How to Do Your Makeup in 5 Minutes or Less

Makeup does not have to black or white, there is something in between not wearing any makeup and wearing a full face of makeup. With a little bit of practice, anyone can apply their makeup in 5 minutes or less. The great thing about minimal makeup is that it improves your complexion and emphasizes your best features, while allowing people to see *you* and not your makeup.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Concealer
• Translucent face powder
• Mascara
• Pencil eyeliner
• Two matte neutral eyeshadows, one base and one darker color
• Shimmery light eyeshadow
• Lip gloss, lip balm or sheer lipstick
• Blush
• Eyeshadow brush, blush brush, powder brush, latex-free wedge shaped sponge or concealer brush

1. Apply under eye concealer, 1 minute:
   
   If the skin under your eyes is dry, apply a small amount of moisturizer or eye cream before using concealer. Next, take a concealer brush or a wedge shaped sponge and apply a very light layer of concealer, blending it into your skin. If you need more coverage, apply another layer of concealer and blend again.

2. Apply blemish concealer, 30 seconds:
   
   If you have any blemishes, apply a small amount of (blemish) concealer carefully onto any spots, with your concealer brush. (Remember to wash this concealer brush after you are done using it, to avoid spreading bacteria and creating more spots.) Use less concealer instead of more, you can hide the redness, but concealer can't do anything about the raised texture of a blemish.
   
   *Note: Blemish concealer has a drier, tackier texture than under eye concealer, and is more opaque. Under eye concealer has a creamier, silkier texture than blemish concealer, and is more transparent.

3. Apply translucent face powder, 30 seconds:
   
   Apply translucent face powder onto your skin, to make your skin look more even, less shiny and so and your concealer stays in place. If concealer and powder is not enough coverage for you, you can apply a small amount of liquid foundation onto a sponge, and quickly blend it into areas of your skin where you feel you need coverage.

4. Apply mascara and eyeliner, 1 minute:
   
   Apply 2-3 coats of mascara onto your upper eyelashes, and 1 coat onto your lower lashes. Make sure there are no clumps or smears. Lightly line your upper lash line with a brown or black eyeliner, so it makes your lash line look thicker, but is hardly there.

5. Apply eyeshadow, 1 minute:
   
   Apply a neutral matte color onto your eyelid, and blend it into your brow bone. Next, apply a shimmery light color onto the top of your brown bone (underneath your eyebrow), and on the inner corners of your eyes. Doing this will make your eyes look bigger and brighter.

6. Apply blush, 30 seconds:
   
   Using a blush brush, apply a powder blush onto the apples of your cheeks, blending the color slightly upwards, towards your temples. Use less blush instead of more, and use a color that looks natural on your skin.

7. Apply lip gloss or lip balm, 30 seconds:
   
   For the final step, apply a natural looking gloss or balm onto your lips. You can also use a sheer lipstick if that is what you prefer. Avoid glosses that are too shiny or shimmery, they can sometimes look cheap.

Tips & Warnings

• It might take you a few tries before you can apply your makeup in 5 minutes or less. Once you have a routine, even 5 minutes will seem like plenty of time to do your makeup.