Style and Grooming
Adria Arjona's "Less Is More" Makeup: Mascara, Lip Liner as Contour and Glow (Nov 2026)
How does Adria Arjona do "less is more" makeup? In a November 2, 2026 Vogue interview, the actor said she likes makeup that enhances you "without changing the way that you look." Her daily kit leans on multipurpose products: a mascara that makes lashes "a little bit darker and longer," a lip liner she also uses to contour, and a glow lotion for face and body. [1]
Important: the Vogue piece is labeled "Presented by L'Oréal Paris," and Arjona is a brand ambassador. So the specific products are part of a paid campaign. Her methods are what is worth copying.
Short answer
- Her rule: "Now I believe less is more." [1]
- Lashes: darker and longer, but not obvious. [1]
- Lip liner: to define lips, and as a contour when she wants more shape. [1]
- Glow: a glow lotion on face and body. [1]
What else she said
Arjona called herself a tomboy who avoided makeup growing up, and said working with pros helped her learn what she likes. [1] Most days start with a workout, then she lets her curls air dry with a mousse that is "not crunchy." [1] She admitted the liner contour is off label: "I know it's not designed to do that, but I'll just go for it." [1]
Why "no makeup" makeup is still searched
Pinterest's October 6, 2026 report listed "soft natural makeup looks" up 105% and "natural makeup aesthetic" up 95% in its searches. [2] Even in a season of bold trends, a lot of women want the quiet version.
Copy her routine in 7 minutes (original)
- Skin: moisturizer, then sunscreen. Spot conceal only.
- Glow: a little luminous lotion or liquid highlighter mixed into moisturizer, on the high points of the face and collarbones.
- Brows: brush them up with clear or tinted gel.
- Lashes: curl, then one coat of brown black mascara. Wiggle at the roots and stop. One coat keeps it natural.
- Lip liner contour: pick a liner in a soft brown that is about two shades deeper than your skin. Draw a short line under the cheekbone, blend upward with a finger or sponge.
- Lips: line with the same liner, smudge it in, add balm.
The lip liner contour trick, step by step
- Choose the right shade. It should be a neutral or cool brown. Too red or pink looks like blush, not shadow.
- Warm it up. Draw on the back of your hand first so it is creamy.
- Draw small. A two inch line from near the ear toward the corner of the mouth, under the cheekbone.
- Blend fast. Liners can set quickly. Blend up, never down.
- Set it. A tiny bit of translucent powder on top if you have oily skin.
Skip this on active breakouts. A waxy pencil dragged over acne can irritate it.
When less is more works best
- First dates and daytime plans, when you want to look like yourself.
- Profile photos, where heavy makeup can look different from you in person.
- Workdays, when you want polish without a full face.
When to add more
Night events, big lighting, or photos with flash. Add a second coat of mascara and a deeper lip.
How to choose "enhancing" shades (original)
The point of less is more makeup is that each product looks like a better version of something already on your face.
| Product | Match it to | |---|---| | Brow gel | Your natural brow color or one shade lighter | | Contour | The natural shadow under your cheekbone | | Blush | The color your cheeks turn after a workout | | Lip liner | Your natural lip edge, or one shade deeper | | Mascara | Brown black for fair skin, black for most others |
Glow without looking greasy
- Put glow only where light hits: top of the cheekbones, bridge of the nose, cupid's bow.
- Skip glow on the forehead and chin if you get oily there.
- Body glow on the collarbones and shoulders looks great in photos and with open necklines.
Air dried curls, the basics
Arjona air dries her curls with mousse. [1] To try it: apply mousse to soaking wet hair, scrunch it upward, do not touch it while it dries, then scrunch out the crunch at the end with a drop of oil on your hands.
Quick takeaway
Arjona's rule: makeup should enhance you, not change you.
Her tricks: subtle mascara, lip liner as contour, glow on face and body.
The Vogue interview is a paid L'Oréal partnership, so copy the methods, not the shopping list.
Use a cool brown liner for contour and blend upward.