A real everyday makeup routine that takes 10 minutes flat. Just 6 products, no fuss, perfect for office lighting. Here's exactly what I use.
I Lied to Myself for Years About Makeup Routines
I used to set my alarm 45 minutes early for a full face of makeup. Full coverage foundation, contour, highlight, the works. Then I'd get to the office under fluorescent lights and wonder why I looked like I was auditioning for something.
Now I'm down to a 10-minute makeup routine. Sometimes 7 minutes if coffee is calling. Here's my actual everyday makeup routine.
My 6-Product Makeup Routine (All You Need)
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Tinted moisturizer or skin tint - Not foundation. Something sheer that evens things out without looking like a mask. I can apply this without a mirror in the car if I'm running late. Don't @ me.
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Cream blush - One product, one finger, done. Tap it on the apples of your cheeks, blend up toward your temples. Takes 30 seconds for natural-looking blush.
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Brow gel - Clear or tinted, doesn't matter. Just something to keep them in place. Messy brows make everything look undone.
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Mascara - One coat. Maybe two on the outer corners. Brown mascara looks softer if you want that whole "effortless" thing.
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Lip balm or tinted lip product - Something hydrating with a hint of color. I keep one in every bag, my desk drawer, and my car.
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Concealer - Only where I need it. Under eye concealer, around my nose, any spots. I stopped putting concealer everywhere.
Makeup Application Order (This Matters)
I go: skin tint → concealer → cream blush → brows → mascara → lips
Doing blush after concealer means I'm not covering up the color I just applied. Learned that one the hard way.
What I Stopped Doing in My Makeup Routine
- Setting powder everywhere (my skin looked flat and dry)
- Contour (nobody can see it under office lighting anyway)
- Makeup primer (skin tint already has enough slip)
- Multiple eyeshadow shades (a wash of one color is fine, but honestly I skip eyeshadow most days)
Quick Makeup for Different Skin Types
Look, if you have rosacea or acne or hyperpigmentation and you want more coverage, I get it. The 10-minute makeup routine still works - just swap the skin tint for a medium coverage foundation and use your concealer more strategically.
The point isn't minimalism for the sake of it. The point is that I spent years doing 27 steps when 6 products were actually doing the heavy lifting.
When You Have 3 Extra Minutes for Makeup
If I'm feeling fancy, I'll add:
- A light dusting of bronzer on my cheekbones
- A nude eyeliner on my waterline (makes me look awake)
- A better lipstick instead of tinted lip balm
But most days? Six products. Ten minutes. Natural makeup. Done.
The secret to natural-looking makeup is actually just... less makeup.
The Products I Reach For
Most of my 10-minute routine uses cream formulas because they're fast and forgiving. Our cream blushes blend in seconds and actually last through the workday. And if you want that lit-from-within thing without adding steps, the Sunset Glow Highlighter does it with one swipe.
