My 5 minute makeup routine

Fact: I wore more makeup in middle school than I do as a 34-year-old mother of two.

When we were twelve or thirteen, my best friend and I took a lesson in makeup application at a local salon. We learned important beauty skills like eye shadow contouring and how to apply blush to the apples of our cheeks, which I then incorporated into my every day style. I was so excited about makeup that I went all out for my 8th grade class photo, wearing foundation, concealer, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, blush, lip liner, and lipstick.

It wasn’t pretty. But it was also the early 90s in New Jersey.

Over the years, I learned how to apply makeup more judiciously — and with a lighter hand. I ditched the lip liner in the late 90s, stopped wearing concealer and eye liner on a regular basis in college (too lazy), and swapped heavy foundation for barely-there tinted moisturizer in my twenties.

When I started working from home a few years ago, I stopped wearing eye shadow every day, too. Since I had limited face-to-face interactions, I just didn’t see the point in getting all dolled up. And once I had kids, I no longer had the time (or the motivation) to put on a full face in the morning.

Still, I look better with a little bit of makeup on than I do without, and I think most women feel the same way about themselves. So today I’m partnering with bareMinerals to share my 5-minute makeup routine — perfect for busy moms and women who prefer a more natural face.

 

Their new liquid foundation, bareSkin Pure Brightening Serum Foundation, is the perfect complement to my no-makeup makeup look. Just two drops of the breakthrough tone-correcting mineral foundation provides sheer coverage while noticeably brightening my skin, thanks to the addition of Vitamin C. It also offers SPF 20 protection in the form of non-chemical, mineral sunscreen.

bareSkin is available in 20 shades to match any complexion. I’m wearing Porcelain, the lightest shade available.

For a subtle wash of color, I sweep Clinique Fresh Bloom Allover Color in Peony Blend across my cheekbones. I love this multipurpose powder because you don’t have to be too precise with it and can even use it to create allover glow on your face, neck, and chest. I generally just use it as blush, though.

To make my eyes pop, I darken my lashes with black mascara — specifically, L’Oreal Voluminous Million Lashes. I once heard on a morning show that this particular drugstore brand was most similar to high-end department store brands. Then I shape my brows with an eyebrow brush and use some clear mascara for hold.

Finally, I’ll throw on a little lip gloss. I’m currently partial to this neutral pink from Bite Beauty, but I keep a variety of sheer colors in my bag to reapply throughout the day. When I remember, that is!

And that’s it! So quick and easy, right? When I want a slightly more polished look, I’ll smudge on Clinique Chubby Stick and blend the color in with my finger. I’m also considering adding a luminizing concealer like Yves Saint Laurent Touche Éclat or bareMinerals Stroke of Light because there’s no way I don’t have dark under-eye circles (thanks, Asa!). But even with the addition of shadow tint and illuminating concealer, this makeup routine would still take less than five minutes.

I’d love to know what your makeup routine looks like. What are your must-have products? Any new favorites that I should check out?

PS – My favorite eyebrow shape, and the beauty products still on my wish list.

This post is in partnership with bareMinerals, but all opinions (and photos) are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support this blog!