HOW TO ELEVATE NO-MAKEUP MAKEUP
WITH UNDERSTATEMENT
April 1, 2024 by Cat Quinn
If crisp button-downs and pleated trousers are the markers of the old money fashion aesthetic, then tailored taupe eye shadows and sheer neutral lipsticks are the beauty equivalent. Graduating from the ultra-minimalist Clean Girl makeup look, we are now seeing a luxurious and manicured take on neutral makeup: Understatement.
Marked by subtle contouring, soft neutrals and the perfect neutral lipstick, the Understatement look is about elevating your classy everyday makeup style. “It’s putting an incredible amount of effort into looking effortless,” says Terry Barber, M·A·C Creative Director of Makeup Artistry. “It’s the art of having done just enough.”
Like Quiet Luxury fashion, the secret to this look is in the styling. Using a delicate and restrained hand, softly contour the face, eyes and lips in neutral tones that whisper rather than shout. “It’s more than no-makeup makeup; it’s actually quite meticulous,” says Barber. “Like a designer coat, it is very tailored. The aim isn’t to transform but to elevate to your features.”
Marked by subtle contouring, soft neutrals and the perfect neutral lipstick, the Understatement look is about elevating your classy everyday makeup style. “It’s putting an incredible amount of effort into looking effortless,” says Terry Barber, M·A·C Creative Director of Makeup Artistry. “It’s the art of having done just enough.”
Like Quiet Luxury fashion, the secret to this look is in the styling. Using a delicate and restrained hand, softly contour the face, eyes and lips in neutral tones that whisper rather than shout. “It’s more than no-makeup makeup; it’s actually quite meticulous,” says Barber. “Like a designer coat, it is very tailored. The aim isn’t to transform but to elevate to your features.”
Lip Pencil
$46.00
An ultra-precise lip liner in a wide range of creamy shades designed for shaping, lining or filing in lips.
Frost Lipstick
$46.00
A Lipstick formula with smooth, medium buildable coverage, high pearl and a semi-lustrous finish.
Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick
$49.00
A lightweight, raspberry seed- and organic extra-virgin olive oil-infused lipstick that delivers sheer and shiny colour with a long-wearing, lustrous finish
Eye Shadow
$41.00
A saturated pressed powder eye shadow in four textures featuring even more pigment-packed payoff.
The finishing touch to a soft Understatement look? A swipe of Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick in Thanks, It’s M·A·C!.
The secret to perfectly balanced Understatement skin: Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15.
Soft sculpting and lightly defined features are the new luxury statement.
HOW TO GET THE TREND
LOOK 1: Lean into a sophisticated aesthetic with minimalist makeup and neutral hues.
- Prep and hydrate your complexion with Hyper Real SerumizerTM Serum-Moisturizer Hybrid.
- Even skin tone with Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15.
- Sweep shades Give Me Cyber Space and Accept Cookies from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes across lids.
- Add colour to skin by sweeping Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Bronzer onto the contours of the face using a 127S Split Fibre Face Brush.
MAC Hyper Real Serumizer
$122.00
A serum-moisturiser hybrid that balances, retexturises and strengthens the skin barrier for a petal-soft, pore-minimised canvas with lit-from-within radiance.
Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Matte Foundation + Oil Control
$84.00
A 24-hour buildable, breathable foundation with a natural, soft-matte finish in 71 good-for-skin shades made for all skin tones and textures.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes
$126.00
A true-nude 12-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for limitless minimal to maximal looks.
SKINFINISH SUNSTRUCK MATTE BRONZER
$84.00
A soft matte bronzing powder that adds warmth and depth, available in Artist-crafted, colour-true shades.
127S Split Fibre Face
$97.00
A paddle-shaped face brush that features a special combination of 50/50 fibres.
Lip Conditioner (Tube)
$46.00
An emollient-based balm that conditions lips, locks in moisture and gives a soft shine.
The Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes has a range of tones for brightening and defining eyes.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes
$126.00
A true-nude 12-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for limitless minimal to maximal looks.
Enhance – rather than transform – your features with the Understatement trend.
LOOK 2: Elevate classy makeup looks with neutral eye shadow and everyone’s favourite nude lipstick shade.
- Prep and hydrate your complexion with Hyper Real SerumizerTM Serum-Moisturizer Hybrid.
- Even skin tone with Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15.
- Sweep shade Satin Taupe from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes across lids. Then, sweep shade Sonic Chocolate through creases.
- Coat lashes with Extended Play Gigablack Lash Mascara.
- Add colour to skin by sweeping Skinfinish Sunstruck Matte Bronzer onto the contours of the face.
MAC Hyper Real Serumizer
$122.00
A serum-moisturiser hybrid that balances, retexturises and strengthens the skin barrier for a petal-soft, pore-minimised canvas with lit-from-within radiance.
Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Matte Foundation + Oil Control
$84.00
A 24-hour buildable, breathable foundation with a natural, soft-matte finish in 71 good-for-skin shades made for all skin tones and textures.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes
$126.00
A true-nude 12-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for limitless minimal to maximal looks.
Extended Play Gigablack Lash
$55.00
A waterproof carbon black formula that creates defined lashes for up to 16 hours.
SKINFINISH SUNSTRUCK MATTE BRONZER
$84.00
A soft matte bronzing powder that adds warmth and depth, available in Artist-crafted, colour-true shades.
Lip Pencil
$46.00
An ultra-precise lip liner in a wide range of creamy shades designed for shaping, lining or filing in lips.
Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick
$49.00
A lightweight, raspberry seed- and organic extra-virgin olive oil-infused lipstick that delivers sheer and shiny colour with a long-wearing, lustrous finish
Like the perfect pair of jeans, Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick in Thanks, It’s M·A·C! fits every occasion.
Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick
$49.00
A lightweight, raspberry seed- and organic extra-virgin olive oil-infused lipstick that delivers sheer and shiny colour with a long-wearing, lustrous finish
With a soft matte finish and buildable coverage, Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 gives skin an understated elegance.
LOOK 3: Play up minimalist makeup for a luxurious take on neutral shades.
- Prep and hydrate your complexion with Hyper Real SerumizerTM Serum-Moisturizer Hybrid.
- Even skin tone with Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15.
- Sweep shade Wedge from the Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes along lash lines, then tap shade Accept Cookies onto centres of lids.
MAC Hyper Real Serumizer
$122.00
A serum-moisturiser hybrid that balances, retexturises and strengthens the skin barrier for a petal-soft, pore-minimised canvas with lit-from-within radiance.
Studio Fix Fluid SPF 15 24HR Matte Foundation + Oil Control
$84.00
A 24-hour buildable, breathable foundation with a natural, soft-matte finish in 71 good-for-skin shades made for all skin tones and textures.
Connect In Colour Eye Shadow Palette: Unfiltered Nudes
$126.00
A true-nude 12-pan eye shadow palette innovated with one-swipe, pure pigment payoff for limitless minimal to maximal looks.
SKINFINISH SUNSTRUCK RADIANT BRONZER
$84.00
A dimensional radiant bronzing powder that adds warmth and glow, available in Artist-crafted, colour-true shades.
127S Split Fibre Face
$97.00
A paddle-shaped face brush that features a special combination of 50/50 fibres.
Lustreglass Sheer-Shine Lipstick
$49.00
A lightweight, raspberry seed- and organic extra-virgin olive oil-infused lipstick that delivers sheer and shiny colour with a long-wearing, lustrous finish
Terry Barber, M·A·C Creative Director of Makeup Aristry, shares his perspective on the Understatement trend.
