I Consider Myself a Beauty Minimalist—Here's What Earned a Spot in My Drawer

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The Lineup is a monthly series where we're giving you an inside peek at the beauty lineups of cool fashion people, editors, makeup artists, hairstylists, and estheticians—all the people we trust the most. Get ready for a behind-the-scenes look at all the can't-live-without products that make their worlds go 'round.

If you're already wondering how "minimalist" has made its way into the vocabulary of a beauty editor, don't worry—it will all make sense in a few scrolls. My relationship with beauty dates back to 2008, when YouTube was still relatively new and creators were filming makeup tutorials on the floors of their childhood bedrooms, convincing fifth-grade me that I absolutely needed the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer. I would binge-watch these videos (like I do with TikTok videos now) and make mental notes of products and product descriptions, but I would never actually buy anything. As much as I loved watching beauty transformations, shade ranges were scarce, diversity in beauty was still a budding concept, and representation for people with darker skin tones was lacking, making my shopping experience not as fun as it looked on my laptop screen. I also didn't feel the need to wear makeup on a daily basis, so I never really applied the skills that I had been learning.

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(Image credit: @aniyahmorinia)

Fast-forward about eight years, and my YouTube obsession was still going strong. I was in college, feeling like I finally had a reason to wear makeup more regularly and starting to see some changes in the product offerings for women of color. You're probably imagining a full face of foundation, bronzer, blush, and eye shadow, but a full face for me meant mascara, lip gloss, and concealer (on a good day). And then, in 2020, the pandemic hit. Since I was unable to leave the house safely, my screen time and online shopping jumped to an all-time high. So I did what most of us did during quarantine: I developed a hobby. I didn't make banana bread, learn TikTok dances, or drink whipped coffee. I sat in front of my bathroom mirror and re-created YouTube makeup tutorials (pretty effortlessly, might I add).

Now, "beauty" is the second word in my job title, and I get to test products and create fun and exciting looks for a living. Despite all of the brands and items that I'm exposed to daily, I'm pretty loyal to the products I love, and it takes an amazing product to make me deviate from my eight-step makeup routine. My love for beauty has no bounds, but the space in my bathroom definitely does. So when it comes to haircare and skincare, I keep my routines simple and effective, adding top-tier products to the mix only when they've been proven to be absolute must-haves. Want a peek inside my easy and minimalistic routine? Just keep scrolling.

Skincare Essentials

Makeup Essentials

Haircare Essentials

Next: I'm 41 and Am Finally Prioritizing My Beauty Sleep—Here's My A+ Product Lineup

Aniyah Morinia
Associate Branded Content Editor
Aniyah Morinia is an NYC-based associate beauty and fashion editor at Who What Wear. She has worked in fashion media since 2018 and joined WWW's branded content team, where she not only writes for some of her favorite brands but also creates content for them. Aniyah will find any excuse to get a photo of her outfit and absolutely loves taking photos. She graduated from the University of Florida in 2020 with a bachlor's degree in public relations and started post-grad life freelancing for EveryStylishGirl, Riot Swim, and Baby Tress. Since starting at Who What Wear, Aniyah has developed a passion for hosting livestreams, working red carpets, and creating TikToks in addition to writing fashion and beauty stories. When Aniyah's not writing or creating content, you can find her exploring Brooklyn and eating her way through the city. She'll never pass up the opportunity to uncover an NYC hidden gem or mix and mingle with her friends (all while swapping holy-grail products, of course).