One thing I am loving about summer is the fact that there is no morning rush. As a mom, getting myself and three kids ready and out the door by 7:40 is close to my personal version of hell…
I am avid believer in showering each morning; particularly before I see anyone other than my husband… not all women are this way, and that’s fine. But I have always felt more comfortable, efficient and able when I am showered, dressed and wearing a bit of makeup.
Truth bomb: I have never loved makeup. In fact, I didn’t start wearing any until late into high school, and that was just some powder and concealer. I think mascara and blush came later… and lipstick and eyeshadow didn’t come until my 30s (no joke).
I have NEVER known how to do my makeup. It just wasn’t something I was taught. But the older I have gotten, and the more youtube tutorials I’ve seen, the more I realized there is a whole world of makeup out there, and it doesn’t have to look caked on or over-the-top!
Why Wear Makeup?
Here’s the one thing I have always said: when you look good, you feel good. And when you feel good, you tend to be more confident and ready to jump into the day.
And this is exactly how I feel about makeup. I often wonder why I wasted so many years wearing nothing? Because now I am able to see a huge difference in how I look before and after makeup, and it’s literally a difference between looking dead and alive. My pale complexion needs some blush and my blonde eyelashes really benefit from mascara.
As a mom, I’m sure you understand. Maybe you don’t think you have the time. Maybe you’re a total beginner when it comes to makeup. But, SEVEN MINUTES, mom. That’s all I’m asking of you. If you can find seven minutes in the morning, before, after or during tending to the kids, I promise you you are going to see a difference in how you look and feel. Watch closely in the video below and you’ll see me mouth a few words of “not right now” to one of my kids; mama needs her makeup time – in fact, she deserves it!
I don’t use expensive products and I don’t spend a lot of time applying it. In fact, most of what I use is from the drugstore. I also don’t wear foundation or eyeliner. And yet, I find that with a few good products and seven minutes in the morning, I can literally change how I feel. So I put together an easy makeup tutorial so I can share my secrets with you.
Makeup Products I Use (Drugstore and Beyond)
- Primer: IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Pores
- Complexion: Cicapair Tiger Grass Color Correcting Treatment
- Cover-up: Maybelline New York Superstay Better Skin Concealer in Light
- Mineral Powder: Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation (I wear Ivory 01)
- Blush: Sonia Kashuk at Target (not sure of color – the sticker is so worn I can’t read it!)
- Eyeshadow palette: Maybelline New York The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette
- Eyebrows: Benefit Gimme Brow Volumizing Fiber Gel (I wear #1 light) and Pencil Sonia Kashuk Brow Definer in Taupe from Target
- Mascara – Covergirl Lashblast Fusion in Black
My Complexion:
I’ve found that a primer is really important. It fills in your pores so you have a smoother surface to work with and just gives a good foundation for the rest of your makeup. This one by IT Cosmetics is the best I’ve tried yet; but if you just want to spend a few dollars, even a drugstore brand is better than nothing.
After I prime, I put Cicapair color correcting cream all over my face (sparingly on my forehead because I have bangs, so why waste it?). You guys, this stuff is THE BEST. If you wear NOTHING else, try this. It’s lighter than foundation and it’s moisturizing, too. I hate liquid foundation; it looks and feels gross. Cicapair blends to your skin tone perfectly, minimizes redness and evens things out. Read my full review on it here and see before and after shots.
Make sure to set it with your favorite loose powder. I LOVE Mary Kay Mineral Powder Foundation and have used it for the past seven years. Finding a local consultant is easy on their website. I also use a lot of their products for my skincare routine as well, and it’s nice to have a consultant who can help you figure out what you need based on your skin type.
I also put on concealer for any breakouts or red spots, as well as under my eyes. I usually do this before the powder (though in the video below I did it after because I forgot).
My Eyebrows:
Benefit Gimme Brow is my favorite, favorite product. I have very sparse eyebrows (I know I’m not alone) and this actually gives my brows definition. After I apply it and let it sit for a minute, I go back with a brow pencil and fill in just a bit more. It’s magic.
My Eyes:
Mascara is A MUST, mamas. Nothing brings attention to your eyes like mascara, and it instantly makes you look awake and alive. Covergirl Lashblast Fusion in Black is cheap and pretty amazing, if you ask me. It gives me long separated lashes, which is all a girl can ask for.
I only just recently realized that eyeshadow can also be lifechanging. Using a very basic brown palette like Maybelline New York’s The Nudes Eyeshadow Palette and layering your colors will give some dimension and drama to your eyes. It’s a really quick and easy way to look fancy (for lack of a better term). I hate eyeliner and don’t usually wear it, but I do use a small brush to add dark brown shadow to the edge of my eyes like liner. It makes all the difference. All of my eye makeup is from the drugstore, because it works so why pay more?
How To: Easy Everyday Makeup in just 7 Minutes
So now that you know what I use, I put together a quick easy makeup tutorial video to show you how I apply it everyday. This has been sped up, so you can see my 7-minute makeup routine in just 3.5 minutes (you’re welcome).
Here’s the order in which I apply my makeup:
- Start with your favorite facewash and moisturizer (Olay Total Effects is great and has SPF30 plus anti-aging properties!)
- Add primer to nose and t-zone (forehead and cheekbones)
- Rub in Cicapair
- Add concealer to red spots or breakouts and under eye
- Dust on mineral powder all over
- Add Gimme Brow to eyebrows
- Brush on blush
- Add eyeshadow: light color on lid and under eyebrow, medium color to lid, dark color to crease and outer corner of eye
- Line lids with a thin brush and dark eyeshadow
- Curl lashes
- Add mascara
- Clean up any mascara with a Q-tip (best way to remove it without removing eye makeup!)
- Use a brow pencil to fill-in your brows, if needed
- Optional: add lip color
- Done!