Are you a minimalist or a maximalist or neither?
I’m more maximalist than minimalist, but I’d like to think I’m somewhere in the middle on a spectrum between the two, though I’d lean more maximalist. I definitely don’t have nor do I aspire to have the least possible. I really, really like variety in terms of color, finish, texture, formulations, and the like, so it’d be hard for me to have just one, perfect coral lipstick. I also enjoy wearing a slew of colors, regardless of whether they’re “right” for me or not. I don’t want to own something just for the sake of owning it, though, and I wouldn’t want to keep things I didn’t like just to say I had them either.
— Christine
I think I’m somewhere in the middle… I don’t have a minimal collection by any means. I do like variety and being able to really shop my collection and try different looks. But at the same time I don’t have a need to have the entire collection of anything and am resisting more and more new releases. A product has to be really special or fill in a whole in my collection that I didn’t realize was there for me to be enticed.
I’m with you. I like to think I’m somewhere in the middle, but probably leaning closer to the maximalist end of the spectrum than the minimalist.
I know some of my close friends/family would consider me a maximalist because they hardly wear makeup and thus have very small collections. However I’ve been trying (albeit unsuccessfully) to curate my collection and focus more on the products I truly love than just products to have for the sake of having them. For example I loved the idea of the nudestix eye pencils so I bought a few sets during the VIB sale, but I don’t really gravitate towards them. I think I’m going to return them, but it was honestly hard to come to that decision because I really liked the idea of them, even though I don’t actually like them in practice!
The nudestix didn’t work for me either. I returned mine. They creased horribly on my eyes even with primer.
Or the lips either, especially. The nudestix collections can seem so attractive and versatile, and I have to remind myself it’s a no go formula. Funny, bec I overresearched the ingredients, and found no culprits. Ruled out any eyesticks from them. This week, seem to be doing an all sticks eye thing. LM and Julep are as advertised. Time enough to work them, then set, then wear like iron, with no migration or fading for >5-6 hours. I slightly prefer the Julep, but maybe that’s K-halo. Sephora…though those are probably reformulated….were iffy. MAC is iffy as well. Nudestix is my least favorite new brand in the past decade.
The formula didn’t work for me either. In particular the lippies just sucked the life out of my lips and gave me creases and crevices I didn’t know I had. I couldn’t get through 2 hours wearing them and even with a balm they didn’t look good.
I think I am more minimal leaning theses days. I really think about how makeup will fit into my stash before purchasing and I am more focused on using what I have than buying every new item. I still have more than any one person probably needs but I do like having choices and I go from wearing neutral looks for weeks to wearing bold color for weeks so I definitely need variety!
I’m a maximalist. I love having tons of colours, finishes and textures to suit my every whim and occasion. One day I wear red lipstick, the next day it’s brown. Same with eye shadows. One day I’ll go for a subtle nude look, the next day I’ll go bold and bright. Minimalism makes me shudder – for me, it’s akin to being in a straitjacket, it would drive me absolutely mad and there’s no way I could limit myself to, say, just a handful of items. NO WAY.
I’m a minimalist for sure. I don’t like owning clutter that I don’t use and that goes for make-up as well. I don’t even own any eyeshadow pallettes anymore because I rarely used more than 50% of the product. Nowadays i go exclusively for single shadows, which is why I rely heavily on your reviews when doing new purchases ???
I’m a minimalist, but not by default. If I had all the money in the world, I feel like I would have way more makeup than I do. I tend to only purchase things after reading reviews, and if an item is truly unique to my collection. I love color, textures, finishes, undertones, and packaging, which makes it too easy to overspend and get caught up in the hype. So I convince myself to delay gratification and I think my collection is ultimately stronger for it!
In makeup I am maximalist. I always do full glam makeup and I try to find better and better products.
Maximalist for sure. I find comfort in quantity right now and I don’t see that changing. I have bouts of guilt or anxiety from time to time for neglecting certain items, but on the whole, I really like the variety and quantiy I have. I have a huge sentimental attachment to my stash too, so to purge or downsize just for the sake of becoming less burdened with it doesn’t feel right to me.
I’m all over the map. I always do my brows, otherwise I look like an alien. For a minimalist look, I’ll add light foundation, mascara, a hint of blush, and a sheer lip color. For an evening out, I usually go full-blown (except for contouring, which I never do). For work, it’s somewhere in the middle, depending on my mood.
I love having variety and being able to do any look I can think of at any given time, so I am a bit of a maximalist when it comes to the range of palettes, lipsticks, etc. I own.
If I find a formula/finish I like for color cosmetics, I tend to have a Pokémon “collect them all” mentality. Mainly because I’m willing to try all colors on my lids (although I hate “nude” looks aka “no makeup makeup” eye looks not neutral–I don’t mind a neutral eye look!). However, for blushes, I only “collect” formula/finishes in pink tones and with lippies, only in the red/pink family. I can do a pinky-mauve or a pinky-coral but that’s about it. I don’t know why I am more adventurous on my eyes than cheeks or lips but that’s just what I prefer!
To keep my collection from being unwieldy, I limit myself in brands I “collect”. I love anything from bareMinerals and Heimish (Korean brand for K-Beauty looks), tarte’s Rainforest of the Sea formula, and Kiko to experiment with trends on a budget. Everything else from other brands is in onsie twosies.
I’m a reformed maximalist. I pick my moments to buy, usually around sales. Being a former maximalist has its benefit as I tend to have acceptable dupes for many products. I’ve pared my stash back considerably too; feel far less burdened by ‘stuff’ for having done so.
Doubting I will ever become a minimalist, but you never know.
Maximal in stash; minimal in use. Possibly r/t day job being a no m/u place. Plus, I live in a North Atlantic beach community, where m/u is not prevalent, either. As I am old, I have powder stuff from Nars 1.0, Bare Minerals 1.0, UD 1.0, and ancient iterations of Dior/Chanel etc. I keep highly nostalgic things that cannot be used, like Biba Blue Roses, Yardley Glimmericks palette, and the Revlon mini lip set that included the original naked pink, bare beige, etc. (circa 1965-1966) Most readers are far too young to relate to the m/u of the 60s/70s, but believe me, you may save things that are tied to places and times (and looks!), and can instantly transport you to another point in your life. Nostalgia is more powerful than you now know. Since i’m still acquiring, I suspect the ‘hood wonders why I don’t look like a Kardashian. Or a German Kardashian. Or a Korean Kardashian. Hopefully, soon, a Swedish penciled Kardashian. See, it’s an incurable condition; don’t waste the money on a cure that you could spend on unique product!
I’d love to see your Biba and Yardley collections, how cool!
I hear you on the work m/u. I love eyeshadow the most and its the item I collect the most of, however, my work is a very conservative makeup work place. I hate doing a nude eye look so I usually don’t even put in the effort for eye make up on a work day. Usually it’s just light coverage foundation, cheeks (usually blush with a natural looking highlighter or contouring), tinted lip balm and mascara. I glam up on the weekends though.
Concerning makeup, I think I’m in the middle, leaning more towards the minimalistic side of the spectrum overall. I don’t own very many ES palettes (I have a custom ES palette, two 14-pan palettes, one 7-pan, one 9-pan, a 6-pan, two 5-pans, two quads, a duo, three mono ES and six eye pencils). That’s all in terms of ES and it’s more than enough for me. I have fifteen blushes (liquid and powder and in face palette). Also, eight highlighters and six bronzers (liquid and powders, in palettes and singles). Where I consider myself maximalist is the lip products category (lipsticks, lip pencils and lip glosses). I have probably around fifty (including a couple of mini sizes).
For me, there’s no point in having all the shades available. I can play with several variations of the same shade, especially when it comes to lipsticks, but they have to bring something different though. In the same way that I pick my clothes so that they flatter my body and skin/hair colour, I choose makeup that goes with my features and that is flattering on me and work-appropriate. I have some makeup with glitter/strong shimmer that I keep for special occasions or a night out but in the business environment where I worked and socialized before returning to law studies, women were not wearing much makeup, especially eye makeup. And I can say that it’s even less the case in the law field, at least here where I live. You have to be polished and elegant, but you won’t see elaborate eye makeup for instance. When I returned back to studies, I was expecting to see more makeup worn by the 20-something-year-olds. It was not the case. We were two or three wearing eye shadows or foundation, in the entire class. I guess it depends on each person and on the professional environment as well.
I would have to say neither. Certainly not a minimalist! I lean towards maximalist, but definitely not in terms of a collection. I very rarely go without makeup and love every aspect of skincare and applying makeup, but I limit my purchases to a reasonable level.
In the middle but leaning minimalist. I’d like to have the looks and skin to get by with truly minimal makeup, but it is not so.
Also, I find that if I find something that really works, I’ll explore it in various versions. Like once I figured out that a certain tone of warm brown/orange really makes my blue eyes pop, I tried out some many brands and products to finally settle on the best core few. Same with certain colors of liners, lipsticks, etc. So the stash I end up with through that and the random other explorations is rather maximalistic I think.
I am definitely a minimalist. I mostly keep one product of each (except color products) until I either finish the product or it expires. This works for me.
A good medium to full coverage foundation is very versatile, I can sheer it out with a primer/serum or build-it up (adding coverage with the concealer as well).
I have a bronzer, a contour shade, an illuminator powder and two blushes (one pinky-plum, one peachy). I won’t finish neither by the time they pass the 3 years from manufacturing date; same applies for my custom 15 eyeshadows palette.
I have six lipsticks and I will only use up the beige and pinky `my-lips-but-better` (it takes me around 1-1.5 years, based on experience). I will throw away expired my red and other deep shades.
And I wear make-up everyday, sometimes more glam than I should. 🙂
I try to be very conscious with my purchases (and sites like temptalia help a lot), but it’s just my way. I love watching make-up videos, reading or watching reviews or tutorials of products. But I don’t like owning many products and being a minimalist works for me great.
Maximalist for sure. I think an FBI profiler would call me a “collector” as I collect in several aspects of my life. I collect a vintage fine glass from the Fostoria glass company, a china pattern from Limoges, vintage perfume bottles and passementerie. In fact, my daughter and I were just discussing what sort of “souvenirs” we wanted to bring back and discussed buying a perfume to represent each country/city we visited and then when we wear that perfume we will be reminded of that place. Unfortunately, perfumes are expensive, heavy to carry, glass breaks easily and there is generally a heavy duty to pay. So, for myself, I am planning on trying to find some passementerie in each city and then incorporate them into a lamp shade or a quilt when I get home. I should note that everything I collect, I use. I have some pretty expensive glass and china and I use them. People are always asking me if I am scared I will break it and I always reply “no”. It is meant to be used. If it is broken then I am sad for a minute but it doesn’t stop me from using it.
As regards makeup, I agree with Christine. I need options when it comes to makeup. I love the artistic expression that makeup provides and so for me it is like buying more shades of paint. If I were a great painter no one would question how many paints, canvases, brushes I own, LOL.
I’m in the middle. I know what I like and I have far more than I need or will ever use but I don’t need everything and I’m fine on passing on many things out there
I’m more toward maximalist, for sure. I get bored easily. I love having lots of different products, colors, and finishes to play with. I’m more of a maximalist with eyeshadows (especially palettes) , eyeliners, lip colors, blushes, and highlighters.
I’m more of a minimalist when it comes to skincare, hygiene products, fragrance, foundations and complexion products, contour powders, bronzers, setting and finishing powders, brow products, and mascaras.
You took the words right out of my mouth, Christine! And said it far better than I could have, too. I do tend to go more towards being maximalist as well. It’s just so much more fun to play around with various color combos and looks sometimes! Other times, especially if I’m in a hurry, minimalist works.
Uhhh… with makeup I’m definitely a maximalist lol. A lot of people have 2 or 3 lipsticks., an eyeliner and a mascara and call it a day. I tried to pare down my interest in fashion into something more compact, so I feel at peace with this transition.
I’m more of a minimalist – both for budgetary reasons and because I try to keep my apartment free of unnecessary clutter.
I’ll allow myself to buy more lipsticks and eyeshadow to play around with, but when it comes to everything else, I tend to only have one or two options to choose from (two blushes, two highlighters, etcetera). Right now I’m still discovering what works for me, but I try not to go crazy with my purchases and be mindful of what I spend my money on (make myself wait, read some reviews, and so on).
Like many, somewhere in the middle, leaning towards maximalist, though my collection has shrunk considerably in the last year. I’ve very much found what I like in the last year. I love to have options, especially with eye colors (which is the only category I really go overboard in anymore). I’m whittling down lip products, cheek products are almost completely pared down, I have virtually no base/complexion products, and I only own like 3-4 (can’t remember off the top of my head) pre-made eyeshadow palettes (not counting depotted ones because I treat those as singles). I like it better this way. I know I’ll never use up all of what I have, but I have far less sitting around now.
In terms of makeup and beauty products owned, definitely a maximalist. I wear a full face of makeup nearly every day (even though I work in a lab and no one cares what my face looks like) so while I use a lot of makeup, I don’t actually like to look like I’ve spent three hours in front of a mirror either.
I can’t bear that fake plastic Insta type where faces look just so perfectly finished that it doesn’t look quite real… there’s a lot of talent and artistry involved, sure, but it’s just not my aesthetic. I don’t want to look like a mannequin that can’t smile or have an actually mobile face, you know? Like, my face has to move so I can yell at bad drivers, eat pizza and tell filthy jokes, etc.
Anyway, I have a lot of stuff and I use a lot of it to make it look like I’m not wearing a lot of it. LOL.
Emotionally I am a maximalist but so many of the colors and textures I admire no longer work on my aging wrinkly face. I just won’t buy what I know is not so flattering. More and more my collection consists of things that make color cosmetics wearable, like primers, color correctors, better brushes, etc.
I’m a reluctant maximalist. I’m in the ‘love variety’ camp, but still, would have a much tighter collection if I could let go of the dupes, ‘meh’ performers, and colors that almost work. I’ve given away tons of stuff to friends whose coloring suits the obvious cast offs. But feel like I should try hard to make marginal stuff work, so it wasn’t a total waste of money. A puritan ethic about makeup, maybe, but only after the fact.
Oh, I’m definitely a maximalist. I really like options, but I agree with you. I don’t want to just own something. I want to use what I own. But I also tend to keep things beyond their usefulness if it has sentimental value.
I’m more towards a maximalist…. Minimalism just doesn’t compute with my brain, idk why anyone would choose it haha!
Judging by my stash, which is considerable in terms of eyeshadows and lipsticks, I am a maximist.
I love wearing full makeup every single day and use a range of shades on both my eyes and lips. I am happy to keep my blushes and mascaras fairly consistent so that my eyes and lips present the colour of the day.
Howver I am really careful about how I spend my beauty dollar and only purchase what I know now suits me, which means 99% of the palettes out at the moment are not for me. And it has to have a sterling rating by you Christine too. I also look at the dupes and see how many I have of the shades, which how I resisted the Mario palette. Others, like the Pat McGrath offerings, are just too expensive to justify.
I think that because of the sheer amount of cosmetics I own I would be more of a max person. I do really enjoy every product I own though so it isn’t as if I grab things just to have them. I was not swayed to buy very much in the past 6 to 9 months and that was just fine.
However today I went to a CCO for a resupply of a moisturizer and stumbled upon a 40% off store wide sale (this was 40% off the CCO prices!). Today I did feel a bit like a “Max”.
I would say I’m in between. So many women of my age are very conservative with makeup if they wear it at all
My lip and brow colors are on the outside of mainstream. Eyeshadows, liners and mascara can go towards out of the average.
I love makeup and did stage makeup in theater groups as a child/ young adult
It is art and joy!
definitely maximalist! although i now realize it’s gotten out of hand and i need to be more conscious of my purchases and only buy something i truely love instead of getting caught up in hype.
I am a maximalist at heart, especially for eyeshadow but I do limit myself a lot. If I had more money, more space, and if makeup never expired I would have more. I just love playing with eyeshadow and I am bored very fast with the looks I can create. Having matte colorful shades is worth it to me, even if I use them 20 times a year, but I also know I don’t need many of them. I found awesome products and now stick to them ?
I am very minimalist with products such as foundation, primer, bronzer, contour. Same with brow product and mascara.
I do have too many setting powders but I am working through them. Blushes and highlighters are now under control! Haha.
I’m in the middle-a maximalist at heart but limited by financial constraints. In the past 2 weeks I’ve had enough money on hand to buy more high-end makeup than usually possible-some NARS x Erdem items and some Kat Von D 10th Anniversary collection items, including the train case. The train case is superexpensive, but I need more makeup storage space, so it should end up being a good investment.
I guess I’m a Maximalist Minimalist as I tend to collect quite a few similiar items – I think I own every beige-y pink blush and every purple eye pencil ever made!
I am more of maximalist in some makeup products especially eye shadow palettes ( owns 30+ ) , highlights and lippies ( own 100+ ). But I am minimalist in brow products, mascara, eyeliner, body care and stuff.
I love having variety in products that I love and owning them and looking at them just make me happy. lol
I used to be a minimalist when it came to makeup although I never thought of myself that way. I had just bb cream only ( one) when my niece got married I bought a foundation.
Since reading this great blog daily and keeping up with the makeup world I have a ton of stuff.
The new stuff is pretty and exciting to buy but I honestly need to stop. It’s been almost 2 years and I have 2 large containers full of makeup.. it looks like a department store! All the bottles!
I thought I looked good before and my skin does look better with foundation and it takes me 100 steps to get ready. Crazy but fun.
Most days, my style and look is minimalist. I wear a full face of makeup, but none of it is too showy. But then there are days when I wear much more dramatic looks.
As far as what I actually own, I’m maximalist to the max. I am a true beauty junkie, and I crave new stuff all the time. And like so many of you, I think we need choices available at all times.
I guess I’m very much like you Bonnie, except I don’t even know how to make a dramatic look I’ll call that perhaps wearing a bit more eyeshadow or spend a little more time drawing the crease or adding highlighter under the brow which I often completely forget. I can’t pack up too much punch cause I’m pretty cool toned and afraid to over do it so I play mostly a bit more with eyes. Sometimes when wearing a grey sweater I’ll add more blush or a pretty bright lipstick greys can drag the redness out of me but I actually like it since I can play with more coloring. Lol! I always want more and try out new things like a curious cat.
Maximalist! I don’t seem to know how to do nude or simple makeup looks on me. If I’m doing someone else and they want a nude or simple look I can and don’t mind.
Maximalist for sure. I like to have plenty of options. It becomes an issue when I get lazy and don’t use those options, however……