10-Minute Makeup Routine

A couple of weeks ago, I posted some videos in my Instagram story and instead of people responding to what I was doing, they were messaging me about how good my makeup looked! Now…let’s be clear, I’m pretty sure most of it was the good lighting, but I thought maybe it would be helpful for me to share what products I use and my daily routine.

I haven’t always worn makeup and I wasn’t one of those girls in school who practiced putting on makeup or doing their hair. I travelled to France the summer before my Junior year of high school and I look so terrible in all the pictures because my (naturally wavy) hair was a hot mess and I didn’t have a drop of makeup on my face. *sigh*

I remember going to the Clinique counter somewhere in my college years asking the gal working there if she could help me get a collection of products that would look good on me, and if she would also show me an easy method to apply them. I was loyal to Clinique for a long time, before I realized that it’s ok to mix-and-match brands and, also, that you don’t have to keep using the same makeup or skin care products for ever and ever.

Fast forward a few years and I’m a full-fledged product junkie. That can be expensive, though, and ultimately, can be wasteful. There’s no way you can use all the products in your make-up drawer before they go out of date. So many beauty products end up in the landfill…there should be a better way. Also, I’m lazy. I dread getting ready in the morning, most of the time, so I need my routine to be as quick and painless as it can be!

I’ve edited my morning routine down to the minimum (not counting my too-long of showers. So, I want to share my easy 10-minute makeup routine with you, in case you need a way to look put-together on the daily, without a huge investment of time!

First things first, I’m pretty sure we’ve all heard of our skin being a canvas for makeup. What in the world does that mean? Well, the smoother and nicer-looking your skin is, the better your make-up will look! I wash every morning with the Beautycounter Charcoal Cleansing Bar (you can find it HERE). I put off buying it for a while because it was a little pricey for me, but it seriously lasts forever. I’ve been using the same bar for over 5 months and it’s not even half-gone. It’s great at removing impurities and toxins from the skin!

Twice a week, I use No7 Total Renewal Micro-dermabrasion Exfoliator (you can find it HERE). I’ve been using it for about a month now and I can really see a difference in how smooth my skin is—it also has a nice, healthy glow.

After I get out of the shower, I apply a couple drops of Doterra Melaleuca to my skin. I’ve been using a rollerball to apply it, but I’ve also used just the straight drops mixed in with my primer (you can shop for Melaleuca and other essential oils HERE).

I consider those first 3 steps as laying the foundation for the rest of my makeup. Once they’re done, I start applying the make-up itself. I recently found the best undereye coverage I’ve ever used. I can say that confidently because I’ve tried just about everything under the sun to cover my dark circles. It’s a genetic thing…my mom has them and I have them. There’s no fighting it, so I just try to cover! Tarte Shape Tape is the absolute bomb for covering dark circles and small wrinkles! It’s available in 30 colors (I wear Light Neutral) and you can find it HERE. I clean the excess off the tip off and dot it under my eye, down my cheek about half an inch and up toward the outside of my eye. I use a beauty blender to apply; I haven’t used one of these until recently and really love how it works! I use it dry, but I know a lot of people will wet it before use. You can find the one I use HERE.  

After I apply the under-eye concealer, I add my foundation. If I could only have one beauty product, I would always choose bareMinerals foundation. I’ve worn it for almost 15 years and it has the absolute best coverage I can find! It comes in several colors (I use Medium Beige) and you can find it HERE. To apply, I use a Kabuki brush—bareMinerals sells one, but I buy a cheaper version and you can find it HERE. I fill the brush with a small amount of foundation and then tap it off back into the container. It doesn’t take a lot to get coverage and I usually go over one more time when I’m done applying all my make-up.

Next is eye-makeup! The older I get, the less eye make-up I wear. I personally feel that it ages me, so I’ve lightened up quite a bit. I start by applying a couple layers of L’oreal Colour Riche Monos Eyeshadow in Paris Beach (you can find it HERE).

After eye-shadow is eye-liner. Now, I wish I could say I’m an expert in the cat eye technique…but I’m definitely not. Sometimes, the thickness of my liner depends on how messy I get on one eye—and it has to carry to the other one! I am loving the most recent eye liner I’ve been using—Maybelline Lasting Drama Light Liner. It’s a very fine-tipped, pen/pencil that goes on so easily! You can find it HERE—and I use Twinkle Black.

After eye-liner is mascara! I curl my lashes first, because they’re long, but very straight. I use THIS curler. I’ve been using Honest Beauty mascara for over a year and LOVE IT!! It comes with a primer in the tube and the mascara makes my lashes look longer and thicker! Plus—it’s a safe product! I usually put on two coats—apply one and immediately apply another. You can find it HERE—and I wear Black.

After my mascara dries, I will add 2-3 more dabs of the Tarte Shape Tape to make sure I have sufficient coverage. Then, I go over my entire face once more with whatever bareMinerals foundation is left on my brush. This will also help to blend whatever other products I may have applied—blush, bronzer, cover-up.

That’s it! Sometimes if I’m getting ready for a dressier event, I might add more eyeshadow or switch-up my eyeliner to something a bit thicker, but this is basically my make-up routine every day. If you want a way to look polished and put-together on a daily basis, but don’t have a ton of time…or interest in spending a lot of time on it, this 10-minute makeup routine is for you!

I hope this helps you to stream-line your morning routine and you feel beautiful doing it!

(Ignore the cookie I’m eating (it was delicious by the way), but this is the best selfie I’ve taken of myself in a while—that actually shows my make-up. Apparently, I need to up my selfie game. Ha! )