my 5-minute “no-makeup” makeup routine
In years of wearing and experimenting with different types and brands of makeup, I’ve learned the trick to looking polished in a very short amount of time is to simplify: find your best, most beloved products and really know how to make them work for you. Find your best products and leave all the other stuff for another day. Sure, I love a strong red lip or a fun electric blue liner (not together, of course), but when I have only so much time to look put together, I reach for the products I know are easy to work with and are going to flatter my face the most. These are the products I use pretty much every day and some you might have heard me rave about a few of these before:
New York Color Classic Eyebrow and Eyeliner Pencil: Above all else, EYEBROWS. It’s the first thing I do. Because in the event I have to run out of the house for whatever reason, at least my eyebrows are done and that’s crucial in my book. As a person who wears glasses almost everyday, eyebrows need to be on point. I use this cheapie brow liner in Sable just to fill in the sparse spots. I prefer a brow pencil over powders or gels because the formula is slightly waxy which is ideal for taming and keeping brow hairs in place. Pencils are also much quicker to work with.
Kat Von D Lock-It Tattoo Concealer with a Beautyblender: I dot my problem areas (undereye area, eyelids and a few blemishes, if any) with concealer and then blend out with a damp blender. The beautyblender is a godsend! If you don’t have it and you wear face products, you need to GET. IT. Since I’ve started using it, it’s cut my concealer-applying time in half, yet delivers this flawless finish that you just can not get with a brush or your fingers. Bonus: if it’s early in the morning, you might find the cool dampness on your face refreshing (I do). I skip foundation as I’ve found that after years of wearing it, I didn’t actually need it and that spot-concealing did a much more effective job for way less time and effort. BUT. If you do sport foundation, the beautyblender is awesome for blending that out too.
Milani Multitasking Face Powder in 03 Medium: Dip a soft, fluffy brush in matte face powder and lightly pat the concealed areas to set and keep the makeup long-lasting. Seven seconds tops!
CoverGirl LashBlast Fusion Mascara: Like my brows, the lashes are another part of my face that makes a huge difference when enhanced. I’m recently become a CoverGirl mascara convert. So far, I’ve found that Clump Crusher and Lashblast Fusion are both fantastic at lengthening, volumizing and separating lashes with zero clumps, which is what I look for in a mascara. Fusion is a tad better at volumizing, if I’m being honest. You’re definitely not going to get a dramatic false-lash look with this mascara, but for everyday purposes, you don’t need to. I think it makes lashes look amazing! The formula is on the dryer side so it’s much easier to handle than wet, clumpy mascaras.
Tarte Amazonian Clay 12-Hour Blush in Exposed: Blush is the key to brightening up a dull complexion. Tarte’s Exposed is what I see as a universally flattering shade (See for yourself!). I’ve been using it for months and still harbor the same adoration for it as I did when I first started using it. I apply to the apples of my cheeks and lightly dust it over the tip of my nose for a more flushed effect. I was never a blush-wearer until I found Peaches by Mac—my first love! Then suddenly it was like, Wow my skin looks like it’s glowing from within. Game-changer! Matte blushes are my favorite and are great for achieving that natural “I woke up like this” look.
Milani Color Statement Lipstick in Pretty Natural: I always save the lips for last because it’s the easiest thing to apply on the go, if that’s what it comes to. For these purposes, I like to stick to shades that are more muted because they’re more forgiving than bold colors (no lip liner necessary!). Lately I’ve been loving this creamy, warm mid-toned pink Milani lipstick in Pretty Natural, but something glossy always looks youthful and fresh. Depending on my mood, I’ll go for either or both.
