In an ideal world, I'd be enjoying slow, relaxed mornings everyday, where I get to paint my face in peace. In reality, (more often than I'd care to admit), life, a long commute and many snoozed iPhone alarms leave me with raised blood pressure and just a few minutes to look alive.
So — half, in the name of beauty journalism and half, out of necessity — I've been on a mission to create the ultimate speedy makeup routine for rushed mornings. Enter: this faff-free, express selection of just five products, which come in clutch when I'm in a pinch and deliver a seriously fresh, glowy full face that's repeatedly convinced my colleagues it took triple the time it did.
With photos and timestamps for proof, here's the 101 on how to look put-together, when you're not quite. Whether you're speeding to apply it before heading (read: falling) out the door or seeking a look that can be completed on the train (no spills and minimal tools required), ahead, discover my foolproof five-minute regime.
Step 1: A barely-there base
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum
NYX Professional Makeup Bare With Me Concealer Serum
Athina Ioannidou, pro team member at Sephora, says ‘texture over coverage, glow over perfection and enhancement over transformation’ is the motto for a speedy base. Apply two to three dots under the eyes, around the nose and a little extra on any blemishes. Blend with your finger for a natural-looking radiance.
As you can see, I've been blessed with hyperpigmentation (thanks, genetics!) under my eyes and acne scars across my cheeks. This hardworking, medium to buildable coverage concealer works wonders, even when used sparingly.
Time check: 00:45
Step 2: The triple threat
Few products multitask as much as this ultra-blendable blush. Cream textures are easily swiped over the lips and eyelids to triple up as a lip tint and eyeshadow. Fox, a warm taupe shade, flatters all skin tones and acts as a ‘blonzer’ (bronzer come blush), creating both a sun-kissed glow and an illusion of being put-together.
Time check: 02:15
Step 3: Layers on layers
‘While cream products are the easiest to work with, they’re not the most long-lasting,’ says celebrity makeup artist Zoë Taylor – so layering powders on top will enhance their wear time. This blusher, bronzer and finishing powder trio from Hourglass has blurring pigments for subtle highlights. Use gentle motions with a fluffy brush to set in place the cream and liquid products from before.
Time check: 03:15
Step 4: Double up
Ioannidou warns not to overlook styling your brows; dedicating just ten seconds to a tinted brow gel is enough to noticeably frame the face. My go-to is this dual-ended hero from Trinny London – especially because when you flip it around, a smudge-free mascara with seriously impressive lengthening abilities appears, as if by magic.
Step 5: Spritz to finish
The routine might take minutes, but you want the results to last. Enter Saie’s light-as-air (and just as refreshing) setting spray – infused with hydrolysed corn starch and humectants for fade-proofing, hydrating and blurring your base in a matter of spritzes.
Time check: 05:00
And... voila. Try it now, thank me later!
Beauty Assistant Urmi works across Cosmopolitan, ELLE, Harper's Bazaar, Red and Prima.
She fell into the world of beauty following a Masters in Magazine Journalism, and has been knee-deep in maximalist makeup, seasonal nail trends, and skincare myth-busting ever since. Both in and outside the office, she is best recognised by her signature red hair and elaborate set of acrylics.
