Between runs to the grocery store, cleaning the house for guests, and finishing up last minute projects at work, the strains of the holiday season are just beginning—not that we don’t love all of the hustle and bustle, of course! 😉 Finding time to do a full makeup routine every day can be a challenge, however. For those of us who want to forego high-maintenance beauty looks but still want to wear a touch of makeup (because sometimes putting on a little blush make you feel less like a zombie!), these fuss-free makeup tips make getting ready in the morning easy and fun–and you don’t have to be a makeup expert to master them!
Skin
The perfect daytime foundation routine enhances the healthy appearance of skin rather than hides every single “imperfection.” Makeup artist MaryAnn Richardson suggests that you don’t have to apply foundation to the entire face for an everyday look:
“You don’ t need to wear foundation all over the face. You only need to apply it where it’s needed, and quite often people only need to apply foundation to cover certain areas that have uneven pigmentation.” Not only does this save time, it also gives you a more natural look. Just be sure to blend!
In addition to using foundation minimally, pick easy formulas to work with. Alima Pure makeup artist Hannah, recommends starting with lightweight products that allow you to have more control over the final look: “Opt for sheer, blendable, multitasking products, so that you can customize the color payoff you want.” Sheer formulas are ideal rushed mornings because they’re quite forgiving, meaning you’re less likely to mess up and feel like you have to start all over again. No one has time for that!
Mineral makeup is usually quite blendable, so when in doubt, go mineral! One of my favorite mineral blushes is Leigh, a luminous shimmer blush by Alima Pure. For contouring, I turn to Lily Lolo Sculpt and Glow Contour Duo, which blends nicely over both liquid and powder foundation.
Lips
Skip tedious lipstick application, and opt for a fuss-free stain (bonus if it doubles as a cheek stain!). Sali Hughes, author of Pretty Honest, swears by a simple liquid lip stain for when your time and patience is short: “These come in a compact or stick (either is fine) and dispense with any need for brushes.” Use your ring finger to dab the product onto your lips. One the product sets, follow with a swipe of lip balm for a natural look. Try Juice Beauty Liquid Lip Stain, Alima Pure Lip Tint, or 100% Pure Cheek and Lip Stain.
Eyes
When you’re running short on time, an elaborate eye look is a no-no, but neutralizing the appearance of tired eyes enhances your entire look. “Lack of sleep can make eyes look red and tired, so a soothing cream base to neutralize red lids and a flesh-toned eyeliner pencil to brighten the eye are invaluable,” says makeup artist Jemma Kidd. This clever trick will also help the eyes appear more open. For eyeshadow, a simple wash of a light, shimmery mineral shade over the moving eyelid plus a few swipes of mascara over curled lashes completes the look. My favorite options for pale shimmery eyeshadow include Surya by Modern Minerals, Isla by Alima Pure, and 7th Heaven by Everyday Minerals.
Need to transition to night? Hannah suggests sticking with your current look and adding a touch of luster by applying a layer of rose gold eyeshadow to the eyelids and dusting the high points of your face with highlighter.
What’s your go-to five-minute beauty routine?
Related: Totally Doable Holiday-Ready Beauty Tips from Top Makeup Artists
Top 5 Drugstore Natural Beauty Staples
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Photo: Manu Campago via Unsplash
