Minimal make-up isn’t just about a light touch. It’s about decluttering your make-up bag of all its dried up mascaras, half-finished foundations and really honing in on half a dozen really hard-working products that will multi-task and still make you feel polished, but with minimal faff. For added beauty points, look for make-up with added skincare benefits to really help reboot dry, dull winter skin. Here are seven capsule make-up sets, perfect for a fresh start to the year:
Merit
Five Minute Morning Routine Set, £155
The six products your face needs and nothing else. This super chic five-minute routine set from Merit give clean formulas in skin-enhancing shades for a polished, yet natural look that’s foolproof.
Ilia
The Swipe-and-Go Set, £127.50
As the name suggests, this super simple three-product set of base, blush and lip are all the foundations you need for an easy, weekend, natural look.
Jones Road
The Make Up Travel Kit, £96
Bobbi Brown is the queen of the easy make-up look. With easy-to-wear, pinky tones, this travel set is a great buy for anyone who wants makeup that blends into skin easily and doesn’t look like it’s wearing you. Just simple fresh, healthy skin.
Typology
Tinted Trio, £77
This skincare ingredient-packed trio will give your skin a 2026 reboot, with a lightweight tinted serum packed with vitamin C for brightness; a concealer with caffeine to depuff and tackle dark circles; and a nourishing vitamin E enriched lip oil. The perfect opportunity to simplify your skincare and your make-up routine in one.
Westman Atelier
Petite Petal Edition, £70
Eminently wearable in formulas that can be melted into the skin with fingertips to give dull winter skin a healthy glow with little effort.
Vieve
The Juicy Complexion Kit, £147
Who doesn’t need an extra hit of moisture to combat dry January skin? This set from make-up artist-founded brand Vieve has all the kit you need for a glowy (faux) sun-kissed base, with a lit-from-within vibe that is most welcome until summer rolls around.
Trish McEvoy
Medium Power of Make-up Planner, £48
A really clever Filofax system for your makeup. Add refillable palettes to the ring-binder style planner, and fill each with the exact colours and combo of blush, bronzer, eyeshadow that you know you’ll wear so there’s zero wastage – add your liquids to the pouch at the back and you’re good to go.
