Okay, so I’m lying. My makeup generally does not take five minutes, but since I’ve never timed it I thought I would play it safe. I would say I tend to get about three minutes of time to “put my face on,” and I have mastered the art of speed demon makeup application. I think the key is to find products that you love, and to pick the features you want to enhance, as well as what your priority is. Mine are as follows:
Clear skin, defined eyebrows, brown or black eyeliner, and enhanced eyelashes.
I always do these things if I am in a rush, but then if I have more time I add in blush and bright lips. I’m also someone that tends to wear makeup at home as well, but often just eyeliner and mascara if i’m not leaving the house. I feel better with it on and more like myself, you know?
I’ve gone through a lot of trial and error when it comes to what products are worth the splurge and what aren’t. The consensus? I find that splurging on my makeup seems to make sense. It applies better, lasts longer, and the colors and shades offered are more varied. Let’s get started on my five minutes (or less) face, shall we?
1) My first step (after moisturizing), is to even my skin out. I have two products that I switch between depending on the coverage I’m looking for. The first is Josie Maran’s Tinted Moisturizer with SPF. It applies like a BB cream and auto corrects to your skin tone. I like this on home days or days when putting on foundation seems like too much. It gives a very light coverage, but does even out my skin.
On the days when I want complete coverage I use Bare Minerals Serum Foundation. It buffs on with a brush and makes every flaw disappear. You only use a couple of drops and I find it makes my skin look like mine, but better. I also like that it doesn’t have a lot of yucky chemicals in it, and that it lasts forever. I have had the same bottle for about 6 months now and it is still going strong.
2) My eyebrows are the next step, and are something that I just started doing not that long ago. I found that in photos my eyebrows came across as sort of see through and thin, and that the ends of them tend to disappear. I use an It! Cosmetics (love this line!) eyebrow pencil and use short strokes to define them more and fill in the gaps. I don’t feel finished if I don’t do my brows now, and I am obsessed with the eyebrow pencil I use.
3) Eyeliner is a must for me, no matter if I am going to be out and about or home for the day. I feel better with it on and have always lined the inner rims of my lower lids since forever. Most days I either use a dark brown or a black, but sometimes I go crazy and throw in a bright navy or dark purple. I find that Urban Decay has great color options, but lately I’ve found that Tarte Smolderize liners are the best for smudging and literally last all day. I have a couple of pencils in both of these brands and find they last a really long time. They are worth the investment!
4) When it comes to mascara I don’t have a huge loyalty to any one brand. I do like to splurge on the nice ones at Ulta, though. I am currently using the Benefit They’re Real mascara, and plan on purchasing the It! cosmetics Hello Lashes kind next. I always buy the blackest black I can find and out two coats on my upper and lower lashes.
At this point I would call it a day and be happy with this basic face, but if I have more time I will smudge on my Josie Maran argan oil cream blush (which comes as a bonus with my Argan oil I swear by), and my It! Cosmetics lip stain/gloss in Je Ne Sais Quo (this is the BEST.) Both are pretty pink colors and can be applied in two seconds without a mirror. (Though we all know I do love my lipstick, too! My faves are a hot pink, a tomato red, or a deeper pink color.)
Tell me, are you a five minute makeup applier, or does it take more time? What are your go to products?
