Minimalistic trends in beauty and fashion tend to come and go, but this season's experts declare a much more stronger focus on preparing and polishing the skin and paring down several make-up elements.

Natural-looking, or "nude" make-up (as opposed to non-existant) often consists of a neutral color palette of taupes and browns and a flawless skin-base. For recent Spring/Summer 2012 fashion shows at Proenza Schouler, Missoni and Peter Pilotto, the make-up artists even dismissed the use of mascara for women's eyelashes, leaving the eyes bare.

As the owner of straight, light-colored eyelashes myself, it's interesting to observe this value for increasingly "naked" aesthetics in make-up and beauty. I believe that the great numbers of men who prefer women with "little to no make-up" might appreciate this trend!

Photography from Vogue UK.