Quick and easy high impact makeup

Anyone who knows me knows I’m a huge makeup lover. And when I say huge, I mean HUGE. I love everything about makeup- from the planning of a look to the application. When I became a Mom and decided to stay at home with my daughter, I knew the freedom to express my adventurous side in makeup was going to be a bit stifled. Taking 30 minutes to create a detailed smoky eye just didn’t make sense anymore. Not only was it unnecessary for a normal day at home, but it was a frivolous waste of time when I had more important things to do. However, just because I’m a stay-at-home-mom now doesn’t mean I should give up makeup, nor does it mean I should relent to a ho-hum makeup routine. It just means I have to become a little more creative in how I apply it and save the extravagant stuff for special occasions.

So, over the past 3 months of being at home with my baby, I’ve come across some ways to get high impact looks with minimal effort and time. Some days I only grab one of these tips and focus on it, other days I grab them all. Since I’m at the mercy of my 3 month old, it really all depends on the amount of time I have. But really, you could do all of these things in under 10 minutes.

I usually start out my makeup with a BB cream, which is a super quick way to even out your skin tone. I also will put a bit of concealer under my eyes and on blemishes if need be. I'll sweep some powder over top and my base is complete!

I'm wearing Maybelline Color Tattoo 24hr Cream Shadow
in 'Bad to the Bronze', black shadow on the lash
line and 1 coat of Jordana Best Lash Extreme mascara.

1. Eyes:

Cream shadows—long wear cream shadows (like Maybelline Color Tattoos) are the easiest way to get color without taking a lot of time. You can use your fingers to apply the shadow, or a brush: either way the secret is to buff the edges so there are no harsh lines. You can use bright, sheer or even dramatic colors to create quick smoky looks. Its up to you!

Using shadow as liner—Using a dark shadow color (charcoal, brown or even black)on an angled brush to darken the lash line does wonders. It is the quickest way to apply liner I know of and is one of the most forgiving. If you make a mistake, you can just buff it out with a Q-tip. If you want more drama, you can slightly dampen your brush with water or eye drops and then apply your shadow. It intensifies the shadow, making it almost the consistency of a cake or gel liner.

 Lashes—I cant stress this enough- CURL YOUR LASHES! You will be amazed at how it opens the eyes. Not to mention it will help fool people into thinking you got 8 hours of sleep instead of 3. Mascara is another must in my book. Using good black mascara will draw attention to your eyes without much effort.

2. Lips:

I'm wearing Revlon Strawberry Suede as a stain

Bright lip color—It only takes a minute to slap on lipstick. Why not pick out a fun color while you’re at it? You can easily create a stain with your lipstick if you don’t feel like dealing with the upkeep of wearing lipstick full on. Use your finger to rub the color into your lips and then blot it afterwards.

Balm or gloss in fun color—Tons of companies make sheer, bright lip colors in moisturizing formulas now. Its an easy way to use fun colors without worrying about feeling overdone. Plus, since they are sheer and moisturizing, you don’t have to worry about your lip color rubbing off onto little baby cheeks :)

                 

3. Cheeks:

Rosy flush—Blush is a tired Mommy’s best friend. Its easy to look tired and worn out when your pale as a ghost. A quick sweep of pink or coral blush is the fastest way to bring life and youth to your skin.

Bronzer—If you’re feeling especially pale, a little bronzer can go a long way. A sheer kiss over the highest points of the face (where the sun naturally hits) is all you need. 

I have on Wet'n'Wild Blusher in Pearlescent Pink

Being a Mom doesn’t mean you have to forget about having fun with your makeup. I think its important to take a little time, even just 5 minutes, to freshen yourself up before you face the day. For me, having a splash of makeup on just makes the rest of the day feel a little more pulled together- even if all I’m doing is changing poopy diapers!