I woke up early one morning, lumbered sleepily to the kitchen to boil water for a cup of coffee… and stepped into a puddle of water. Opening the cupboard under the sink unleashed a torrential waterfall. Apparently there was a leaky pipe dripping water into some pots under the sink, and it had overflowed. So instead of making coffee before I left, and taking time to dress and put on my face, I was left mopping and cleaning up the kitchen for about half an hour, leaving me about 10 minutes to get out the door and to work.
To add insult to injury, I had an early morning start and I had a long day to go so I had to have makeup that would last. Here’s how I got my makeup on in 8 minutes or so, and the products I used (and why I chose to use them) 🙂
Foundation – Clarins Everlasting Foundation (1) + I Nuovi Illumina Heaven (2) + loose powder (3) + Dior Skinflash (4) – 2 minutes
I chose the Clarins Everlasting foundation because I knew from experience that the medium coverage and long lasting power was what I needed. I added the I Nuovi Illumina to add glow to an otherwise flat foundation. Pumped 1.5 pumps of foundation into my palm, added a squirt of Illumina and applied it to my face quickly. Brushed on some Dior Skinflash concealer/highlighter on the undereye and I looked alive! Puffed some Lavshuca loose powder over to set and I was done in about 2 minutes. Patting on the loose powder helped set the liquid makeup and helped it last.
Eyes – Benefit Creaseless Cream eyeshadow in Birthday Suit and Strut (5) + Smashbox Liquid Eyeliner pen in black (6) + Shiseido Perfect Mascara (8) + Shu Uemura Brow Pencil (7) – 4 minutes
When I have to be quick, brushes are the last thing I want to fiddle with so its fingers all the way! Out came my idiot-proof magical combination of Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadows in Birthday Suit and Strut. Adds definition to the eyes and its not as easy to screw up. Line with the Smashbox liquid liner pen that dries quickly and stays put all day long and added mascara with my “guaranteed get compliments” Shiseido Perfect Mascara in black. Filled in brows quickly with Shu Uemura brow pencil.
Cheeks – Benefit Bella Bamba blush (9) – 1 minute
Blush brush, smile, Bella Bamba on the cheeks. Done!
Lips – Dior Serum de Rouge (10) – 30 seconds
Alright, slightly over the mark if I added lipstick but since I applied it while heading out the door, does it count? 😉 It took about half a minute to slick on the lipstick (I chose Dior Serum de Rouge in Peach Serum as my lips were feeling a bit dry and I realized I needed some colour on my face) and I was done.
This is probably the quickest I’ve ever attempted and completed a full face makeup look. I’m going to try to shave off even more time and get it down to maybe 6 minutes so it becomes my no-fuss express makeup look for emergencies 🙂 The eyes take the longest so I could probably cheat and go without eyeshadow altogether but that wouldn’t be a “full face” any more would it? 🙂 No pics of the look I did unfortunately. I did say I was in a hurry…
What’s the quickest time in which you’ve done your makeup? What mistake proof items do you use when you need to put on makeup in a hurry?
Paris B
i usually neutral eyeshadow when i am in a hurry….mistakes will be a lot less obvious 😉
Yep! I do the same too 😀 But the cream shadows are so idiot proof plus I get a nice look with it 😉
Awww no pictures of the finished look?? Hehehe!! 😀
Fastest i’ve gone is 5 minutes, but thats sans foundation! 😀 My failproof products? MAC Smoke & Diamonds + Charred eyeshadow combi, NARS Deep Throat on my cheeks and MAC Baby Sparks dazzleglass on my lips! 😀
Haha… nope – was flying out the door! Haven’t replicated it yet – have all the time in the world for now hehe… Sounds like you’ve got your perfect quick-look combo down pat too!
The fastest I’ve gone it’s about the same time as yours. But I don’t go with eyeshadow, just line an eyeliner and smudge it so it look a bit like a natural brown shadow and there you go. =)
That’s clever too 🙂 I like a touch of shimmer hence the cream shadows plus it looks like I made some effort when it was just literally swipe on and go 😉
Hey! My to-go eye make up is also the Benefit Creaseless Cream Eyeshadow in Birthday Suit and Strut. Really idiot proof! I use Strut as a liner as well, saves a few more seconds 🙂
Hurrah! I’ll do Strut on the lashline next time too 😀 This is such an excellent combo isnt it?
The other day I was timing to get my makeup done in 5 minutes but the fastest i get was 6+minutes, with full face, eyes, lips and cheek makeup. nevertheless, i’m proud of myself 😀
That’s a great job! 6 minutes is probably only something I can aspire to 😉
Mine was 8minutes too!!
BB cream, eyeliner, mascara and lipstick. ^.^ I don’t bother with blush when I’m in a hurry ahahaha.
No pictures??? Awwww…
Unlike you, I can go without eyeshadow but never without blush! Or I’d look deathly pale 🙂
eh your guerlain meteorites got no cameo appearance in this 8 min look?
Nope, too fiddly. That’s what the I Nuovi Illumina was for 🙂
Quick one, sunscreen will act as foundation, Lancome Macquicake Powder, fill up the brow then blusher Benefit Coralista and mascara. Lipstick, or gloss will be apply in the car. 😉 If there are additional time, will use neutral eyeshadow plus pencil liner.
Nice one! Benefit Coralista gives such a pretty pop of colour on the cheeks doesn’t it? 😀
thats because u have great skin,Paris! if i put foundie on in 2 min u’d still be able to see all my acne scars. =.=
my fastest is 10 min, but thats when i only conceal all the scars, put eyeliner and mascara. see how hard it is to conceal scars!!
btw paris, thanks so much for starting this blog!! u’ve realy helped me so much with my skin,before reading u i’d blindly choose skin products and when they break me out i woudnt even know why!
now i knowm me skin hates alcohol,vitamin C, green tea, grapeseed, lavender, salycylic acid, tea tree and hyaluronic acid. SO WEIRD RIGHT.
btw i found what my skin loves, and its a really weird thing. my skin loves silicones (NEVER break me out), xantham gum, allantoin, glycerin,glycol and zinc.
I don’t have great skin… but I am good at hiding the flaws hehe… I’m glad you’ve learnt what works for your skin and importantly, what doesn’t! I find it absolutely amazing how things that are “good” like vitamin c, salycylic acid, tea tree and hyaluronic acid break you out. But like you, I think my skin likes its dose of chemicals too. I can’t go too organic or I break out 😛
Err.. my makeup is 5 mins everyday, what are you talking about? Cos I’m a slacker that way 😛
Foundation + powder, undereye concealer + powder, blush. That’s everyday! Lips will be done when I’m in the car waiting for windscreen to defrost/ garage door to open 😛
Haha… that’s coz you don’t do the eyes! The eyes always take the longest but if I don’t do something for my eyes, I lose them 😛 That said, blush is a must or I risk looking like death.
Lol I also put on lipstick whilst waiting for the garage door to open ( and finish up whilst making sure it’s closed)
I used Benefit’s face powders (Sugar Bomb most of the time) – acts as a great face powder and blush at the same time too! Takes me about 8-10 minutes on the average too…can’t afford the luxury now! LOL
At least you’re making the effort! Some people don’t anymore which is a pity 🙂 I love Benefit’s face powders. Amazing stuff!
My make up routine for the day is just eye liner & lipstick/gloss. On days I’m looking tired i’ll add mascara. I only do my full face for an occaion or when I can be really bothered. Enjoying reading your blog. Makes me feel I should perhaps bother more!
I agree, I can do my make up in 8 minutes too! because….I’d rather sleep! hahahahaha 🙂 great post! Very helpful
HAHA same here. I’d rather spend that extra 10 minutes “trying” to wake up 😀
If I have 9am class, I will need a speedy makeup, but the fastest i can do is 10 mnts and that’s only concealer, foundation, blush, and lipstick.
I have hard time using eyeliner, it can takes at least 5mnts to make it correct. I have a real monolid, so I avoid eyeshadow, and prefer to work on eyeliner.
To get a quick eyeliner look, take a dark powder eyeshadow and smudge it along your eyelid. That way you get eyeliner and a bit of eyeshadow in one swipe! 😉 Just make sure you blend it out a little
Never work.. 🙁 I tried that method before. I have monolid and its oily, the eyeshadow will be washed or smudge out in 2-3hours. With primer also not working very well.. thats why I just use gel or liquid waterproof eyeliner.
Aww… sorry to hear it doesn’t work but hey! At least you found something that does! 🙂
I love reading other ppl’s speed makeup routine as I’m always late myself! I spend more time putting on skincare (moisturizer, eye gel, sunscreen) which leaves me less time for eyes 🙁 blush, powder n lipstick a must for me 🙂
Whoops plus my chanel primer n vitalumiere aqua foundation if it’s going to be a long day!
Perhaps I should have mentioned that this 8 minute makeup does not include skincare and dressing 🙂 I take time with my skincare too. If the base is crappy, so’s the makeup right? 😀 Using a cream eyeshadow makes it a very quick eye look and blush and lipstick just perks up the look 😀 Yay!
i must try this cream shadow then – i love things that are quick! Is this Benefit one good for oily lids? I find I need to wear a base all the time for powder shadows are else they will crease horribly – even with a base it does after 8 hrs or so bleh
The benefit creaseless cream shadows are supposed to be long lasting. The thing is, I don’t have oily lids so I can’t quite help you there. I do find that these last all day for me and it doesn’t crease 🙂
The fastest i can go is something like this:
one min with shiseido maquillage lasting stick foundation (true life saver).
one min with powder blush.
two mins with a jill stuart eye jelly or kose beaute eye fantasist, pencil eyeliner in dark brown (i dont go for black if i’m in a hurry), some eyebrow powder, no mascara as i will pop on my glasses instead of contact lens.
one min with a nude lippie. I use e.g. paul and joe’s Clair De Lune or over the moon which are pretty nude and thus won’t go wrong without mirror application. I do this on my way out of my house in a rushed morning. And while i’m waiting for the lift, i will top my lipstick with chanel glossimer aragonite (for the first time, i seriously think i need to buy backup of this gloss.)
That’s not bad! And interestingly, I haven’t tried any of the products you mentioned! I shall have to take a look at that Shiseido stick foundation and Aragonite! 😀
And i’m itching to get my hands on the benefit blushers which you love. Can you recommend whether i should get the new Bella Bamba or the Sugarbomb? Bella Bamba looks amazing on tv recommended by one of those taiwanese makeup artists.
Get Bella Bamba if you want colour. Get Sugarbomb if you want a glow 🙂 Sorry I’m no help at all! But seriously, think of which you prefer – Bella Bamba is a pretty pink while Sugarbomb doesn’t show up much, and when it does, it might be a bit frosty so I prefer to use it just for a light peachy glow. Sorry sorry! No help 😛 I’ll do you a comparison post… soon. Promise!
I think I can do it in 8 mins. But I like to do things very slowly. I take 30mins to get myself ready (doesn’t include shower and blowing dry/straightening my hair). My office is 10 mins walk from home, so I guess I don’t have to rush unless I’ve meeting or conference calls at 9am.
Ahhh lucky you to live so near your work place! 😀 I do take my time most mornings but on days when I laze that tiny bit longer in bed, I have to speed things up 😉
Mine is about 8-10 minutes. I apply sunscreen and concealer when needed, cream eyeshadows (I’m loving Michael Todd Long Wear Cream shadows at the monent as they last for hours on my slightly oily lids even without a primer) and mascara. Then, a pop of blush on the cheecks and I finish the look with either a gloss or tinted lip balm.
I read about your love of Michael Todd cream shadows! Too bad we can’t get them here but it looks like we’re all doing about the same things, just with different products 😀
Mine was around 5 mins or less. After skincare, squeezed some bb cream on palm, rubbed them together and applied on face, filled in brows, tinted lipbalm and mascara. Concealer stick on areas where needed 🙂
I don’t wear makeup much (maybe because I hardly have any in my collection) so I can’t say for full face. Lol!
Not bad! 😀 I make sure I have a touch of concealer on too – if I’m in a hurry, I need that 😉
Wow, that’s a lot of products for an 8-minute full-face makeup! You’re fast, girl! When I’m in a hurry, I take about 5 minutes but use very little. First of all, lots of sunscreen. Then I dab a drop of foundation and spread with a wet sponge, throw powder on top, quickly do my brows (brush + powder + clear mascara), and fingerpaint Benefit’s CC in Birthday Suit and Skinny Jeans on my eyelids (fastest eye makeup ever!)… [pause for breathing]… then I spread the cream towards the bottom rim of my eyes with a brush, strike an eyeliner across my upper lashes, apply 2 mascaras and slap a bit of blush. The lipstick I can always apply in the lift – with my fingers!
Sadly enough, the result is not that different to when I do have the time to do my makeup – only the eyeshadows seem to differ. It is a bit disheartening. 🙁
Yup! 😀 I chose products I know for a fact I won’t make a mistake with and which can work very quickly with hands 🙂 You aren’t doing too badly yourself! I can’t imagine me wrestling with a wet sponge while in a hurry hehe… 😀