A few years ago, I went makeup shopping with a friend. She had told me she needed a complete makeup bag overhaul but had no idea where to start. Easy enough for me! As a makeup artist, I buy, try and research beauty products all the damn time.
But there was a twist. She had twin one year old daughters, and a military husband who was sometimes gone for months at a time. “Some days I only have one minute to get myself ready,” she told me. So I created a list for her, suggesting a makeup routine she could do when she had one child in her arms and another climbing up her leg (a less than one minute routine) up to when Grandma was babysitting and my friend could do her makeup for a rare night out (a 30+ minute makeup routine). A few weeks ago, I had a similar request from another friend who works part-time in higher education and is at home with her toddler for the rest of the week. Sometimes she needs to look polished and professional, and other times she is with her son and doesn’t have time to change out of her pajamas. I frequently hear from clients, friends and family who want to do some kind of makeup routine but are pressed for time. So I thought I should publicize this list that I made for my friends.
I won’t go into too much detail on how to do each step, as I have covered or will cover that in other blog posts. Also, some of the steps or techniques will differ slightly based on eye shape, face shape, skin issues, etc. This is just a general list. And please keep in mind that if you have a skin concern or disorder, like rosacea, acne or vitiligo, you will need extra time.
Have Less Than 1 Minute? Use your hands to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen or a beauty balm with sunscreen. (I’m assuming most makeup routines take place during the day, so sunscreen is a must. Don’t give me that “But I don’t leave the house!” crap. You can get sun exposure sitting near a window, typing away on your laptop or nursing a baby for 30 minutes.) If you’re quick, you’ll have time for a tinted lip balm or lipgloss too.
Have 5 Minutes? Use your hands to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen or a beauty balm with sunscreen. Apply concealer under eyes and wherever needed. Apply mascara to top lashes. Lip balm/gloss next, and you’re good to go. This is what I do if I only have 5 minutes but I’m running an errand. It makes me feel a little put together, but doesn’t eat up much time.
Have 10 Minutes? Use your hands to apply a moisturizer with sunscreen, a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen or a beauty balm with sunscreen. Apply concealer under eyes and wherever needed. Using a fluffy brush, apply an eyeshadow in a color close to your skintone onto your eyelids and blend into the creases. Mascara on top lashes. Thin layer of powder over face (you can skip this if your skin is very dry) and under eyes. Mascara on bottom lashes. Apply a lipstick in a color close to your natural lip color, patting it in with your finger. This is a good, quick, basic workday look.
Have 15 Minutes? Use your hands to apply a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, a beauty balm with sunscreen or a foundation with sunscreen. Apply concealer under eyes and wherever needed. Apply an eyeshadow in a color close to your skintone onto your eyelids and blend into crease. Using an angled brush, apply a dark brown or gray eyeshadow at your top and bottom lashlines. Mascara on top lashes. Thin layer of powder over face (you can skip this if your skin is very dry) and under eyes. Mascara on bottom lashes. Apply powder blush to the apples of your cheeks, slightly blending upwards. (If you prefer a cream blush, do that as your fourth step.) Apply a lipstick in a color close to your natural lip color. If you have the time and desire, you can apply a lipliner first. This is definitely a polished workday look.
Have 20 Minutes? Use your hands to apply a tinted moisturizer with sunscreen, a beauty balm with sunscreen or a foundation with sunscreen. Fill in your eyebrows using an angled brush with a shadow or brow powder. Apply concealer under eyes and wherever needed. Apply an eyeshadow in a color close to your skintone onto your eyelids. Use a slightly darker color on the crease, blending well with a fluffy brush (skip if you have hooded eyes). Using an angled brush, apply a dark brown or gray eyeshadow at your top and bottom lashlines. Layer a pencil eyeliner over the shadow at the top lashline, blending with the angled brush. Mascara on top lashes. Thin layer of powder over face (you can skip this if your skin is very dry) and under eyes. Mascara on bottom lashes. Apply powder blush to the apples of your cheeks, slightly blending upwards. (If you prefer a cream blush, do that as your fifth step.) Apply a lipstick in a brighter or more intense than normal color. If you have the time and desire, you can apply a lipliner first. This look will easily carry you through a work presentation or parent/teacher conference.
Have 30+ Minutes or More? Sounds like someone has an event, girls’ night or date night! Because this probably isn’t your every day thing, go a little more intense if you want. Apply a foundation with sunscreen (if you will be out during the day). Buff into skin with a kabuki brush. Fill in your eyebrows using an angled brush with a shadow or brow powder. Apply concealer under eyes and wherever needed. Apply an eyeshadow in a color close to your skintone onto your eyelids. Use a slightly darker color on the crease, blending well with a fluffy brush (skip if you have hooded eyes). Using an angled brush, apply a dark brown or gray eyeshadow at your top and bottom lashlines. Layer a pencil eyeliner over the shadow at the top and bottom lashlines, blending with the angled brush. Mascara on top lashes. Thin layer of powder over face (you can skip this if your skin is very dry) and under eyes. Mascara on bottom lashes. Use an angled face brush and contour powder to lightly contour face. Apply powder blush to the apples of your cheeks, slightly blending upwards. (If you prefer a cream blush, do that as your sixth step.) Apply a lipliner (if desired), then lipstick in a shade that works with your eye makeup. If you want to go heavier on the eyes, add a black liner in the waterline and/or a darker eyeshadow at the outer V. If you want to make the lips your focus, keep the eye makeup more basic.
Again, this a general outline and the steps and products will vary depending on your skin, bone structure, eye shape, preferences, etc. But these are some pretty solid guidelines to work off of. You may notice it takes longer than I suggest to do each routine, but that will change once you get used to it. I can do the 30+ minute makeup in 10-15 minutes, and I think a non-pro could too, with some practice.
In my experience, when I am pressed for time and feeling flustered, even just having a tiny bit of makeup on makes me feel more put together and ready to OWN my day. I think the magic of makeup has that effect on a lot of people, and if you’re reading this, you are probably open to that idea. So give it a try, and feel free to leave any questions in the Comments.
A Pretty Addiction 
