Time-Saving Beauty Hacks: How to Do Your Makeup Fast

Let’s be real: Sometimes, there’s simply not enough time in the world to get everything you have to get done, well, done. When waking up and making it out the door in 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. Honestly, who has the time? Luckily, with the right tips and tricks, you can cut down on your beauty routine and still look gorg. Below, we share our favorite speedy makeup hacks and three foolproof makeup routines tailored to the approximate number of minutes you have to spare. We got you girl!

5 SPEEDY MAKEUP HACKS

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

Speedy Makeup 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.

Speedy Makeup Hack #2: Use a contouring kit

To eliminate unnecessary decisions when you’re still trying to wake up, grab a contouring makeup kit instead of searching for separate bronzers and highlighters. The L’Oréal Paris Infallible Total Cover Concealing and Contour Kit has everything you need to emphasize your best features—all in one palette.  

Speedy Makeup Hack #3: Try the “E + 3” method for contouring and highlighting

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.” Bear with us. First, using your contour color, you’ll draw an E shape beginning at your temples, tracing along your cheekbone, and back out towards your jawline. Next, grab the lightest shade from your palette and trace a backwards 3, starting the top line above your inner brow area, working down towards your nose and just below your cheekbone, then right above your jawline. Now that the puzzle pieces of your perfectly contoured look are in place, it’s time to blend, blend, blend. Voila!

Speedy Makeup Hack #4: Do the “Figure 8” trick

This technique is an alternative to the “E + 3” method. After you’ve applied your foundation and a matte bronzer, grab your favorite highlighter and map a figure eight around your eyes for an instantly brightened effect. Try the L’Oréal Paris True Match™ Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator, which is available in three shades: golden, ice, and rose.

Speedy Makeup Hack #5: Strobe like a pro

No time for a 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 SPEEDY 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, anyways—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.

HOW TO DO YOUR MAKEUP IN 3 MINUTES

Minimal time means a bare minimum look—but that doesn’t mean it can’t be 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 and out the door 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 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!

HOW TO DO YOUR MAKEUP IN 5 MINUTES

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 contour and conceal kit to help disguise dark circles under your eyes.

Step 4: Contour away

Follow up with a swipe of the kit’s contour color 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

Grab the L’Oréal Paris Infallible Longwear Blush Shaping Sticks and give your cheeks a quick flush of color.

Step 7: Apply some 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 Unlimited Lash Lifting and Lengthening Washable Mascara.

Step 9: Paint your pout

Ain’t nobody got time for a full lip, so just swipe on your favorite shade of the L’Oréal Paris Infallible 8 HR Le Gloss.  

HOW TO DO YOUR MAKEUP IN 10 MINUTES

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 Infallible Total Cover Color Correcting Kit to mask these color-related imperfections. Peach helps to hide dark circles, green helps to neutralize redness, purple helps to counteract dullness, 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 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

Contour and highlight your face using the method 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 Unbelieva-Brow Longwear Waterproof Brow Gel to help shape and define your eye-framing beauties.

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, Lasting Matte Liquid Lipstick 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 quickly apply our makeup, 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.