13 Easy 5-Minute Makeup Hacks for an Effortless Morning Routine

Perpetually late to things? You’re not alone. But struggling with promptness doesn’t mean having to compromise your makeup look. This article will share 13 of the best hacks to implement into your morning routine to finish your makeup look in five minutes or less.

1. Exfoliate the Night Before

Early morning routine prep actually starts the night before. To make sure your makeup goes on flawlessly and easily, we recommend exfoliating the night before to make your skin nice and smooth the next morning. The frequency at which you exfoliate varies depending on your skin type, but two to three times per week is generally sufficient.

2. Skincare, Skincare, Skincare

They say that skin prep is the most important step to a flawless makeup routine. Whether you’re in a rush or have all the time in the world, this step truly can’t be missed. According to the professionals at Lancôme, “Those who skip skin prepping before makeup are at risk of flakiness, uneven coverage and foundation that’s more difficult to blend. On the other hand, if you take a moment or two to ensure your skin is ready, your makeup will be much easier to apply and will have greater longevity.”

Your skin prep doesn’t have to be super complicated. It can be as simple as a cleanser, a hydrating serum or toner, and a lightweight moisturizer. Oh, and don’t forget the SPF ever.

3. BB or CC Cream

Now that your skin is looking and feeling its best, it’s time to get into the makeup application. We recommend starting with a BB (blemish balm) cream or a CC (color correction) cream. Not only do these products apply quickly and seamlessly for a natural look, but they’ll sit beautifully on your skin. Many of them also have SPF built into them, so you can skip applying an entirely separate sunscreen to save time.

Keep in mind that they are pretty light coverage, so if you’re looking to hide more blemishes or spots, consider using multiple layers or a product of your choice with heavier coverage.

4. Skip Foundation All Together if You Prefer

If you can’t be bothered to wear foundation (or even a BB or CC cream for that matter), save your time and skip it all together. We recommend spot-correcting with concealer for a bit of quick coverage. Plus, it’ll give you a gorgeous, “I just woke up like this” look.

5. Conceal Only Where Necessary

These days, social media and filters have made it difficult to go out with your blemishes on display. The narrative that we must always have perfect, flawless skin every day of our lives is false, and frankly, quite problematic. That’s why we firmly believe you don’t need to conceal anything you don’t want to.

But if you’re not confident with your skin yet to wear it bare, are in the mood to hide a few spots here and there, or want to cover some dark circles from a less-than-ideal night of sleep, concealer is there to help. When you’re in a big rush, remember that less is more. Start with a few small dots wherever you think you need it and blend it in with a brush or sponge. It’s always easier to add more product than take it away. Plus, you’ll probably find that you don’t need as much concealer as you think you do.

6. Multipurpose Stick

Perhaps the pinnacle of products that save time is the multipurpose stick. This is a cream product that can be used for cheeks, eyes, and lips. You won’t believe how much time (and money) it’ll save you not having to switch between three separate products when you’re in a rush. Plus, your makeup look will ultimately look more cohesive in the end if you use an all-over product of the same shade.

7. Clear Mascara

Who knew that a bottle of clear makeup could be so multifunctional?! You can use clear mascara to both tame your lashes and your brows all at once without having to switch between different products. It’ll save you time, all while giving you those big bushy brows and emphasized lashes that we all love.

8. Eyelash Curling

If there’s one step we recommend never skipping, it’s curling your eyelashes. You’d be surprised just how much of an impact this simple and quick step can have on your entire look. You don’t even need to apply any mascara for your lashes to look longer and fuller, really tying your whole look together and making you look more awake.

9. Neutral Eyeshadow

As much as we all love a smokey eye, it’s not necessarily the most time-saving of looks. But if you want to look a little more put together, try applying a light neutral eyeshadow to your eyelids, like a light brown or beige. This will give the illusion that you put way more time into your look than you actually did. No one will know you did it with one foot out the door.

10. Multi-Use Highlighter

Highlighter is another product that can be applied to various places on your face, saving you time and effort. In addition to putting it on your cheeks for a glowy, plump look, you can also wear it as an eyeshadow for a bit of a sparkly moment or on your browbones to make your face look even more snatched. We also recommend trying to apply it to your inner eyes for a more awake and alert look.

11. Carry Around a Compact Mirror

If you’re commuting to work in the morning and have to do your makeup on the go, definitely make sure to have a compact mirror with you. You can even find ones with magnifying features and LED lights so you can really see your work.

12. Make Sure Your Makeup Bag Is Organized

We’ve all been in a situation where our makeup bag is an absolute disaster. And if you’re in a rush or on the go, a messy makeup bag simply won’t do. Make sure that your makeup bag is organized and doesn’t have any unnecessary products in it that you have to rifle through. You’d be surprised how much time this will save you.

13. If All Else Fails–a Bold Lipstick Will Do Wonders

While it might seem counterintuitive, a bold lipstick while in a rush is actually key to a flawless look; just ask the French. According to French celebrity makeup artist, Patrick de Fontbrune, all you really need is to emphasize one detail of your makeup look. “[A French woman] would prefer putting emphasis on her favorite asset rather than wearing too much,” says de Fontbrune. “Either play up the lips with a vibrant lipstick or deepen the eyes with a dramatic smoky look.” He adds that there is truly nothing more French than rocking a signature red lip and a neutral look.

So next time you find yourself in a rush in the morning, just slap on a red lipstick and you’re good to go.