Two days ago I had an 8:00 a.m. Zoom call and – because I overslept – I had only 50 minutes to shower, wash my hair, get dressed, and apply my makeup. Just thinking about this situation raises my stress level! It was a down-to-the-wire race to make it in front of my computer screen by 8:00, but I did it.
And the reason made it on time was due to the makeup products I chose to use that helped me apply my makeup really quickly. So today I’ll share with you my top picks for the best makeup products to grab from your makeup drawer when you’re up against the clock.
Brow Products That Apply Quickly
One of the makeup products that can take our sparser, whiter or greyer brows from bordering on invisible to beautifully visible brows that frame our eyes is Elf’s Wow Brow. Thankfully, it’s one of the least expensive at $5.00, and it’s also one of the quickest and easiest products to apply.
This product not only adds color and definition to our brows – but also adds volume and helps our brows look fuller. I can’t even tell you how many times I’ve repurchased this product because I simply won’t be without it. In fact, I have two of the four shades it comes in – Neutral Brown and Deep Brown, but it also comes in Taupe and Brunette. I like to start with a light color and then add a slightly deeper color. This helps me avoid getting my brows too dark and heavy looking.
But there’s also a new kid on the block that I want to mention which is extremely impressive. It’s the Tinted Brow Gel from the drugstore brand Versed which comes in three shades. This is more expensive at $13.99, but it applies beautifully and looks very natural.
Best Products for the Eyes
I personally like to spend the most time on my eyes since this is the area where I have experienced the most changes. Applying at least some eye makeup can often make one of the biggest differences for those of us with mature skin.
Eyelids
Very few of us don’t have some kind of discoloration on our eyelids, so I first like to quickly swipe on an eye primer. I particularly love Makeup by Mario’s Prep and Set eye primer that comes in a small compact with two cream shades and a powder. But stick applicators can often help us apply makeup more quickly, so if you prefer an eye primer that comes in a handy stick applicator, one of the best is Sigma’s Eyeshadow Base either in the matte color “Ignite” which has more of a yellow undertone, or “Persuade” which has a pink undertone.
Eyeshadow
I normally use a small powder eyeshadow palette like Natasha Denona’s Mini Sculpt Eyeshadow Palette or the “I Love You a Latte” palette from Elf, but for a quicker application, eyeshadow sticks are a great choice.
When choosing an eyeshadow stick, it’s good to remember that they’re not all created equal nor are they a good choice for our eyelids. That’s because we want an eyeshadow stick that’s creamy and doesn’t tug or pull our delicate eyelid skin.
The eyeshadow sticks I love are from the clean beauty brand Doll 10. They glide on like a dream and come in a wide range of 16 colors. They ‘re super creamy, ultra-precise, and water-resistant gel eye crayons that give the pigment payoff of a liquid and the control of a pencil.
Since my eyes are hooded and small, I’ll use the matte light shade called “Gratitude” all over my lid to make my eyes look bigger and the light brown shade “I Am” in and above my crease. There’s also a darker matte shade called “Confidence” which is a lovely deeper neutral.
Mascara
I’ll pick up some of that darkest matte brown shade with a small brush and use it as my eyeliner. Next, I’ll curl my lashes and apply my Versed Mascara.
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Most Helpful Products for Evening Out Our Skin Tone
Rather than using foundation to cover up the redness and discoloration on my face, I’m going to mix my Natasha Denona Hy Glam Concealer with one small pump of my Saie Beauty Glowy Super Gel in the shade “Starglow.”
By using a thinned concealer rather than foundation I’m eliminating the two separate steps of applying foundation and concealer. I’m ALSO getting great coverage from the concealer – and I’m adding some glow to my skin in the process.
And if you’d prefer to have less glow, you can always mix a drop of moisturizer with the concealer rather than a product like the Saie Beauty Glowy Super Gel.
Best Quick-to-Apply Blush Products
Now, onto blush. I’ll use my Versed Stick Blush in the shade “Bloom” which is a rosy mauve. There are four other shades as well. I’m going to tap my brush directly into the blush and then apply. And if I want to add a little more glow to the top of my cheekbones, I’ll use this same brush to tap into the Versed Highlighter stick. I love the shade “Baroque” – which is a silver champagne, but there’s also a warm copper shade called “Simmer” and a cool rose gold shade called “Polished.”
Lip Products That Are Quick and Easy
And we’ll finish off with lips. If you don’t have an issue with lipstick migrating into fine lines around your mouth, you may not have to use a lip liner. But since I do, I’ll apply my lip liner first. Then I’ll apply a matte lipstick from Catrice that also helps prevent my lipstick from migrating.
On top I’ll apply one of the Fenty Beauty Gloss Bomb Stix which I’ve come to love. This is a shimmer shade called “Flamingo Fling.” I love having an easy stick applicator to apply my gloss and the new shimmer shades are gorgeous.
An Additional Time Saving Option
Of course, another time-saving option would be to use your lipstick as your blush. To help your lipstick glide on more easily as your blush, simply mix in a little moisturizer with your lipstick on the back of your hand and then apply it as your blush.
One Other Area to Consider
The only other makeup product I’d add – if I had time – would be my under-eye corrector and concealer. If the under-eye area is a major concern for you, you might want to spend a little extra time there.
If you’re looking for additional ways to apply your makeup more quickly, you might want to see how I transform my face in less than 8 minutes using all drugstore makeup products in this video.
Let’s Have a Conversation:
Are there makeup products you use that help you apply your makeup more quickly? If so, please share them with us. And if you use any specific makeup application techniques that help you apply your makeup faster, please also share those with us as well.
