Most days when I’m not going anywhere, I don’t bother to put on makeup. I like to let my skin breathe as much as possible. Yesterday was one of those days. But later in the evening I had to run out briefly to pick up my husband from work and run to the grocery store. Usually I’ll go out without a drop of makeup on and not think twice. But for whatever reason, my brain said ‘just put on a little‘, so to the vanity I went.
As I sat down, I knew I wouldn’t have much time, so I figured I would make a game of it. A challenge. I wanted to use as few products as possible, as quickly as possible, and get out the door looking polished and pulled together. So I got to work.
This is a look that you can do in 5 minutes or less, with 5 products and 3 tools – fantastic for busy mornings or just a minimal makeup day, this will have you out the door in no time at all!
Let’s get started!
CONCEALER – 1 min 16 sec
Naturally this is the first step after your skin care. If you feel the need to use a primer, that’s fine. But for the sake of keeping time and products to a minimum, I skip primer and foundation and go straight for the concealer. My Holy Grail concealer at the moment is my Maybelline Fit Me Concealer ($7), and I have mine in the shade ‘fair’. I apply it only to the areas that need the most attention – the very inner corner of the eye, the outer corner of the eye (I sometimes get a little bit of redness in that area), on the sides of my nose (another place of great redness, but almost all women get redness here, it’s just hormonal), a stripe down the center of my nose (gets a little red here too) and of course any blemishes. Then I like to blend it out with the e.l.f. Studio Flawless Concealer Brush ($3), or for more pinpointed areas like blemishes, the Real Techniques Shading Brush ($7), keeping it pretty much in the areas I need the coverage, but I will take whatever is leftover on the brush and use it on my eyelids, because they can get pretty veiny. You could also use a damp beauty sponge, the choice is yours. I recommend the Real Techniques Miracle Complexion Sponge ($7), and between you and me – I like it BETTER than a Beauty Blender! SSSHHHHH!
BRONZER – 16 sec
After all that concealer (even though it wasn’t really that much) it’s time to bring some color back to the face. I found myself reaching for a blush and thought “well if you do that, you’ll look like a porcelain doll and not like a HUMAN”, so instead I grabbed a bronzer. Well, kind of. The NYX HD Blush in ‘Nude’Tude’ ($7) is technically a blush, but it’s a pretty, not too warm honey shade that just brings you back to LIFE! I lightly dust that on the outside of my face and a little tiny bit on either side of my nose with a Real Techniques Blush Brush ($9).
BROWS – 37 sec
Brows make your look. When they look more polished, even if it’s just basic grooming with a little clear brow gel, you feel like you can take on the world. Yup, brows are pretty powerful like that! So I like to use the Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Gel ($22) for this step. I know, it’s not drugstore. It’s a little on the pricey side for a clear brow gel, or ANY brow gel – but this stuff is SUPER GLUE on your brows – and I actually got mine for $11 when ULTA ran their ‘21 Days of Beauty‘ promotion back in September – and I’m such a believer that my cheap butt WILL be purchasing more when I run out! If you’re someone who absolutely needs a some color to their brows, the ULTA Brow Tint ($10) is a great option, and it has that teeny tiny brush reminiscent of the Benefit Gimme Brow ($24), but for way less!
EYES – 1 min 36 sec
I kept it simple here – just curling my lashes (any old lash curler will do, mine came from TJ Maxx) and applying 2-3 coats of CoverGirl Lash Blast Clump Crusher Mascara ($8) in Brown. A brown mascara looks more natural, so you don’t feel like the rest of your face has to compete with your lashes. I did both my top and bottom lashes, because the curved brush fits perfectly and I don’t have to reach for something totally different for those pesky little bottom ones.
LIPS – 18 sec
Here you can do whatever you want. But back in August I discovered the ULTA Brilliant Color Lip Glosses ($8), and fell in love. My favorite shade is Guava, and I think I have a few stashed away as backups too, in case they go and discontinue the shade! It’s a pretty, very glossy but not too sticky, natural pink shade that just looks fresh and girly. If you like something a little richer in pigmentation, you could always use the Burt’s Bees Lip Gloss in Evening Glow ($7), which is a little on the redder side, and not too sheer or too opaque, it’s pretty much right in the middle. When I’m doing minimal makeup, I just feel like I need a glossy lip. A lot of the ULTA brand cosmetics I feel are very underrated, and I don’t hear them mentioned often, but I really love them. There are some great quality items, but I’ll save that for another time!
There you have it! Now all you need is a messy bun or some cute earrings and you’re ready for your day! This is a go-to look for me most days because, like many moms of toddlers, I treasure any extra moments of sleep I can salvage!
How do you get ready on busy mornings? What are your HG products to achieve an effortless, put together look? Leave me a comment below!
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LOTS OF LOVE AND EXTRA ZZZ’S!!
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