The Low Maintenance Girl’s Guide to Makeup

Whether you’re low maintenance, a minimalist, or let’s face it…just plain lazy, these products will allow you to be fabulous in 5 minutes flat.

Let’s just say I am not that girl when it comes to makeup if I have the choice. I love a full glam look! You can bet if I have somewhere other than work or the grocery store, I’m taking the opportunity to use one of my many eye shadow palettes. That being said, I don’t go many places other than work or the grocery store it seems…

Today I’m letting you in on some of my favorite time-saving products. If you’re trying to cut down on your amount of makeup, I got you. Maybe you’re snoozing your alarm to get those extra 5 minutes…I got you girl. These multitaskers are going to give you whatever it is you need – time, space, or sleep.

Minimal Makeup Means Eliminating Extra Steps

 I’m going to approach this by laying out the least amount of makeup and the key performers when it comes to multitasking products. But I also want to show you what you could do to take it another step if you’re looking for a little more coverage or if you have a little more time.

The most minimal: Take a good concealer and use it only to cover up dark circles and any prominent dark or red marks. This will give you a fresh and awake look, but still natural. Be sure to set it with some loose or pressed powder so nothing moves around throughout the day.

The next level: Start with the same concealer process, but find yourself a good CC/BB cream. This will blur imperfections as well as give you sun protection and moisture all day long. CC creams are great for lazy day makeup because you don’t need to layer all your normal base products before application. They already contain those ingredients! In doing this, you’ll probably cut 5 minutes off your routine because you don’t have to wait for each of your usual base layers to dry. This one from Coola is kind of a secret gem, and a well known favorite is from IT Cosmetics.

The most minimal: Add some color to your face. I recommend one of the Hourglass Ambient Lighting palettes because they’re a swirl of highlight, blush, and bronzer all in one. Dusting these on your cheeks will give you just the right amount of color and definition.

The next level: Honestly, I wouldn’t add anything here. I still want to keep this as a quick every day makeup routine. If you still want to take the time to do bronzer, blush, and highlight separately you can, but I think you should give one of these Hourglass products a try.

The most minimal: Skip eyeshadow, but take an angled brush and some dark brown eyeshadow and pack it just above your lashes for a simple and subtle eyeliner. With so minimal base, going in with a liquid liner may end up looking a little more harsh than we’re going for. You can still add a little wing to open up the eye and have a little fun.

The next level: Add some eyeshadow – the Elcie Costmetics Minimalist palette is perfect for this. Not to mention it would be IDEAL for traveling! Keep it simple. A transition color in the crease, some dark brown in the outer corner, and a light cream in the inner corner and on the brow bone. Then follow up with the same powder eyeliner from above.

The most minimal: Don’t forget about brows! Tinted brow gels are perfect for minimal makeup looks. Find one that matches your eyebrow hairs and brush through. The bushy eyebrow is totally a trend anyway!

The next level: Sometimes I use a little eyebrow pencil or powder to fill them in, but this is another step that I think it’s safe to stick with the most minimal option and save yourself time.

The final steps: Throw on your favorite mascara and lip balm or lipstick and you’re out the door. Experiment with only putting mascara on your top lashes or on both and see what you like.

My ‘No Makeup’ Makeup Routine

If you’re going to cut down on your products and ritual time, you need to assess what exactly are the bare-minimum steps to make you feel good. For me this is concealer, powder, bronzer, eyebrows, and mascara. It’s okay if you think something else is important that I haven’t listed. I’m going to give you a multitasking product that covers each step in the makeup process. It’s then up to you to find what fits your lifestyle and goals.

Following my list of bare necessities: *cue jungle book music*

1. I start with concealer to touch up whatever acne scars are still lingering, hyperpigmentation, and any new blemishes. Then of course cover up the dark circles that have taken residence under my eyes. I blend all of this out with a beauty blender and build layers where needed. I’m still using Tarte Shape Tape which is pretty darn full coverage.
2. As I’ve stated many a time, I have a very oily face so setting my concealer with powder is not an option. Ever. Like we are never ever ever getting away with no powder.
3. Bronzer is important to me because it’s a great multitasker. Bronze up the face, build it up under the cheekbones and shade under the jawline to help guide everyone’s eyes away from what sometimes looks like a double chin. Then if you’re having one of those days, take a smaller brush and lightly contour your nose. Or don’t, because sometimes less it more, like less steps is more time. 😉 After that throw some bronzer into your eyelid crease for definition. It will help make your eyes look more open and will create cohesiveness within your face.
4. Another key step is adding something into my eyebrows to darken them a little and frame the face. It seriously makes such a difference for me! My latest go-to multitasker is Glossier’s Boy Brow. (Honestly everything from Glossier is a minimalist’s dream.) If you haven’t tried it I really recommend this one. It has just enough tint while still being a brow gel so everything stays in place and the job get’s done twice as face.
5. Lastly is mascara. I cannot go out of the house without some mascara. L’oreal Lash Paradise is still my ride or die. It’s a love/hate relationship. They dry out faster than high end mascaras, but they’re so cheap that I feel like it evens out in terms of money saving. And when I can get them buy 1 get one 50% off at Ulta…I stock up.