Makeup

Two-Minute Makeup Look: How To Do Your Makeup in Two Minutes

October 29, 2015

Ever since I became a mother, I have mastered the art and skill of makeup-application-in-under-two-minutes. Years in law school with 8 am Monday morning classes have also contributed to the development of said skills.

Anyways, let me show you my tips and tricks on how you can do your makeup in two minutes or less.

THE TIPS

To avoid stepping out like a zombie on non-Halloween days, simply follow these easy rules:

ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS: Having a wide variety of options laid out before you may be exciting, but also distracting. You’ll end up wasting time trying to decide which eyeshadow or blush to wear when you can actually use that time to apply makeup. To eliminate distraction, dedicate a compartment or makeup bag in your vanity for your top go-to products, with only one product from each category. A maximum of 10 items is ideal.
MINIMIZE BLENDING: Blending takes ages, I’m sure you’ll agree. So opt for products that are thinner in consistency and are easier (i.e. faster) to blend.
NEUTRALS ONLY: Avoid including items that are bright and colorful in your makeup bag and go for products that you know would never do you wrong. When improperly or rushly applied, bright colors may end up looking silly, so it’s safer to go with neutrals like browns, golds and taupes.
MULTI-TASKERS GALORE: Using multitasking products will not only save time, but space in your makeup bag, making it easier for you to navigate through the bag. Concealers that can work as foundation, blushes that can work as lip color, powder with sun protection… these things will save you a helluva time in getting your makeup done!
DITCH THE LINER: When you’re nervous and rushing, your hands get shaky and your legs are probably involuntarily jogging in place. There’s a high risk you’ll mess up one eye and end up wasting time trying to get them to look identical. Speaking from experience, by the time you’re done, you’re probably late already and it’ll most likely ruin your mood for the day! So ditch the liner and opt for a darker eyeshadow shade and a volumizing mascara instead.I do love using the Benefit liner to create a thin line right above my lashline and then smudging it out to create a diffused liner look, which is why I have it in my makeup bag, but I only do it when I know I have an extra minute or two.

THE BAG

Now, let me demonstrate to you what I have in my “in-a-rush makeup bag” so you can have a clearer idea of what I meant:

Cargo OneBase Concealer + Foundation In One: Concealer and foundation in one – the perfect multitasking product! It has thin consistency, making it easy to blend. It does a pretty decent job covering both under eye circles and discolorations/acne. Read more about them here. Avoid overly creamy concealers when rushing as they take much longer to blend. If you have to cover lots of acne, I recommend the use of stick concealers like the Cle de Peau Concealer because it’s super pigmented (opaque, even) but is easier to blend than cream formulas.
Benefit Cha Cha Tint*: Swipe, blend and go! It’s pretty much a no-brainer, you can’t go wrong with this because it’s so smooth and blendable. Better to apply before powder, though. Oh, and did I mention you can use these Benefit tints on the lips too? Another incredible multitasker here!
Laura Mercier Mineral Powder SPF 15: Set everything with powder, but go for one that has a slight tint to it, or even a fuller coverage especially if you have acne. This is my favorite because it has SPF 15 and unlike most mineral powder foundations, this doesn’t oxidize or end up looking to yellow or orangey on me.
Rimmel Brow This Way Gel*: No time to draw, just set your brows with this and you’ve got natural-looking but fuller brows already. The Benefit Gimme Brow is also excellent. It has a thicker and waxier consistency than the Rimmel, making it better for people who have fuller brows. If you have really sparse brows, the Rimmel would be better for you.
By Terry Ombré Blackstar in Bronze Moon: Forget powder shadows, opt for eyeshadow sticks or crayons because a) they are easier to blend, and b) they last the whole day without primer. Go for darker shades like this one because it will add depth to your eyes. No time for liner so you’ll need to utilize other products to give your eyes depth, like eyeshadow and mascara. This is the most long-lasting eyeshadow stick I’ve ever tried, read my full review here.
Benefit They’re Real Mascara*: Go for a mascara that will volumize your lashes to look as if they’re falsies coz ain’t nobody got time for eyeliner, let alone lashes! Check out my review of the They’re Real mascaras and liners here.

THE EXTRAS

So I’ve got face, cheeks, eyes and lips covered. If I have an extra minute, I’ll add a little bit of highlight in the inner corners of my eyes. My favorite inner corner highliter is the Stila Kitten Eyeshadow, so I have a small pot of it in my bag. Other small bits and bobs I have in my bag include a Kevyn Aucoin Eyelash Curler (my all-time favorite, but the one pictured is from Sephora!), a face powder brush (Bare Minerals face brush is my fave for mineral powders) and a brown Benefit They’re Real Push-Up Liner* (review here!). Why brown? Because its mistakes won’t appear as obvious as black!