7 Makeup Essentials For Busy Girls – Get Going in Under 10 Minutes

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As a millennial, I feel like we’re always doing one too many things. I, for one, am constantly jumping from one right into another.

At one point I am brushing my teeth, making coffee, ironing my dress for work and chatting on loudspeaker with a long distance bestie all at the same time! My mother even claims I have “wheels under my feet” (makes way more sense in Hindi, but you get the hint).

Gone are the days when I had one hour to get ready and follow an extensive skin-care and make-up routine. I literally have ten to fifteen minutes to do my face and hair and speed out the door.

Add to this how badly my skin has reacted after moving to Germany (weather, food, thyroid disease, etc) , I am doubly cautious of what I pile on my hair or skin. Also, I’m finally on the slightly saddening side of 20’s where shit starts to really get real. No longer pretending to be a semi-adult and ignore taking real responsibility for my health, which very much includes my skin and hair.

(Related: How Living in Germany Changed me)

On most days I have a packed schedule and even though I thought I was organised before I moved to Germany (read why here), I have become surprisingly good at getting shit done even quicker than I did back in India. Learn by doing or maybe reading my blog ? (self-confidence was never a lacking trait in me)

Are you ready to know my makeup essentials for busy girls to get you out the door in 10 short minutes?

#1 Tinted Moisturizer

Ain’t nobody got time to apply a foundation and whatever else comes after. I want my skin to be able to breathe, look natural but also provide light coverage to marks and make me look half decent, even on my worst skin days. I usually apply a good moisturiser before I apply anything on my skin because of late, my skin has been extremely dry and I hate when you look flakey in the middle of the day. If you have combination skin like me, my favourite product to deal with covering base is the Laura Mercier Oil Free Tinted Moisturizer.

#2 Eyebrow Magic

I am not sure what exactly these things are called, as I see new products in shelves each time I hit a drugstore. I do not like looking like some one tattooed my eyebrows to perfection, and I like making them look natural, fluffy and well filled. I usually just lightly fill in my eyebrows with a dark brown shade and then brush them upwards to blend and look natural. The best and cheapest product I found for this purpose is the Maybelline Satin Eyebrow Duo.

#3 Basic Eyeshadow

I also actively avoid looking like I just starred in a bad sequel of a vampire movie. No offence to anyone who loves heavy metallic eyelids, I feel ya, and I have those days too. But, when I’m out and about on a regular day at work or at university I want my eyes to look/match what I wear but not pop out like I don’t know how to use make-up. I love mixing up nude pink, cream and brown shades to make up a subtle but fresh effect. My favourite palette right now is the Urban Decay Naked Heat Palette which is slightly on the upper end (keeping with my philosophy of high-quality, long lasting products instead of a string of shitty ones), but if you’re looking to experiment without breaking the bank, I can recommend the Maybelline Nude collection.

#4 Lip Stuff

There are two things I absolutely need in any lip product I buy, a) it should be moisturizing, b) it should be matte. I like having a good lip color which complements my outfit, that doesn’t require too many touch-ups and is also easy to apply and keep hidden in my bag somewhere. A tip that always helps me is to first apply a basic lip balm before I put anything on. Below are some of my all time favourites!

#5 Mascara

If I could only use one makeup product before I head out the door, it would be this one. God did not bless me with the kind of lush eyelashes you see on models all the time. I wouldn’t go so far as to call them non-existent, but let’s just say this girl needs to boost them alright? Also, being a regular contact lens wearer, I have to be careful that I filter out my products well.

The best budget Mascara I found to use on a daily basis is the Max Factor False Lash Mascara. I mean the name pretty much says it. For the life of me, I cannot get myself to use false lashes, because a) I am too clumsy to figure out how that works, b) I look totally ridiculous, c) No time, seriously. That’s what this whole post is about!

#6 Hair Serum

I don’t know about you, but I go to great lengths to avoid styling my hair. My hair is naturally wavy and frizzy hence after I quick dry my hair, I definitely need something for it to settle. While in Germany, I cannot get enough of Balea Professional Oil Repair Intensive .

I love how non-sticky, lightweight and multipurpose this is and makes my hair smell so good I want to eat them up. I love it so much, that I am sure I have at least three bottles of this in my apartment at any point of time.

#7 Blush/Highlight

On most days, I skip this step. On some days when I am feeling extra enthusiastic I would use one of the two. Either a subtle cheek highlight or a blush. I normally don’t want my highlight to be visible from space on a serious work day, but truth be told I am too lazy to do it.

I can seriously admire women that make it their life’s mission to know how to contour, but the 345 times I tried, I failed so bad, that I gave up. Maybe my face is too round and has no contours. Now, that I can accept.

So, when I want to feel extra pretty and feel like I actually put some thought into my make-up routine I use NARS Blush Orgasm.

Extra Tips for Busy or Lazy Girls (I don’t judge)

• Do your make-up first and your hair after. It sucks to have to re-style your hair after you got some product in by mistake, which happened to me way too many times.
• Carry mini products of touch ups in your bag that you may want to do during the day. I usually carry a lip-tint, a small hair serum and a back-up mascara in case I decide to go straight to party after wards.
• Always always always wash your face or at the very least wipe it before you go to sleep. Even if you don’t have a night skin care routine, the least you can do is give your skin time to breathe overnight.
• If you want your makeup to last a very long day without any touchups, use a primer before you apply anything to your face and a make-up fixing spray after you are completely done. It will double seal all that you did and literally takes 30 seconds more!

Finally, some of the online stores that I would totally check out for hot deals on make-up are as follows:

• BH Cosmetics- Free shipping in US. International Shipping is free after $75. (Take an EXTRA 50% off of all clearance items!)
• Beauty Bridge– Another great online retailer which has exceptional on a wide range of cosmetics and makeup.
• Crabtree & Evelyn for amazing skincare products

Do you have a makeup hack that totally saves the day?

Related:

• How to Dress Like a German Girl in Summer
• Why The Way You Dress Matters More Than You Think