I don’t wear makeup on a regular basis. Although I like how it looks, I never have the energy to drag myself out of bed to put on makeup in the morning. But when I do want to put the effort in, I have a quick, reliable routine that requires few products and minimal skill.
Disclaimer: I know nothing about makeup and there are no guarantees that anything I am about to say is factually correct in the makeup world.
1. Foundation: I own both liquid foundation and powder foundation. I typically use the liquid foundation if my skin is blotchy and I want more coverage. I tend to use the powder foundation if I’m in a rush. Sometimes I will put powder foundation on over liquid foundation. I don’t really know why.
The two foundations I use are Covergirl’s Outlast Stay Fabulous 3-in-1 Foundation and Covergirl’s Clean Pressed Powder Foundation.
2. Concealer: If I’m wearing makeup, I will often just skip the foundation and use concealer on problematic areas, like dark circles and pimples. It essentially works the same and as a bonus, it takes less time!
I am currently using a Covergirl concealer that isn’t sold anymore, but Covergirl’s Ready Set Gorgeous Concealer seems similar.
3. Eyeshadow: Eyeshadow palettes that tell you where to put each color exist and they are wonderful. These eyeshadows from Wet N Wild come with three colors, one for the eyelid, one for the crease, and one for the brow bone. They’re super easy and take all of the guesswork out of eyeshadow.
I recently purchased L’Oreal’s La Palette Nude because I had a coupon and I’ve seen a lot of girls use eyeshadow palettes. I don’t really know how to use it, but I’ve had fun trying different colors. L’Oreal’s website also has tutorials on how to achieve different looks with the palette. I haven’t tried them yet, but I’m sure they’re helpful.
4. Mascara: If I want to wear makeup, but don’t have a lot of time, sometimes I will only apply mascara. It wakes up my eyes a bit and takes less than a minute!
There are a lot of different mascaras out there. I am currently using Covergirl’s LashBlast Fusion which I bought for no reason other than it comes in a purple tube. I like that it doesn’t make your eyelashes look too long or too plump, but it’s still noticeable.
5. Eyeliner: I consider eyeliner to be “expert level” makeup. If you’re not used to wearing makeup, I recommend skipping eyeliner unless you have a lot of time on your hands. After years of being in plays and having to wear stage makeup, I am finally able to semi-consistently apply eyeliner. I still keep a bottle of makeup remover handy just in case.
If you’re going to try eyeliner, I recommend using liquid liner over pencil liner. It gives you more precision and is easier to apply. I know that gel liner also exists, but I have never used it. I’m currently using Almay’s Intense I-Color Liquid Eyeliner because I had a coupon. It’s worked well so far, although I wish it was darker.
6. Blush: Get a light color and be gentle with your application. Also smile when you put blush on. It helps.
My go-to blush is Covergirl’s Cheekers Blush. It’s inexpensive and comes in 17 different shades!
7. Lipgloss: I like lipgloss more than lipstick because it tends to be more subtle. This summer, I bought five of Covergirl’s Jumbo Lip Gloss Balms to wear to work and I really really liked them. They don’t take long to apply, they last pretty well, and they complete any simple makeup look.
Makeup takes practice. Over the years, I’ve gotten pretty good at one simple look. And it works for everything! I wear the same makeup to an in-class presentation that I wore to work this summer and that I would wear to a dance. I still have a lot to learn, but as someone who only wears makeup on special occasions, simple is the best way to go.