lies in understanding what’s sufficient. Whether that’s using a single drop of foundation instead of a full pump, or allowing the skin time to breathe before deciding if it even needs a second layer.
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How do you work with skin, rather than covering it?
For me, it’s almost impossible to work without skincare. Skincare is like a potion for the skin—it performs its magic when the products are slowly layered and combined thoughtfully. I prep the skin as if the client has just gone for a facial, giving the skin ample time to absorb the products and allow the glow to surface naturally. From there, I focus on subtly enhancing the facial features [with a light hand] so it looks alive, fresh, and quietly snatched.
Which areas of the face require the most restraint for this look?
The brows and contour steps require the most restraint. When overdone, they can quickly take a look far away from clean and natural.
How do you prevent minimal make-up from looking unfinished on camera?
I focus on layering blush carefully, so the complexion still appears flushed and healthy, yet remains natural on camera.
What is a common mistake people make when attempting minimal make-up themselves?
Relying solely on concealer. While it may seem logical, using concealer on its own often ends up looking heavier and more cakey than a sheer, well-balanced base.
What is the top product you would recommend for achieving a barely-there look?
I recommend the Glowishere Blemish Balm to gently even out the skin. Creamy and liquid products generally work much better than powders for achieving a natural, skin-like finish.
