5-Minute Face

I know most of us have experienced a makeup disaster once or twice in our lives. Running out the door, we sometimes literally slap makeup on and hope for the best! We can’t help it. Everyone's busy, and let’s face it-- this is reality. If you have 5 minutes...I have the advice!

I would first like to start by saying: less is more in most cases, and especially in the makeup department. When it comes to not having adequate time, take the au natural approach or the “5­-Minute Face.” Make every minute count.

- Start your morning off on the right foot. Cleanse your skin, and apply your favorite serums and/or hydrating moisturizer along with a daily sun protectant. I don’t consider this step being a part of a makeup routine. This is for the health of your skin, period. A must-­do!

- Apply a small amount of your foundation with your fingertips, working it into the skin. Focus on the center of your face and where you see the most discoloration (chin, nose, inner cheek area, forehead). Work in each specific section. Pat a damp sponge over your entire face once you’ve finished applying the foundation with your fingers and/or foundation brush. This ensures a seamless application. Don’t forget to hit the eyelids as well. They can be red and veiny, lending a tired look to your face.

Glossier's Perfecting Skin Tint $26.00/A breathable, super sheer tint. Looks like actual skin! 

- Dot a concealer under the eye area and anywhere else you may still need a bit more coverage (around the nose, any spots, chin). Pat with your ring finger to smooth and blend. Hydrating formulas are preferred for the under eyes. You can always go over again with your damp sponge. Setting with a loose translucent powder will lock the concealer into place and is recommended for longevity.

It Cosmetic's Bye Bye Under Eye $24.00/An anti-aging, waterproof and highly pigmented concealer to cover anything! Life changer should be its nick-name.

- Add a hint of color to your cheeks to brighten up your complexion. I recommend trying a cream blush if you haven’t done so before. I find it looks more natural and skin-­like. It’s not as tricky as you would think. Tap a bit of cream blush on your fingers and gently pat onto the apples of your cheeks as if they’re being kissed. You can always go over with that dampened sponge from before to make sure everything is blended. Otherwise, apply a traditional powder blush with a nice fluffy, flexible brush or powder brush. Use a soft touch and hold the brush from the top of the handle, not at the base. This will help to control the amount of pressure you use and will prevent the streaky, heavy-­handed look.

Kevyn Aucoin The Creamy Glow Duo $28.00/Long-lasting, cream blush that can also be applied to the lips. 

- Mascara! This will draw attention to your eyes and make you look more awake. Use a lash curler if you want your eyes to look bigger and brighter. Lash curlers can give a nice lifted effect. If your mascara smudges, try a tubing-­mascara like Blinc or MAC extended play mascara. They form a quick-­drying polymer around the lashes and don’t run or smudge and come off easily with warm water or your cleanser.

MAC Cosmetic's Extended Play Mascara $17.00/A defining waterproof mascara that's easily washable. No smudging here! 

- Don’t neglect your brow’s! By filling in your eyebrows you get an instant lifting effect, the cheapest botox alternative. I’m a big fan of a tinted brow gel to slightly enhance the natural color of the brows and give a polished look. If you virtually have no eyebrows, an eyebrow pencil will be the best for adding some definition. Go with shades that have a cooler undertone. Using something too warm looks unnatural and obvious. That is not what you want when defining the brows. Soft and natural should be the outcome here!

Estée Lauder Brow Now Stay-in-Place Brow Gel $25.00/Keeps brows in place.

- Lips. Give some color to your lips with a lipstick or even a tinted lip balm. Adding moisture and color will give a healthy look to your lips, your complexion and overall appearance. This is where you can play with color and texture if you’re wanting to create a specific look. Depending on which products you choose, this step can add a chic/modern feel or a down-­to-­earth, low­-maintenance look. For me, it depends on which side of the bed I woke up on! Lipsticks can make great blushes as well; our grandmothers used this trick!. You should give it a try. You can find some amazing two­-in-­one products that impart a fresh simplicity and brings a nice balance to your lips and cheeks.

RMS Beauty lip2cheek $36.00/A certified organic, hydrating lip and cheek, two-in-one product. This is a beautiful clean-makeup line created by long-time professional makeup artist, Rose-Marie Swift. 

When in doubt, keep it simple. Makeup doesn’t have to be complicated. I always encourage experimentation and doing what best suites you. This is a simple guide to a fresh-­faced look. These few steps can be a base to build from. Mastering YOUR “5­ minute face” is your best, loyal friend who never lets you down!