You know those days when you don’t have much on or many places to be but, just for your own peace of mind, you want your make up to look fresh, but only take a few minutes to pull together? Or those mornings when you’ve hit the snooze button once too often or, worse, slept in altogether, but you don’t have the mental or emotional strength to bare your naked Face to the world?

You do?? Well then, let’s talk about a 5 product face.

As make up has evolved over the years and trends have come and gone, some leaving a trail of influence behind and others banished to the bad books (where they should have stayed), we are led to believe that we need an hour to look well put together. We are brainwashed into thinking that we need 20 products for a full face of make up and influenced to think that our “look” isn’t good enough if we don’t follow the current trends.

Stuff the lot of it! Five products, ten minutes if you want to be a bit pickier, and a fresh face at the end of it. Here are my suggestions…

Foundation (if you have great skin, skip this step altogether!)

I’m standing up at my mirror (rather than sitting down as I normally do) and convincing myself that this stance will make me go faster. I need to make snappy decisions and I don’t have time to procrastinate. I need a full coverage foundation that blends quickly and easily. Slap it on, blendy blendy and move on.

Products…

Clinique Beyond Perfecting Foundation– this has intense coverage and comes with a huge doe foot applicator so you can go straight from the bottle and avoid messy hands. It’s 2 in 1 so should negate the need for concealer. Just make sure you’ve applied a decent eye cream to avoid creping under the peepers.

Inglot HD Perfect Coverup– not quite as full coverage as the Clinique but so fast to blend. The pump makes access a bit faster and I apply the foundation straight on to my brush before blending. I advise a reasonably large, buffing type brush. You can find out more about my favourite brushes by clicking here.

Rimmel Match Perfection– won’t cost the earth, pore minimizing and blends like a dream.

Clarins BB Skin Detox Fluid– the newest foundation in my collection which I love! It has the most beautiful finish and blends super fast. I’d say you could apply it pretty well with your hands, if you’re that way inclined.

Brows

Can’t have a complete look with manky brows. They frame the face and lift the entire eye area. Don’t neglect them! I’m not a fan of Brow pencils as a rule. They are too faffy and I’d be at risk of scraping it along my brow bone and creating some sort of rash like glow, if I applied in a rush. So I turn to brow powders and an angled liner brush instead.

Products…

Tanya Burr Perfect Brow Palette– we all know my feelings on this by now. Three brow shades to mix and match and a highlight. If you feel like doubling up your products in terms of number of uses, then use these as eyeshadows and liner. Light tone through the crease, medium tone on the outer V, highlight in the inner corner to open up the eye and darkest shade as liner. Bish, bash, bosh, job’s a good’un!

Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo– more expensive but you do see a real difference in quality. Focus on the lighter shade and use minimal amounts of the darker tone, just to define.

If your brows are pretty full and fairly well maintained, try using a tinted brow gel or mascara such as one from NYX or Benefit’s Gimme Brow.

Blush

I’m a Blush girl, through and through. I don’t want clown cheeks, but I want to see the rosy flush when I’ve gone to the effort. I don’t understand the trend of barely there blush or even no blush at all. Well applied pops of colour to the cheeks make you look fresh and healthy. Who doesn’t want that?

Products…

MAC Warm Soul- goes with everything. Nice and neutral. Blends super easily and lasts well throughout the day. A great choice if you are after a slightly warmer tone to your look.

Anything from Laura Geller– her blushes are amazing. They start off as a liquid and are baked on a terracotta tile. She has some with slight shimmers to them which can be so flattering if applied correctly. Can’t go wrong with these!

E.L.F Fiji– cheap as chips and comes in a duo with a bronzer. Great mirror too so you can check that you’re avoiding clown cheeks! This has a pink undertone and is pretty pigmented so take a light hand with it. It’s one of those shades that just makes you look healthy and fresh, almost giving a child like blush, if that makes sense!

Mascara

Do not go without mascara! Regardless of what state your lashes are in, choosing the right one will open up your eye and at least give the illusion that you are fully awake, even if the rest of you needs a good shake. Whether you prefer something lengthening or volumising, I would ALWAYS include mascara in my make up routine.

Products

CoverGirl Clump Crusher– you know I love this. Still available on Amazon but keep checking T K Maxx!

Rimmel Extra 3D Lash– this is by no means a new product on the block but it’s new to me and I’ve really been liking it! It’s intensely black and builds your lashes super fast, ultimately saving you time! More lengthening than volumising I would say but it’s great for grabbing every little lash. I love it on my bottom lashes too.

Lipgloss

Ok so feel free to include a tinted lip balm or lipstick here, if they are your preference, but when you complete your make up with a lip product you look well put together, like you have made that little bit more effort and your overall appearance seems complete, somehow. I’ve gone for lipgloss to make my smoochers appear a little more plump. Plus, they don’t tend to be as pigmented as lipsticks and therefore lend themselves to a faster application.

Products

NYX Butter Gloss in Angel Food Cake- smells as good as the name suggests! This is a beautiful soft rose shade that would be so flattering with most skintones.

NYX Intense Butter Gloss in Dulce De Leches- if you want something with intense colour but all the shine of a gloss, this is for you!

Clinique Superbalm Moisturising Gloss in any colour you can get your mitts on- these are especially good when your lips are all chapped and flakey. These just glide over all the crust and make your lips look scrummy!

Kiko 3D Hydra Lipgloss in shade #3 Pearly Apricot- this is such a pretty, pale peachy nude. Not gloopy or sticky and doesn’t cost much either!

There you have it! Ten minutes of your time, a bit of a confidence boost and a fresh looking face that makes you look effortlessly flawless!

I’d love to know what your 5 product face would be. Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by!

J x