Five-Minute Makeup, Seriously!

I know, I know…you probably read the title and said, “Yeah, right!” But unlike a certain bubbly chef’s “30 Minute Meals,” this actually does work (seriously, she should rename it “Cooking That Never Ends“). After practicing for a few mornings, I had the routine down and looked like I spent a lot longer on my makeup than I actually did. It’s perfect for those of us who have to get up early and want to sleep as long as possible. Here is your new 5-minute makeup routine, courtesy of the June issue of Glamour:

Hide Dark Circles

First of all, apply moisturizer to help the concealer glide on smoothly. (Side Note: Beauty articles always recommend a moisturizer with SPF. But honestly, I only do that when I know I’ll be outside. Like a lot of people, I am indoors for nine hours of the day. I don’t really feel the need to smell sunscreen all day when the only light I get is from fluorescent lighting. But, if you are in the sun for any length of time, even on your lunch hour – definitely wear moisturizer containing an SPF.)

Okay. Sorry about that. Use concealer only where you need it – such as dark circles and blemishes. Use a creamier formula such as NYC New York Color Smooth Skin Liquid Concealer ($3.99 from drugstores) in a shade that matches your skin tone – not a shade lighter. Apply in little stripes under your eyes. Blend gently using ring finger. (I have horrible dark circles and this method totally works.)

A Touch of Base

To obtain perfectly even skin quickly, use a foundation stick (try Bobbi Brown Foundation Stick, $40). Using the stick like a marker, draw thick lines down cheekbones, the sides of your nose and above brows, and blend with your fingers.

Reassess and Perfect

If you have a blemish that’s still squatting stubbornly, arms folded, sneering up at you – don’t you hate that? – dab concealer with pointed brush right on top of its stupid face. Use ring finger to pat it outward until smooth.

Blush

Apply a blush stick (I’m really digging this whole makeup-on-a-stick thing), to the apples of your cheeks and blend color up toward temples with your fingers. Try NYC New York Color Blushable Creme Stick, $3.99.

Apply Shimmery Eye Base

Use cream eye shadow from lash lines to brow bones using pointer finger. (Are you seeing a theme here? Fingers equal fast application.) If you are fair-skinned, use a silvery white shade; if you have medium to dark-toned skin, try a champagne color. Try Revlon Illuminance Crème Shadow in Copper Canyon ($7 at drugstores).

Make Eyes Pop

Use bronze and gold cream shadows (both are in the Revlon palette) to give eyes more depth. Apply bronze shade in creases with flat shadow brush and use fingers to smudge down over lids. Dab a little gold along lower lash line with a small brush. Finish eyes up with mascara (try Rimmel London’s Lash Accelerator, $8.99) on top and bottom lashes.

Lush Lips

Apply lip balm and let it sink in. Then apply lipstick to the center of your lips (where it wears off first – make a “kissy” face and apply it straight from the tube.) Then blend out using your – guess what? – fingers!

I know this sound like a lot, and it will probably take more than five minutes at first when you are not sure of the steps. But by this morning, I had those steps mastered – which came in handy when I overslept by about a half hour. But I left the house looking like I had spent a lot more than five minutes on my face, I’ll tell you that.

Maybe you-know-who’s idea of thirty minutes, even!

Photo courtesy of Google Images.