I think it’s safe to say that we all want to look our best without having to spend a ton of time doing so. People are sometimes surprised by how quickly I do my “everyday makeup” and that’s because I’ve learned throughout the past decade what works and what doesn’t. I want products to work for me, not the other way around. On days I’m running late or just don’t want to fuss with my appearance too much, this is my go-to 5 minute routine. It brightens up your eyes, but also your entire face because your eyes are such a huge part of how we interact with one another. Refreshed, bright, open eyes are something we all strive for, and I’m here to tell you how to do it, even if you have to fake it.

1. Illuminating Concealer. Regular concealer is great, but if you want to take it up a notch and conceal dark under-eye circles and fake 8 hours of sleep, go for one that illuminates. I love this one from It Cosmetics. I use my ring finger to tap it in so the heat of my finger helps it melt into my skin. If you struggle with a lot of blue underneath your eyes, use a shade with peach tones in it to counteract the darkness.
2. Illuminating Powder. Same principle as the concealer, but with powder. If a product has illuminating particles in it, it’ll look so much brighter. I use my never-fail Bye Bye Pores Illuminating Powder from It Cosmetics to set my under-eye concealer. Remember to go easy on the powder! A caked-on look underneath the eye will have the reverse effect we’re striving for.
3. Shimmering Cream-to-Powder Eyeshadow. Cream-to-powder eyeshadow is one of my favorite makeup hacks. Using your finger, apply it to your eyelids and you’re done. I love these from Charlotte Tilbury because they stay put once they set. They also have a light shimmering effect to them which makes your eyes catch the light. Stick with light to medium neutral shades, since darker shades can make under-eye bags look more dramatic.
4. Eye Brightening Pencil. Line that water-line with an eye brightening pencil. I’ve been doing this for years and I never leave home without it. If you look at my photographs above, you’ll notice how red my water-line can get from lack of sleep, allergies, and makeup. Filling this area in with a light pink or beige flesh-toned color will make your eyes look wide-awake and much larger. This is a common makeup artist trick that’s been in the business for decades.
5. Eyelash Curler. This is a do-not-skip for bright eyes. It takes fifteen seconds or less and it’ll lift your entire eye shape up. I use a light pulsing method while curling them for a longer-lasting curl.
6. Mascara. Even if you’ve been blessed with long lashes, a good lengthening mascara will work in perfect tandem with your eyelash curler to finish off the look. Mascara is such a personal preference, as I’ve seen some people hate the mascara that works best on my lashes and I’ve hated ones that work beautifully on others. Find one you love that works well with your lash-type.

All of the products I used for this tutorial are shoppable below!