Five Minute Face

I am one of those people that I like to call “medium maintenance”. I do wear makeup daily because, well,  it makes me feel good and I like to feel somewhat put together. I also live in my gym clothes 5 out of 7 days a week because, well, I’d rather get sh*t done between the gym and picking my kids up from school than shower and get “ready”. Those hours are valuable time! See…. “medium maintenance”. 

There are obviously exceptions to that routine like if I am meeting a client for the first time or some other reason I may need to look extra put together. In that case I hit the shower, it’s more than a 5 minute face (we’ll save that for another time) and throw on a cute outfit. I digress….

So here is my 5 minute makeup routine (legit) and list of products:

After you wash your face or shower (overachiever) set the timer because here we go!

Skincare:

I don’t care how old you are. You best have a skincare routine. I’m approaching 40 next year so my routine is anti aging. But work smarter. Not harder. I don’t use 465 face serums. I literally use a face cream, an eye cream and a neck cream. (Umm yes, your neck holds up your face so give it a little love if you were born in the 80’s and beyond.) That being said, I invest in good products and a little goes a long way. 

Tinted Moisturizer w SPF 45:

Never leave home without it. It’s both a chemical and physical sunscreen and a tinted moisturizer. Please put sunscreen on your face everyday. And not like an SPF 15 and don’t skip it even if you are 15 or you look like you’re 15. 

Application: Place a pea size amount on your finger. From your finger place little dabs/dots of the tinted moisturizer onto your forehead, nose, both cheeks, and chin. Lightly rub it all over your face.

Foundation:

This foundation is super lightweight. You won’t even know it’s on if you apply the way I’m about to explain. 

Application: Like the tinted moisturizer,  place (a little more) than a pea size amount on your finger. From your finger place little dabs/dots of the foundation onto your forehead, nose, both cheeks, and chin. This time you are not going to use your hands. You are going to use a flat, dense makeup brush. You are going to use the flat part of the brush to spread the foundation all over your face in tiny circular motions. Even on your eyelids. You are essentially airbrushing the foundation on. This is what keeps it looking like your best skin instead of like makeup. 

Side note: If you were born in the 80’s and beyond do not bother setting your foundation with a face powder. It’s not doing you any favors. It just emphasizes fine lines. Skip the powder.

Under Eye Concealer:

I haven’t slept since 2014. My oldest is turning 9. You do the math. I have sort of dark circles and a bit of “baggage” happening in the under eye area if you catch my drift. I have tried a lot of under eye concealers and after searching high and low, I landed on something that’s not actually a concealer but a foundation stick. Something that I’ve had in my makeup kit forever. Why I think it works for me? It’s full coverage, it’s slightly creamy and moisturizing, it can be applied very lightly (getting to that) and it has staying power. 

Application: Gently apply the concealer to your under eye using your pinky finger. Don’t rub. Dab until you’ve covered the area and it’s fully blended. I should add that if you have any spots you want to cover (Hello, hormonal breakouts) you can apply this same product directly to the spot with a q-tip and dab lightly with your finger to blend.

Blush:

I use both powder blushes and cream blushes. For days I hit the gym, I like the powder.

Application: I pick up a little blush with a blush brush, tap off the excess, smile and brush the blush on the apples of my cheeks in a circular motion blending up towards my temples. I cannot stress that less is more. You don’t need a lot, but a tiny bit of color just makes you look alive. 

Mascara and lip:

I believe in applying mascara as part of my minimal routine bc it makes a big impact. It’s what makes you look awake. I really love the one I use bc it has a “tubing technology”. Basically with each layer applied, it builds on the previous layer to create a lengthening effect. Now for the “lipgloss”. I literally apply Aquaphor to my lips with my finger. Yes, Aquaphor. Where my moms at?! If you know, you know!

So that’s that. It’s quick. It’s easy. It probably took you longer to read this than it will to try it. To me, it’s worth it. Try it if you care. If you don’t, do you. 

A few notes:

1. I suggest getting color matched for both foundations and blush at a local Bobbi Brown counter. 

2. I do not sweat it off during my workouts. These products hold up to the heat.

3. I swear I shower daily.