True or false: cutting down on the amount of time it takes to get ready and actually enjoying your morning sounds pretty nice right about now.
I know it does for me. I’d rather spend my mornings drinking a cup of coffee, spending time with my daughter or simply relaxing before the day begins.
Sure meal prepping for the week and picking out my clothes the night before have helped lighten my task load a bit, but I found a big part of streamlining my morning starts with simplifying my makeup routine. Using quality products that are targeted to my specific skin type and tone make application so much easier, and therefore QUICKER!
So I’ve condensed my makeup bag to 10 must-have products. This is what I reach for when I’m after a minimal, everyday look that will take me under 10 minutes to apply.
10 products in 10 minutes? Absolutely!
If you’re interested in the products I use to achieve a quick, everyday makeup look, then keep reading!
My all time favorite primer! The poreless putty primer from e.l.f. is a winner because it creates a smooth, even base for foundation to lay seamlessly on top. This product is super easy to apply – just warm some in your fingers and press into the skin to see your pores instantly fade away.
I always get nervous when I hear products are going to minimize the look of my pores because I instantly think they are going to be drying on the skin. But this product contains squalene for extra moisture, which protects the skin from dehydration.
e.l.f. has several other putty primer formulas available for all different skin types, including a luminous, matte and acne fighting formula. And since this product is under $10 and easily available at Ulta and most drugstores, I highly recommend everyone go try it out!
Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector
I prefer a more natural, sheer finish when it comes to foundation, so a tinted moisturizer is always the face product I reach for first. I love this product specifically because it’s super light weight and doesn’t leave that sticky or cakey feeling on the skin. It helps even out my skin tone and hide some redness while still allowing my natural skin to show through.
This product also has some great skincare benefits. It contains ingredients such as macadamia oil and tamarind seed extract, which are both hydrating ingredients that are great for normal to dry skin types. And it has SPF 30 and acts as my sunscreen for the day.
A moisturizer/sunscreen/foundation all in one? Talk about time-saving!
With over 20 lightweight, easily buildable shades to chose from, there’s sure to be a color match for everyone.
Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Microfinishing Powder
I have no idea what kind of sorcery is behind this product, but it is literally a game changer. This loose setting powder has the ability to make your skin look so smooth and flawless, like being airbrushed in real life!
I use a big fluffy brush to apply this powder to my t-zone and across my nose and cheeks. It helps eliminate shine and blurs the areas of my face that have undesirable texture and fine lines. I love the fact that it’s lightweight, comes in one transparent shade that is suitable for all skin tones, and doesn’t leave a white cast when taking photos. All-in-all, this is an absolute favorite!
Make Up For Ever Refillable Makeup Palette
The refillable makeup palette from Make Up For Ever is the perfect product to have if you want to save yourself time because it allows you to keep all your face products in one place. It is a customizable case with a magnet on the bottom that allows you to click in the powder products of your choice. The palette comes in 5 different sizes (ranging from XS – XL) and the more products you buy to fill the palette with, the bigger the discount you’ll get on the makeup – love that!
My customized palette is the XL size and includes 3 large face products – Artist Face Color Sculpt Powder in shade S112, Artist Face Color Blush Powder in shade English Pink Blush, and Artist Face Color Highlight Powder in Ivory Highlight. I love having my bronzer, blush and highlighter all in the same case – it doesn’t get much easier than that!
NARS Soft Matte Complete Concealer
This is a great full coverage concealer option for someone who wants to cover up extreme pigmentation or acne/blemish scars. This product is super long-wearing and leaves a nice matte finish on the skin.
And it’s for these reasons why I don’t wear this product as a concealer at all; instead I apply this product to my eye lids as a mattifying eye shadow base. I tend to have oily eyelids (ugh) and eyeshadow creases on me in no time at all. Using this concealer as a base prevents any creasing from occurring and helps my shadow last longer.
Urban Decay Naked 2 Basics Palette
This is my go-to palette when I’m trying to get ready in a hurry. The assortment of colors are perfect for achieving several different steps in my makeup routine, so it’s nice having all the colors I need in one place.
I use the the colors ‘stark’ and ‘frisk’ all over the lid for an easy, natural look. Then, instead of using a traditional pencil eyeliner, I use a thin angled brush to apply the darkest color in the palette ‘undone’ to my lash line. I finish off with the color ‘skimp’ to highlight my brow bone, the inner corner of my eyes, tip of my nose and the tops of my cheekbones.
Maybelline Great Lash ‘Lots of Lashes’ Mascara
Talk about a cult classic! I mean, do I even have to explain this one?
Maybelline’s Great Lash mascara has been around forever and is one of the most iconic mascaras available. I personally like the ‘Lots of Lashes’ version that has un updated brush shape. This brush easily gets the little baby hairs and evenly coats all my lashes.
Besides the brush update, this product has remained the same, with a formula that helps lengthen lashes and build extra volume. Not much more to say about this product honestly, it’s just simply iconic.
Anastasia Brow Wiz & Anastasia Dipbrow Gel
This combination of products helps simplify my brow routine (which has been known to take me forever in the past).
I first use the Brow Wiz pencil to draw in the bottom line of my brows. This will act as my guide for when I apply the gel and helps keep the bottom of my brows nice and clean and straight. Next, I comb the gel through my brows, making sure not to go below that pencil line I just drew. Also make sure to brush the brow hairs upward and back – we want the top of the brows to be nice and fluffy while the bottom line is super precise. Finish it off by using the pencil to go back and fill in any sparse areas.
I love these brow products because they are both super waxy and waterproof, which helps keep your brows in place all day long. I also love that both the pencil and gel come in 12 corresponding shades, so it’s easy to get that perfect shade combo.
A clear lip gloss is perfect for when you need something super pretty to elevate your look but you’re in a hurry. This gloss in particular is the best – it’s super shiny, long-lasting and doesn’t have that horrible sticky feeling. It is such a simple but perfect clear gloss that can help put the finishing touch on any look.
There are six shades available, including the clear shade ‘Glass Slipper’ that I love, but any of these shades can be worn over your favorite lip color or on their own.
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