5-Minute Makeup Tips: How to Do Your Makeup Fast

Let’s be real: Sometimes, there’s simply not enough time in the world to accomplish everything you have to get done. When waking up and making it out the door on time seems like a feat in and of itself, adding the task of applying a full face of makeup into the mix may seem like a laughable stretch. Luckily, with the right five-minute makeup tips and tricks, you can cut down on your beauty routine and still look gorg. Below, we share our favorite speedy five-minute makeup hacks and three foolproof makeup routines tailored to exactly how many minutes you can spare. We got you, girl!

5-MINUTE MAKEUP HACKS

Not willing to let your beauty routine compete with your beauty sleep? With these five-minute makeup hacks you won’t have to.

HACK #1: APPLY FACE MAKEUP WITH A MAKEUP BLENDER

Brushes might look pretty on your nightstand and offer a lot of versatility, but when you’re short on time, you’ll quickly realize that a makeup blender can get the job done faster! So, stock your makeup bag with the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Blend Artist Foundation Blender.

HACK #2: USE A HIGHLIGHT KIT

To eliminate unnecessary decisions when you’re still trying to wake up, grab a face makeup kit instead of searching for separate bronzers and highlighters. The L’Oréal Paris True Match Lumi Glow Nude Highlighter Palette has everything you need to emphasize your best features—bronzer, blush, and highlighter—all in one palette.

HACK #3: TRY THE “E + 3” METHOD FOR CONTOURING

Now, you have the palette, but what about the technique? There are a few options when it comes to contouring your face in a fuss-free way, the first of which is known as “E+3.” First, using your bronzer color, draw an E shape beginning at your temples, tracing along your cheekbone, and back out toward your jawline. Repeat the same process on the other side of your face, making a 3 shape. Now that your bronzer is perfectly in place, it’s time to blend, blend, blend. Voila!

HACK #4: DO THE “FIGURE 8” TRICK

Ready to get your glow on? After you’ve applied your foundation and matte bronzer, grab your favorite highlighter and map a figure eight around your eyes for an instantly brightened effect. Use one of the shades from your palette for some serious convenience.

HACK #5: STROBE LIKE A PRO

No time for contouring and highlighting? No worries! You can make your features pop by strobing—a technique which involves using only highlighter—on your brow bones, cheekbones, the center of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. Gorgeous and glowing? Sign us up!

THE PERFECT MAKEUP ROUTINE BASED ON HOW MUCH TIME YOU HAVE

Now that you know the top tricks to help make your face look sculpted—after all, that’s what tends to take up the most time, anyway—you might be wondering how you can fit this into your routine for a fully made-up face. Whether you have three, five, or 10 minutes to spare, we’ve got you covered.

YOUR 3-MINUTE MAKEUP ROUTINE

Minimal time means a bare minimum look—but that doesn’t mean you won’t look presentable! After all, you’re living in the world of no makeup, makeup. So, just follow these four steps, and you’ll be looking fab in no time.

STEP 1: REACH FOR A PRIMER

The key to a look that lasts all day is to create a solid foundation. To do so, be sure to start your look with primer, which can help to create a smooth canvas. Try the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Lock Makeup Primer.

STEP 2: GRAB YOUR FOUNDATION

Using the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Glow Foundation, gradually build coverage until you reach your desired level. The radiant formula can be built to medium coverage.

STEP 3: STROBE AWAY

With not a lot of time to spare, now is the perfect opportunity to give strobing a go. With just a swipe of highlighter on your brow bone, cheekbone, the center of your nose, and cupid’s bow, you’ll be ready to slay the day.

STEP 4: APPLY YOUR MASCARA

To perk up your look in a flash, use the L’Oréal Paris Voluminous Original Washable Bold Eye Mascara in Cobalt Blue. When you rock a bold makeup trend like colored mascara, no one will ever guess you got ready in a rush!

YOUR 5-MINUTE MAKEUP ROUTINE

Have a couple more minutes to spare? Using the tutorial above as your starting point, you’ll be adding in a few more steps for a slightly more done-up look. Check it out!

STEP 1: USE A PRIMER

As with your three-minute routine, you’ll want to apply a makeup primer as your first step.

STEP 2: PERFECT YOUR COMPLEXION

Grab your foundation to give yourself a flawless complexion!

STEP 3: REACH FOR CONCEALER

Use a makeup blender and your favorite concealer to help disguise dark circles under your eyes.

STEP 4: CONTOUR AWAY

Follow up with a swipe of bronzer along the very top of your forehead, the hollows of your cheeks, the sides of your nose, and just under your bottom lip. Be sure to blend it out with the sponge!

STEP 5: DO THE FIGURE 8

Using your highlighter, create a figure eight and blend around your eyes to help illuminate your face.

STEP 6: POP ON SOME BLUSH

Dip a fingertip into the blush shade of your choice and give your cheeks a quick flush of color.

STEP 7: APPLY A LITTLE EYE SHADOW

Use an eye shadow palette to give your eyes an instant upgrade. Take your pick from any of the L’Oréal Paris Colour Riche Pocket Palette Eye Shadows; they each come with four shades with varying finishes that are perfect for a customized look. For a quick eye look, try smudging the same shade along your upper and lower lash lines.

STEP 8: COAT YOUR LASHES

What makeup look is complete without mascara? Coat your lashes with the L’Oréal Paris Bambi Eye Washable Mascara, Lasting Volume.

STEP 9: PAINT YOUR POUT

Nobody has time for a full lip, so just smooth on your favorite shade of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 8 HR Le Gloss.

YOUR 10-MINUTE MAKEUP ROUTINE

If you have five more minutes to spare, you can introduce a few more quick steps to take your makeup from done up to full-on glam. Here’s how:

STEP 1: GRAB YOUR PRIMER

Start your routine the same way as the previous routines—by applying a face primer.

STEP 2: COLOR CORRECT

Tired of redness, sallowness, or other discolorations? Use the L’Oréal Paris True Match Color Correcting Crayon to mask these color-related imperfections. Peach, bisque, and orange help to hide dark circles, green helps to neutralize redness, and yellow helps to camouflage discoloration.

STEP 3: APPLY FOUNDATION

As with your other routines, you’ll want to apply some foundation to perfect your complexion.

STEP 4: GRAB YOUR CONCEALER

Reach for a concealer to hide any blemishes and imperfections. You can also apply it in upside-down triangles under your eyes to disguise under-eye bags!

STEP 5: E + 3 AND FIGURE 8

Contour and highlight your face using the methods we described earlier. Just don’t forget to blend out for a flawless finish!

STEP 6: BRING OUT THE EYE SHADOW

It’s time to reach for your eye shadow palette! Since you have more time, try to utilize more of the colors in your palette. A pretty gradient is always a good idea!

STEP 7: LINE YOUR EYES

Use the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Pro-Last Waterproof, Up to 24HR Pencil Eyeliner to lightly line your eyes with the slightest flick at the outer corner to help open them up a bit more.

STEP 8: APPLY MASCARA

Finish off your eye makeup with a few coats of mascara.

STEP 9: DEFINE YOUR BROWS

With makeup that looks this good, you couldn’t possibly think we’d let you head out of the house without your eyebrows being on point. Use the L’Oréal Paris Brow Stylist Micro Ink Pen by Brow Stylist, Up to 48HR Wear to help shape and define your eye-framing arches.

STEP 10: ADD SOME LIPSTICK

Last but not least, it’s time to seal your look with a kiss. Pick a color from the L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Lip Stain line and coat your lips in the long-lasting formula. You probably don’t have time for touch-ups, so a lasting lipstick is a must!

Now that you know how to apply your makeup quickly, why not take a stab at speeding up your skin care routine? Here are 4 Multi-Tasking Products to Help Streamline Your Skin Care Routine.