On TikTok, beauty trends like cherry cola lips are typically short-lived—we rarely see ones that are actually helpful in some way. But then there are the exceptions: last year saw beauty influencers hopping on the de-influencing train, showing products their audience doesn’t actually need. Enter, underconsumption core.
This is a welcome change, considering how brands are releasing products marketed as cutting edge or a dupe of a more expensive version at an increasingly faster rate, causing the beauty market to be saturated by releases we don’t actually need in our arsenals.
@theraisareyes #underconsumption #makeup #dailymakeuplook @chanel.beauty @Fenty Beauty @Anastasia Beverly Hills ♬ original sound – Raisa | elegance
And though this trend of de-influencing had lost steam amongst beauty influencers online earlier this year, “underconsumption core” is starting to sweep the platform. Participants of this trend are not usually content creators (who typically receive a tonne of new products as a promotion technique by brands) but “regular” people showing their well-loved capsule makeup collections.
@margarida.vale #makeup #viral ♬ original sound – elle ೀ
One content creator acing the trend, though? Kennedi, better known as @kennedivg, whose claim to fame is her curated makeup collection of time-tested favourites, including a Fara Homidi Essential Face Compact—a concealer-foundation balm and highlighter duo—eye and lip liners from Victoria Beckham Beauty and a bronzer from Hermès. While these products are on the pricier end of the scale compared to drugstore staples, the content creator’s curation ensures that she’s using a rotation of products that work for her on the daily, therefore reducing the need to consume more.
But before diving headfirst into hunting for your very own collection, here is a list of ways you can maximise your existing makeup products.
Change the Finish of Your Foundation With A Liquid Highlighter
Dewy skin is perfect for the summertime and to achieve looks like the “clean girl”. If you have a liquid-type foundation sitting at the bottom of your drawer, mix it with a few drops of a liquid highlighter to add a hint of glow to your complexion. The liquid highlighter or illuminator should have a sheer, pearlescent type of shine as seen in products like Chanel’s Le Blanc Rosy Light Drops, for example, rather than a shimmery or glittery one to impart a natural-looking healthy glow to your skin.
Experts recommend combining both products on the back of your hand as the warmth allows them to mix better.
Maximise Your Cheek Products By Using Them As Eyeshadow
@katiejanehughes One blush: whole face! #blushhack ##ConcealerHack##MakeUpHack##FIP##TryThis##Blusher##Travel##doitnow ♬ original sound – Katiejanehughes
If you haven’t already, try using your bronzer or blush in any form—powder, cream or liquid—on your lids to create a seamless transition between the cheek and eye area on your face. You might need a smaller brush for the eye area, though the hack of pinching brushes meant for the cheeks to form a narrower shape to fit your eyelids will work to give your eyelids a soft wash of colour.
For more intense pigment, dampen the bristles of your brush with a little setting spray before using blush or bronzer.
Full-Face Using Lipstick
Similarly, try using a lipstick shade you find flattering for your skin tone on your cheeks and eyes.
To find what undertone, colour and more suits you, try techniques like a personal colour analysis. Deep autumns, for example, look great with warm berry hues that could double up as a flush on the cheeks and eyes.
But formula matters for this trick: opt for satin finish bullet type lipsticks for a natural, skin-like glow over liquid formulas and lip stains, which are difficult to blend out quickly. If fingers sheer out the colour too much for you, try using a dense brush instead.
Check your lip product for specific usage recommendations—to only use the product on the lips, for example—as some lipsticks may have fragrances, preservatives and other ingredients that may harm your skin.
As for application techniques, try the placements in the TikTok below.
@isaployy More than lipstick 🖍️✨ #สอนแต่งหน้า #รีวิวบิวตี้ #TikTokLooks #makeup #lipstick #makeuptutorial #makeuphacks #makeuplover #makeuptips ♬ Me Too – Tiktok Shop🛒
Use Mascara And Eyeshadows On Your Eyebrows
Hold your hairs in place and give the illusion of a thicker set of eyebrows without the need for eyebrow mascara. With a clean spoolie and your usual brown mascara—since black may be too intense—use a light hand to comb the product through your brow hairs.
Or, for a softer, trendier look that typically feature lighter-coloured brows, sweep a light-coloured eyeshadow. think: ashy browns or yellow-toned browns to mimic blonde hair—over your brows with a smaller brush.
Ditch The Eye Primer For Concealer
For more intense colour, longer wear and to create a clean canvas for eye makeup, try using a thin layer of matte concealer—makeup enthusiasts suggest NARS Soft Matte Complete concealer or Tarte’s bestselling Shape Tape concealer for this—under eye shadow if you don’t have an eye primer on hand.
That said, this technique might not work if you have very oily eyelids as concealers often have an emollient formula that may crease over time.
Use A Softer Eyebrow Pencil As A Lip Liner
@honeycaycay Hack 🫶🏽 #lipcombo ♬ оригинальный звук – sdhqo,но лайф
If you haven’t found the perfect lip liner for that ’90s-esque brown lip just yet, your eyebrow pencil may just be the solution you were looking for.
Choose a softer, more pigmented formula for this hack, as waxier ones may not have the colour payoff you need.
Figure Out What Colours And Formulas Work For You First Before Repurchasing
Not all beauty products are created equal. To figure out which ones work for your features and lifestyle, trial and error is often needed, though narrowing down the selection by undertones, colour families and finishes is possible.
Before purchasing products to replace expired or empty ones, consider these factors:
Finishes
For oilier skin that gets shiny fast in our humid climate, matte finishes in complexion products like foundation, concealers, blush and bronzers work best.
But for drier skin types that might experience flakiness or similar issues with matte makeup might benefit more from satin finishes.
To identify which products have your desired finish, try using filters or search for keywords like “matte” or “dewy”.
Coverage
Apart from finishes, something else to be mindful of is the coverage that each product offers. Someone with darker scars, for example, may prefer something with a higher coverage like a concealer than someone who has minor discolourations, who might opt for something like a lightweight skin tint instead.
Colours
Knowing your personal preferences can help you to consume less as well. For instance, if you tend toward neutrals, pick single shadows or palettes that have that colour story. Think: the Natasha Denona mini palettes—the over one is more experimental, like the Anastasia Beverly Hills Cosmos Eye Shadow Palette that has shades like blue and orange.
Beginners may benefit from smaller eyeshadow palettes since the colours included typically are designed to complement one another.
Makeup style
In terms of content consumption, consider the features of the creators you’re following. Western and Eastern eye shapes can look dramatically different with the same makeup style, for example, so certain adjustments are required.
Thankfully, content from the likes of Dear Peachie on YouTube is advocating for a more tailored approach to makeup, helping its audience figure out the right makeup style and therefore the best product selection for themselves.
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This story first appeared on GRAZIA Singapore.