Hey friends!

I hope your week is going well! The topic for this post has been especially relevant to me this week as I adjust to 5:30 mornings again.

We’ve all been there some of us daily: The morning that something goes wrong and we’re in a rush to get out the door. 

In these times of extreme panic and coffee chugging, it’s good to have what I call the 5 Minute Face* up your sleeve: the makeup you can throw on while eating a granola bar and finding a shoe. (That was an exaggeration, if you can really multitask like this, I am impressed.)

It’s not a full face of makeup, but it’s done in 5 minutes, and you look awake and put together. Today’s products to help you get ready in a flash are all under $10, so that should add some pep in your step this morning!

*TBH I have a 15 Minute Face. I don’t move fast in the mornings. At all.

1. Sonia Kashuk Tinted Eyebrow Gel $6, or e.l.f. Eyebrow Gel, $1.

Getting your eyebrows under control is the first step to looking awake and prepared. I mean, if I look like I have a Muppet living on my forehead, I just don’t have the same professional vibe.

I like to use Sonia Kashuk’s Tinted Eyebrow Gel, which I find to be a cheaper alternative (note: not dupe, alternative) to Benefit’s Give Me Brows.

If you don’t need more brow, or yours aren’t brown (because the Sonia Kashuk only has one shade?) then I recommend the e.l.f. Eyebrow Gel, which is cheap and clear, and will help your eyebrows get their business together.

2. Maybelline Fit Me Concealer, $7.

If I’m in desperate times during my makeup application, I’ll skip foundation and just use concealer. I usually have a lot I need to hide on mornings like this, and concealer gets the job done fast.

I recently featured some of my favorite drugstore concealers in this post. These are all great concealers, but when I’m running late, I tend to grab Maybelline’s Fit Me Concealer because of its full coverage and easy-to-use wand.

The wand helps in a pinch to hide under eye circles or blemishes, or whatever else you’ve got going on. It adds a level of convenience you need when rushing and carrying 4 bags out the door. (Is that just me? I really need to work on my bag problem.)

3.L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow $6-7, ColourPop Cosmetics Super Shock Eye Shadow, $5.

 

A lot of people skip eye shadow when they’re on the run, but I included these two eye shadow brands because you can apply both with your finger, no brush needed if you’re in a tight situation. And then your eyes are glowing! Minimal effort required!

I personally love the L’Oreal Infallible Eye Shadow in Amber Rush, but I recently discovered ColourPop when looking for cruelty free eye shadows, and they have some lovely, glittery shades all for $5. PS: I’ve got a review on this brand coming out later this week!

4. Essence, I Love Extreme Volume Mascara, $3.

When I am rushing to apply make up, while cramped in an inconvenient place, I often skip eyeliner and go right on to mascara, because I can’t draw in a straight line for simplicity’s sake. Eye liner when worn the wrong way, specifically too much on your bottom lash line, can actually make you look more tired. Not what you’re coworkers or boss will want to see.

But mascara helps you look awake and composed by darkening your lashes and helping your eyes stand out. This Essence mascara is particularly easy to apply when in a hurry, and has a great lengthening and thickening effect on lashes.

5. Maybelline Dream Bouncy Blush, $7-8.

I used to skip blush when I was in a rush, but then I realized I looked more alive, and that is an integral goal to my morning prep.

Again, I picked this gel-like blush, because you can use your finger for application if you’re in dire straits. (I don’t judge your morning.) Rose Petal is specifically nice for my fair, warm toned skin, it adds a light flush, which prevents me from looking like a vampire. For more detailed info on these blushes check out this older post.

6. NYX Butter Gloss in Tiramisu, $5.

I never skip putting on lipstick/gloss/balm/stain because it’s my favorite makeup. It’s 30 seconds that no one can take away from me. No matter how late I am.

That being said, sometimes you don’t have time to make sure your bold orange lip color isn’t on your teeth or chin (hey, things get wild): enter lip gloss in a My Lips But Better Shade.

For me Tiramisu is a MLBB shade, but I also have pretty mauve toned lips, so choose according to your shade. For more info on these butter glosses and swatches, check out this post.

TBH, my best rushed makeup advice is to keep a stash of your second tier makeup (cough*unused Ipsy and Birchbox samples*cough) in an emergency bag that you take with you out the door when you’re running late. Note: I do not endorse or recommend farding and driving. Also note: “Farding” is defined in the dictionary as applying makeup. (I never said I was a mature grad student.)

So, I hope this post provides you with some cheaper options to making your morning flow faster. Naturally, I will most likely still be late on a daily basis, because I spend 15 minutes blending my eye shadow. But you know what they say about taking your own advice.

Questions of the Day:

-What are your tricks for getting out the door on a rushed morning?
-Have you ever been late to work/school/events because you were being a perfectionist about your makeup? Was everyone impressed with your amazing makeup when you finally showed up?
-Do you keep an emergency makeup stash bag?

Love,

Rebs!