Most of the time I’m happy to blend out 6 different eyeshadows, but sometimes…I simply don’t want to.
Like on the weekends (hey, man, it’s summer!). The last thing I want to be doing on a sunny summer Sunday is spend 20 minutes making those little circles in the outer corners.
Bluh…
That’s time I could be hiking or walking my cat or eating an ice cream cone outside.
So, along those lines, here’s the 5-minute makeup (using just one brush) I wore to run errands and hang out with my girlfriends last Sunday in SF (we went to a spa!).
It’s not fancy or fussy at all, but I think the whole thing still looks reasonably well put together.
1. Good evening…skin
Evening, as in “evening out the skin.”
Since time is of the essence in a 5-minute makeup look, sheerer face products like BB creams, sheer foundations and tinted moisturizers are great (they make it easier to get away with mistakes than full-coverage, opaque products). They also make blending a whole lot easier.
Here I used MAC Face & Body in shade C5 and applied it with my fingers.
And, uh…because of that whole dark circle action happening under my eyes, I also used concealer, specifically a brightening concealer, YSL Touche Éclat in 4.5. It comes in brush pen packaging, which makes it really easy to swipe.
Then I blended that out with my fingers…
Sunday Funday 5-Minute Makeup: Products Used
- Foundation: MAC Face & Body in C5
- Concealer: YSL Touche Éclat in 4.5
- Brow pencil: Tom Ford Brow Sculptor in Espresso
- Waterproof eyeliner: Chanel Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Santal
- Thickening Mascara: Guerlain Cils D’Enfer Waterproof Mascara
- Blush: Chanel Joues Contraste Blush in Malice
- Sheer Pink Lip Balm: Clarins Lip Balm Crayon in My Pink
Speaking of targeted brightening, I’m a big fan. 🙂 So, for some extra highlighting on my skin, I also swiped Touche Éclat in the middle of my forehead, down the bridge of my nose, just above my Cupid’s bow, and around the corners of my mouth, blending all of that in with my fingers.
2. Define the eyes
We’re looking for big impact steps here because we don’t have much time (just 5 minutes), and with eyes, I like filling in my brows, because I think does a lot for the overall look, and adding some thickness along the upper lash line, which I think just makes you look more awake.
I used a brow pencil that has a brow brush on one end (that’s some tool efficiency right there!), quickly filling in the outer tail and middle portions of my brows but leaving the inner portion alone (just to save a little time, but I think it also looks more natural).
To thicken your upper lash lines, grab one of your go-to waterproof pencils. This way you can skip eye primer (ding-ding-ding!), saving you even more time.
Line your upper lashes with that, and really try to get between each lash near the root. Then soften out the edges with a Q-tip.
Feel free to any shade that strikes your fancy, but I like bronze liners for quick looks like this, again, for the forgiveness factor. I think they make it easier to overlook little mistakes than black or dark brown liners.
For this look, I choose a twist-up pencil with a skinny tip so 1) I wouldn’t have to deal with sharpening, and 2) I could really get down in there between each of my lashes.
To finish the eyes, coat your upper lashes with a thickening (also known as volumizing) mascara, getting down in there near the base of each lash to really make that upper lash line look thick and full, and depending on time, you might also want to do your lower lashes, too.
3. A hint of color for cheeks and lips
Now, for a couple of colorful kisses, I swept a peachy coral blush on the apples of my cheeks with a blush brush — the only brush (other than the ones that come built into a product) I used for this look!
Then a quick swipe of a sheer, light pink balm on your lips…
And we’re done. 🙂
Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,
Karen
Hi Karen!
Thats a pretty look! Also for those days when you have to hurry cause you slept in. Happens to me quite often 😉
Whoa, Karen, this look is amazing! I’m a big fan of it, but sadly I could never accomplish it in the 5 minutes time frame. I’m suuuuuper slow when it comes to putting on makeup.
Now I also feel like Imma need that Touche Éclat! 😀
LOVE! You look so healthy and radiant, meow!
I’m a huge fan of 5-minute looks and I love this. 🙂 Bronze-y brown eyeliners are perfect for this. My favourite is Urban Decay Bourbon.
Gaahh you’re talented 🙂
It always amazes me how much people can do in five minutes.
For me, five minutes is my brows and some eyeliner. But then again, I don’t like to be rushed.
Love it! Ever cheat on eyeliner with your brow powder/pencil? I find myself doing this when I’m *really* pressed for time because I still get definition without making the effort to reach for another product. The Chanel blush you used looks gorgeous! I’ve been using Becca Shimmering Soufflee for that quick color and glow but I see the new NARS Unlawful blush taking over toward the end of summer.
Karen, you look fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I have a bit of a problem because I can’t stand the feel of foundation and BB creams. The moisturizer I use doesn’t doesn’t come tinted and I don’t think I would know what tint to get if it was tinted…LOL So many products..even high end ones…. cause my face to become swollen and I get a rash 🙁
I rely on a bit of blush, eyeliner, mascara and some thing on my brows as well as a bit of lip gloss.
If only I could look like you!!!!!!!!!
Great make up
Gorgeous! This is one of the truly magical things about makeup – just a little bit can do wonders at waking you up and getting you out the door looking ready for action! 😀 Plus, you know, fun, etc 😉
Having said that, the ‘before’ photo looks pretty spiffy to me, Karen!
Love it! I’m a huge fan of the 5 minute look, too. There are times I love spending time making an elaborate eye look and other times I just want to look pretty but be out the door quick. I do more or less the same things – BB/CC cream, concealer (mine is for zits), bronzer to quickly contour (it really makes me look more awake), blush (usually NARS the Multiple in Orgasm because it’s quick to swipe on), UD 24/7 Shadow Stick in Midnight Cowboy as my eye primer, NYX shadow stick in Rose Gold, UD Naked 3 in Trick (I think it’s the lighter shimmery rose gold next to Buzz) to set the shadow, UD 24/7 liner in Blackheart, a swipe of mascara, and I’m good to go! It sounds like a lot but it takes less than 5 minutes to put on. The longest is finding/getting the makeup out of where it’s stored. It’s my fave summer look right now!
Karen, you look so glowy and fresh-faced here, I love it! You also look very rested. Great five-minute look!! I’m also a fan of bronze liner and tinted moisturizer — for everyday, in fact!
You look so fresh, young and pretty!!
Hey, that’s my every day look (plus eye primer and minus concealer). I think it makes you look younger and fresher than it does me, but you’re already starting out younger and fresher. HAHA!
Chanel Malice looks lovely on you! I have to check it out next time I head over to the Chanel counter.
My fav look anyday now. I live a dark brown liner pencil though to add more depth to the eyes or do a tightline with my mascara itself when really pressed for time. You look do radiant already(the “before” pic).
In my opinion, you look so much better (probably best) in natural makeup look like this Karen! You looked so so so much younger! I would like to see more of these looks on you 😀
Such a gorgeous look! And the before/after pics really show what a difference taking 5 minutes can make. I love doing my eyes, but I’m beginning to think I would benefit from an all-over, yet targeted, approach. Or just leveling up my skills. That would help too. Thanks so much for all of the wonderful inspiration! 🙂