How to Perfect a 5-Minute Makeup Routine
I love getting to share with you some really talented bloggers, today the lovely Alex from Living. Pretty. Happy, is here to share how she has come up with the perfect 5-minute makeup routine. As well as via her blog, you can also find her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Over to Alex:
Let’s face it, life is busy! We don’t all have the luxury of a spare hour every morning to apply our makeup perfectly.
However, this doesn’t mean that we can’t look polished – even if we only have five minutes to spare.
Five-minute makeup has been a morning necessity of mine for years now, but before I go into how I do it, here are a few things you might want to consider.
The better shape your skin is in, the less makeup you’ll require. Be sure to cleanse and moisturise daily.
However, try not to overload on product in the mornings – you might stop your makeup from staying nicely.
You’ll also benefit from setting out all the makeup and brushes you’ll need in advance. This will save you valuable time.
Now you’re all set, here’s how to achieve…
The 5-minute full-face
- On clean and moisturised skin, apply a BB cream or tinted moisturiser using your fingertips as you would your facial moisturiser. BB’s are great to help blur imperfections and create a more even skin-tone. Most allow for buildable coverage, so just add more if needed. They often contain an SPF which is a bonus for sun protection and the fight against signs of ageing.
- Next, apply a cream concealer to your under-eye area to lighten and brighten.
- If you are concerned about shine, apply a dusting of powder, concentrating on the T-Zone. Additionally, if you need the makeup to have some staying power, then powder is an absolute necessity in order to set your look.
Top Tip: For extra quick and fuller coverage, choose a powder foundation such as Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in Place Powder Makeup (around £35) or Laura Geller Double Take Baked Versatile Powder Foundation
- Apply a neutral eye-shadow to the bottom of your eyelid and blend (with your fingers or a brush) up to and slightly over the crease. I recommend Clinique Lid Pop in Cream Pop (around £15). If you’re more of a winged eyeliner type of person, then consider substituting eye shadow for eyeliner. Unless you’re very practised and could do both quickly.
- Use an eyebrow pencil to build some definition to your brows. No7 Beautiful Brow Sculpting Pencil (£8) is super easy and near foolproof to use. Follow with a slick of mascara on your lashes.
- Next add a cream blush for a hint of natural colour to the apples of your cheeks. Try to pick a shade that is as close to the natural colour that appears when you pinch your cheeks. The key to cream brush is to go lightly and add more only if necessary.
- Finally finish with a clear or tinted lip balm. They will moisturise and make your lips look naturally plumper, without the need for lip liner or multiple layers. Be sure to pop it in your bag for quick and easy no-mirror required touch-ups. Try Kiehls #1 Lip Balm (around £10) or Vaseline Lip Therapy Rosy Lips (around £2).
And ta-da, you’re done! As you might have realised, this is a very quick cover all bases routine.
It’s completely customisable, so for instance, if you feel that you want to wear far more eye-makeup then you would need to look at what other area you could switch for – perhaps you’re somebody who doesn’t need an all-over base and could live with just concealer in certain areas.
You might also want benefit from having your eyelashes or eyebrows tinted professionally. This would save you time every day.
Just, remember, the more practised you are the quicker you become. Don’t try to do something you’re not practised at when you’re budgeted on time.
Be realistic in your expectation of the outcome. Will you look like the end result of a professional beauty vloggers YouTube video tutorial – nope! (sorry!)
Can you achieve a ‘your skin but better’ look – absolutely yes! Natural-looking, enhanced beauty is achievable by all within five minutes.
Remember we’re usually our own worst critic when it comes to how we look – so take some pressure off yourself and just have fun with it!
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Just remember it gets easier the more often you do it. Practice makes perfect-ish.
This is true! I used to be much better when I wore make up more regularly these days nope lol.
There are some great tips! My absolute essential when pushed for time is mascara. Without it I spend the whole day looking half asleep!
Some great tips for a 5 minute makeup routine and recommendations, I really like the estee lauder double wear stay in place face powder 🙂
Some useful tips for when you are in a hurry.
Unless it’s a proper grown up occasion that requires me to make a concerted effort, I stick to a tried and tested 5 min routine. It does the job!
Good tips – don’t have time or patience to spend ages putting make up on every day!
The best post whenever you are in hurry follows the 5-minute makeup guide.
The basic makeup idea for 5 minutes is best and I love it.
5 minutes? i need to practice then, thanks for the tips
I have given up with make up I’ve never been great at applying it
Some great tips. Thanks.
I love tinted lip balm and I think it often completes any look. I also feel that it is more comfortable to wear during the hot summer months.
I don’t wear make-up unless I am going out these days, might give this a try though as 5 minutes is doable
Great, easy to follow routine, I need to start wearing a bit more to work (just mascara at the minute) to look/feel more polished
Thanks for sharing, great tips!
It is simple but effective. I like it
This is such a great post! I noticed that once my son got older I really cut down my makeup routine to basics, and that’s when I feel up to doing it! Great tips, thanks for sharing!
thank you for these wonderful tips. i dont really wear make up but i do have a specific skin care routine. when i do wear makeup though i will put these tips to use.
With 7 children, I was lucky to have 5 minutes to do anything. I’m sure other moms will find these tips helpful, too.
I love a quick routine, I use a tinted spf 50 face moisturiser x
I wish I could get my routine down to five minutes, but I have got it to a good 15 minute quick and easy routine x
Ha, I think this post will benefit huge amount of people. I never have enough time to it perfectly in the morning, may be that’s why sometimes I get funny look on the bus. LOL.
Love love this! I’m always in s arush heading to work – this will be perfect!
i think i have master my short makeup routine. LEss is more so five minutes is enough to get enough coverage but to still look effortlessly natural and flawless.
I love this method of doing my makeup. It is much faster, and it covers the necessities!
I personally don’t wear makeup on a regular basis. If I do wear makeup, I keep it simple. Less is more sometimes.
I am so lazy when it comes to makeup routine but this one is doable so may follow it,
These are great tips! I definitely recommend skincare first because that has mad it os much easier for me to get ready!
One thing that puts me off wearing make up is the thought of it taking ages to apply. But 5 minutes is workable! I’ll have to start popping some on daily 😉 x
I don’t wear makeup because I feel it always takes forever to put it on. Good to know you can do it as quick as in 5 minutes. Thanks for the tips.
I love this idea. Sometimes I feel like I take too long trying to perfect mine. Thanks for the pointers.
5 minutes is about all I have to get ready in the morning! This easy routine is totally something I can manage.
I love this! With 5 to get out the door in the morning, the less time I can spend on my face the better! Having said that I usually go for slummy mummy chic in the morning 😉
These are great tips! I love simple and quick make up, perfect for busy life. I want to try those beauty products.
I am all about a quick makeup routine! LOL! My hair takes so long that I perfected my own quick makeup routine a long time ago, HA!
I don’t wear makeup every day because I just don’t have the time. If I can do it all in 5 minutes, I’m totally willing to try!
I love using a BB cream too when I am short on time. My typical makeup routine takes me 15-20 minutes!
I far too often skip makeup all together these days. I love how quick this routine is!
With 2 kids in tow, I am always rushed in the morning and have not much time to do my make-up. These are great tips for perfect makeup in a short period of time.
Fantastic tips! I am always forgetting BB cream and powder. I love Estée Lauder double wear foundation but I’ve not tried their powder. Might have to give it a go! X
I’ve always said less is more in makeup, and it still rings true. The important part of your makeup routine is how you take care of your skin. I love drugstore brands. They sure come in handy and don’t cost too much.
I tend to spend 5-10 minutes on my makeup as I wear about the same amount every day regardless of where I’m going x
I think this would take me a lot longer than five minutes, lol! I’m such a simple gal when it comes to cosmetics.
I usually try to d o bare minimal makeup and before I know it i have ended up with a full face of makeup!
Thanks for these useful tips! I have a 5 minute make up routine but it includes some foundation and mascara only 🙂 I don’t wear much make up but mostly because I never want to spend the time to put it on.
Mornings are SO rushed in this house. I usually end up putting makeup on in the car before I walk into work. This is a great routinee that I can follow for sure
Goodness I can use all the tips to make my beauty routine this fast! I could barely do any nowadays with my 7 month old. LOL … so thank you for these pointers!
I think I’ve shaved my make-up time to 3 minutes. 5 if I have to apply eyeliner. These are great times thanks for sharing.
Routine is the best way to be quick with a task, no doubt nailing down this quick routine has saved you huge amounts of time over the years!
This is a perfect 5 minute makeup routine! As a mom I usually only have about 5 minutes to do my makeup so I love a simple look for sure.
I agree with you to have fun with it. I used to wear only the basic, moisturizer, compact powder, lipstick, and eyebrow pencil. Those are enough to make me feel more beautiful, lol.
5 minutes is about my go to out the door makeup style. I do more on days that I need to, but the older I’ve gotten the more I’ve embraced looking natural.
I like to keep things simple with my makeup. Five minutes is about all I would like to take to get ready.
Great tips for the days when you’re getting ready in a hurry. I don’t wear much makeup but I should start 🙂
Amazing post. I recommend my friend Rashmi to see this amazing post on 5-Minute Make-up routine 🙂
Ohh thanks for this! this is useful. I really wanna know about 5 minute makeup routine and this is what I need.
5 minutes? I’m in! That’s really all the time I have in the morning. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for sharing those useful tips.