Published by Programme B
Mornings can be stressful, especially if you’re rushing out of the house before your brains’ fully awake. On the day you’re going to wear your favorite new dress and show it off, you’ll need to be extra careful not to mess up your hair or makeup. These days, it seems that every beauty brand has come up with its own line of makeup remover wipes and mascara wands. But unfortunately, there are no shortcuts when it comes to the real beauty of the skin.
To help you get out the door more quickly and without the slightest hint of makeup smudges, here are five steps to a natural morning makeup routine that you can follow in five minutes or less. From using vegan micellar water for much-needed skin cleansing to how to start filling in those eyebrows, we’ve got all you need for an effortless everyday look.
1) Face Primer
Face primer is the base for your makeup, helping you achieve a smooth, even complexion for foundation application. Even if you choose not to wear it, facial primers will help your foundation last longer and blend better into your skin. Now the market is flooded with all sorts of face primers – natural formulas infused with green tea or aloe vera, mineral oils, etc. Just use the one that suits your skin best.
2) Foundation + Tinted Moisturizer
Once you’ve applied your primer, it’s time for makeup. To keep things fresh and natural-looking, try blending foundation with a tinted moisturizer to give your skin a radiant look. And remember that less is more! The idea is not to completely mask your freckles or imperfections, but blend them in with tinted moisturizers, so they don’t stand out.
Foundation will help even out your skin tone without being obvious about it. If you tend to have redness on your cheeks or nose, opt for a pearlized formula rather than one of those matte-finish foundations popular among today’s celebrities – like Kim Kardashian, Gwen Stefani, Jessica Alba, etc. It would be better if you let your bare skin shine through underneath instead of trying too hard to cover all of those spots with a heavy foundation.
3) Concealer
Concealer is the secret weapon of every everyday makeup routine. If you do it right, it can hide your trouble areas, like dark circles, blemishes, and even scarring. Apply concealer only to problem areas or use a lighter shade than your skin color to fade dark circles and circles under the eyes. You don’t want it to look like you’re wearing makeup.
Also, it should not be too bright or too dark as that’ll cause you to look worse. To avoid that, simply pick the concealer that is the perfect shade for your skin.
4) Eyeliner
Eyeliner is the ultimate tool of any woman’s makeup bag. Whether you’re a wiz at drawing one line of sharp cat eyes or prefer winged eyeliner to dramatic drama, it’s a great way to add definition and a hint of drama to your look. Line your eyes to make your eyes pop.
For beginners, the best thing to do is start with a pencil eyeliner, as it’s the easiest to use. If you want to play around with liquid eyeliner, practice a few times on the back of your hand before giving it a shot on your eyelid. You’ll soon get the hang of it. Once you’ve mastered the basics, it’s time to move on to the more advanced techniques.
You can also experiment with different effects – use a winged liner with a smoky eye or a thinner line to make your eyes look bigger.
5) Mascara
You can make your eyes look bigger and brighter by adding a few coats of mascara. Even if you don’t wear makeup in the morning, eyelashes are what make eyes look alive. If your lashes are short or thin, use a volumizing mascara to give them some volume. If you like your eyes to look wide-eyed and gorgeous, skip the mascara altogether and use eyelash curlers instead. This will give your eyes a natural lift.
6) Highlight
Even though this is a very popular makeup technique used by all the beauty gurus, it can also be quite tricky. If you’re applying it for the first time, try using a small dab of highlighter rather than going overboard with it. Don’t just press the highlighter on the part of your face where the light would fall – try highlighting your cupid’s bow and the outer corners of your eyes as well. After applying the highlighter, blend it well into your skin with a sponge to make it look natural.
7) Bronzer
For people with pale skin like myself, it can be quite a challenge to look radiant and sun kissed. A bronzer can help you get that natural-looking tan. Choose a bronze shade that matches your skin tone for a more flattering look. It’s important to use a bronzer that has a matte finish, or else your skin will appear very shiny. In that case, you can apply a tiny amount of translucent powder on top to make it look less obvious.
8) Lipstick
To complete your look, try a bold shade of lipstick. Nowadays, people are experimenting with all sorts of reds and pinks to create their signature look. If you want to create a sultry look, go for a deep berry-red or plum-red shade, and if you prefer a fresh look, choose a peachy-pink shade. The choice is yours! For those days when you’re in a hurry but don’t want to skip a step, a lip balm infused with tint will add a subtle pop of color to your look.
Hopefully, now you know how to create a natural-looking makeup routine that’s quick and easy enough for a daily basis. If you’re not sure about how to use all of these steps, do try each of them one by one and see which ones work best for you. You can also experiment with different products until you find your perfect match!