We’ve all had those days when, running short on time, we are tempted to forego makeup altogether. Yet this is no excuse to look lousy! You will feel better about yourself and perform better at work if you take a few moments to enhance your appearance. If we follow a few simple steps, we can achieve a polished makeup look with a minimum of fuss — all under 5 minutes!

Let’s go!

Before (bare face — as a reference point):

Step 1: MASCARA

Mascara is absolutely essential. Dark lashes serve to define the eyes — and therefore enable you to skip eyeliner if you are short on time. It adds a feminine flourish to your look which cannot be replaced!

Step 2: BB/CC Cream

I recommend your favorite BB or CC cream for this step (they are interchangeable products, in my opinion) or even tinted moisturizer since these products provide color correction and moderate coverage — in addition to sunscreen (which is vital!).

Step 3: Brow Powder

This step is essential since strong brows serve to frame the entire face. I recommend using an eyeshadow slightly darker than your natural eyebrow color. I usually use Bobbi Brown’s “Steel” eyeshadow for this purpose, although such a color would be too dark for blondes.

Step 4: Cream Blush

Cream blush is particularly suitable for this step since one can easily blend it into the cheeks with the fingers for a natural flush — like you’ve just come in from a wintry day!

Step 5: Lip Gloss

This is the finishing touch! Any lip gloss will do.

And you are done! 5 steps in 5 minutes! 🙂

Before/After:

Products used in this look:
1) Makeup Forever “Smoky Extravagant” Mascara
2) Smashbox “Camera Ready” CC Cream in “Fair” (SPF 30)
3) Bobbi Brown eyeshadow in “Steel” (brows)
4) Chanel Cream Blush in “Chamade”
5) Revlon ColorBurst Lip Gloss in “Rosepearl”

Hope you enjoyed this post! See you next time! 🙂