Five Minute Face

One of the few things I get more excited about than makeup - David Wright (and the rest of the Mets!)

There are few things that I'm more passionate about than makeup - the New York Mets and the start of the baseball season tops that short list.  All the experts may have already written the season off for the Amazins, but I've had today marked on my calendar for months.

Gotta love Opening Day (and they won, so I'm loving it a little more right now).

However, because the game started at 1pm - and all the festivities starting even earlier - I was really pressed for time today.  I wanted to get some stuff done before the game too, like my workout, laundry, and a couple of work-related things, but I didn't want to wake up at the crack of dawn - which meant that I didn't have much time for showering, dressing, and doing my makeup before the game.

So I decided to rely on old faithful - my 5 minute face routine.

I'm sure that any makeup junkie has a similar routine - a minimal look that you can pull together in a matter of minutes but still leaves you looking polished and pretty - and I doubt that mine is all that different.

1. Tinted Moisturizer - When I'm in a rush, I always go with a tinted moisturizer over foundation. They usually blend in really easily with just your fingers, and because they're sheerer than foundation, you don't really have to worry too much about streaks or uneven application. Today, I wore Urban Decay's Urban Defense Tinted Moisturizer in Halo (which I got for $3 on Haute Look a while back - what a deal!) but there are plenty of good ones out there.

2. Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Dark Circle Eraser Treatment Concealer in Brightener - The rest of the items on this list may be more generic, but this is one that I had to specify by name.  I'm sure that any good concealer would work, but when I'm in a rush, I feel that this Brightener makes the biggest difference in how I look with the smallest effort.  It totally gives a wide-awake look, but it's super easy to blend in with my finger. If your dark circles are particularly bad, you'll probably need a heavier concealer, but this does enough for my light to moderate circles.

3. Powder - Depending on how dry my skin is and what the weather's like, I may or may not powder my face when I'm in a rush.  Today, I dusted over my tinted moisturizer with a light layer of Urban Decay's Ultra Definition Finishing Powder but any nice, light-weight powder works just as well when you're in a hurry.

4. Cream Shadow - When you're short on a time, I think a good cream eyeshadow that you can wear on its own is your best bet.  I went with MAC's Paint Pot in Bare Study because it wears like iron on me without creasing. I also like that the shade just adds brightness to the eyes without really adding a ton of color.

5. Mascara - I tend to skip eyeliner when I'm in a rush (probably because I'm still spastic when it comes to applying liner so it takes me a good 5 minutes to put it on all by itself) so curling my lashes and adding a nice dark mascara is crucial. I used Maybelline's The Colossal Volume Express Mascara in black (or very black - the sticker fell off so I'm not sure) and took the time to apply two coats for maximum impact.

6. Clear Brow Gel - I don't bother filling in my brows (which are fairly sparse in spots) when I'm in a hurry, but I always use a clear brow gel to hold them in place.  Today, I used my old standby, Maybelline's Great Lash Clear Mascara, to get the job done.

7. Blush - Because I am paler than pale, I always have to stop and add blush even when I'm in a hurry because otherwise I'll look washed out. To keep with the natural look I had going today, I used Tarte's Amazonian Clay Blush in Exposed, a nice rosy nude shade.

8. Lip Balm/Gloss - Again, with my fair skin, I always make sure to add a little color to my lips to keep me from looking like the walking dead.  Tinted balms or sheer glosses are the best bet since you can usually throw them on without even looking at a mirror.  Today, I wore Maybelline's Baby Lips in Peach Kiss, which adds just a hint of peachy nude color.

Do you have a go-to 5 minute face routine for days when you're in a hurry?  What are your makeup tricks/tips for when you've got next to no time?