Quick tip: Easy 5 minute makeup look (for travel, work)

Recently, I’ve been in a lot of situations when I simultaneously wanted to look somewhat polished but had both limited time and only a limited amount of makeup products on hand. (This routine works great when you’re travelling!) I found an awesome trick that solved both quandaries. Easy quick makeup look for work or travel – jump right in!

First step: Get your base on

There may be people out there that are blessed with great skin, but I’m not one of them. What’s worse than that one spot or two is that my undereye area is purple and my lids are reddish when I don’t do anything about it, which leads to a perpetual tired look. So, base and concealer (Bourjois Healthy Mix Correcting Concealer in 52 corrects everything nicely due to its peachy undertone) is a must for me. I’ve sung praises about cushion foundation before, but man, it really shines when you’re doing your makeup at 6am on a bus. It’s easy! Fuss free! It has a mirror and a sponge you can pop into the compact when you’re done! Awesome. (I use L’Oreal Nude Magique Cushion in the lightest shade.) I powder lightly over that to set it (Nars Translucent Chrystal Light Reflecting Setting Powder).

Second step: Brows

Eyebrow gel. Done (NYX Tinted Brow Mascara in Brunette). That person that said brows frame the face? Yup, totally true. Don’t skip that step. You’ll look more awake and polished in seconds.

Third step: The awesome thing I found out one day and which spawned this post

Eyeshadow. Usually I would search for that little pot, or that palette, in my makeup bag when I’m on the go. Even worse, at home, when I’ve got five minutes but unlimited possibilities in my drawers. Which one to choose?! And then the clouds parted and I saw the light.

Use your blush or bronzer as your eyeshadow. This will put your look together, will automatically work for your skintone and will give you time (to find a good lipstick, or have breakfast). For me, fair and slightly warm-toned, all bronzers I own work awesomely on the eyes, but I just travelled for three weeks and all I ever wore on my eyes was primer (MAC Prep & Prime 24-Hour Extend Eye Base) and a neutral, slightly peachy-toned blush on both eyes and cheeks (MAC Extra Dimension Blush Bareness).

(Caveat: Not all face products are made to wear on your lids. There’re actually some red pigments that aren’t FDA approved for usage in the eye area, so proceed at caution. Having said that, my eyes are still unharmed and I haven’t experienced any side-effects. Nevertheless, consider yourself warned.)

I then smudged a brown khol liner (Three The Art of Noise that I raved about before) around my lower and upper lashline, applied mascara (L’Oreal Miss Hippie Mega Volume Waterproof) and DONE. Like I said, that’ll work for every blush that suits your skintone, all the pinks, plums and even red ones (so on trend!). If you need a bit of definition, choose the smudgiest eyeliner you own, and smoke it out in the outer corners, and you’re golden.

After that, apply said blush/bronzer to your cheeks. (Duh.)

Fourth step: Lips

Apply your go-to lipstick or gloss, and you’re ready to run out of the door. I used lipglosses, because I can apply them without a mirror and reapply easily, and I used my Fenty lipgloss or one of MAC’s Huggable Glosses (in Never Say Never) non-stop for three weeks.

Aaaaaaaand done.

What do you think? Are you tempted to try this? Or what’s your ultimate trick to save time, but want to look at least slightly made up?