Let’s be honest – most of us don’t have 30 minutes every morning to pull off a full glam look. Between our morning coffee or chai, battling India’s traffic, and last-minute outfit changes, a short 5-minute makeup routine is a total lifesaver. Whether you’re heading to college, office, or a lunch outing with friends, a daily makeup routine that’s quick, fuss-free, and still makes you look fresh and glowing can be your best friend. So if you’ve ever googled how to do basic makeup at home, this guide is your answer.
Start with Skin: Prep in Under a Minute
A healthy base is the foundation (literally) to any simple makeup look. Skincare is the first step in any makeup routine because it’s important to protect your skin barrier and help your makeup sit better and last longer.
1. Cleanse: Splash your face with lukewarm water and a gentle cleanser or face wash. This not only removes all the dirt and oil that accumulates overnight but also wakes up your skin. If you have dry skin, look for cleansers with hyaluronic acid as it improves hydration and prevents skin aging. (1) Glycerin and shea butter are also hydrating ingredients. As for oily skin, salicylic acid and niacinamide help remove excess oil and control its production. So choosing the right products for your skin type is vital to create a strong base.
2. Apply a Serum: After cleansing, take a few seconds to smooth on a lightweight serum (like a vitamin C serum) before your moisturizer. Serums are packed with ingredients that are absorbed quickly and help brighten, protect, and even out your skin tone, further strengthening your skin base.
3. Moisturize: Similarly, apply a lightweight moisturizer suitable for your skin type. Moisturizing is important to keep your skin plump and prevent makeup from clinging to dry patches. This step is vital to make sure your makeup application looks and feels smooth.
4. Sunscreen: People may skip this step if they think they’re going to remain indoors or have limited exposure to sunlight. But UV rays can penetrate windows. So we must not forget sunscreen (preferably one with SPF 30 or higher) to fight off the UV rays’ effects like skin pigmentation and premature aging.(2)
Your Fast-Track Routine for a Flawless Look
Mastering simple makeup looks is easier than you might think. When it comes to a natural everyday style, the goal is to create a “no-makeup makeup look” by enhancing your features rather than doing more striking and bold makeup. Here’s a step by step easy makeup guide for when you’re short on time and want to keep it simple with a natural polish:
1. Even Out Your Skin: Use a BB cream or light foundation suitable to your skin type and tone. You can gently blend it with your fingers for it to set in. BB creams provide light coverage, even out your skin tone, and sometimes even offer sun protection and hydrating benefits. They’re good for Indian skin as you don’t really feel the weight of them in the heat.
2. Conceal the Spots: Dab concealer wherever needed – over dark circles under the eyes, areas around the nose, blemishes, or on any spots or redness on your face. Blend well for a seamless look. Concealer makes your face appear brighter by covering up dark spots.
3. Add a Pop of Color: Lightly touching up your face with blush gives a natural flush look. Dab it on the rounds of your cheeks and blend upwards. Cream or liquid blushes are preferred today as they blend into the skin more naturally, rather than some powder blushes that appear grainy on the skin.
4. Define Your Eyes: Take a few seconds to apply some kajal or eyeliner along the waterline – it makes your eyes pop! And apart from its role as makeup, kajal has long been part of Indian culture as a protective and medicinal commodity, even believed to ward off misfortune. If you have a couple of extra minutes, you can even define your eyebrows, filling in any sparse areas.
5. Magic of Mascara: Just a coat of mascara opens up the eyes and gives you a wide-awake appearance. It enhances the lashes, framing your eyes well and making them appear larger. Look for a waterproof mascara so that it lasts in humid conditions or against water.
6. Tint Your Lips: Don’t forget a lip tint or balm to not only add a little bit of brightness to your lips but also keep them moisturized. Lip tints provide long-lasting color, while balms keep the lips hydrated throughout the day. Or use your favorite lipstick if you want a more defined look.
(Pro tip: You can look for a multi-purpose product that can be used as blush, lip color, as well as eye shadow – all in one!)
Finish the routine off with setting spray to make sure your makeup stays intact throughout the day. This plan shows that your daily makeup routine can be effective while being effortless. It’s easy to learn, doesn’t take much time, and gives your face a brighter and more put-together appearance without having to do much.
Build Your 5-Minute Makeup Kit
For that quick touch-up in the car or throughout the day, you should prepare a handy kit so you can recreate your simple makeup looks anywhere with ease.
|
Product |
Why You Need It |
|
Gentle Cleanser |
Washes out dirt, cleanses and freshens up your base |
|
Serum |
Brightens and evens out the skin tone |
|
Sunscreen |
Sun protection |
|
BB Cream or Lightweight Moisturiser |
Keeps skin hydrated and plump, evens out skin tone |
|
Concealer |
Hides dark spots |
|
Blush |
Adds colour to cheeks |
|
Kajal and Mascara |
Defines the eyes |
|
Lip balm/lipstick |
Adds colour to lips and completes the look |
Make sure to choose products that suit your skin type and undertone. For Indian skin, look for yellow or olive undertones in base products, and warm shades for blush and lips.
Indian Skin Tips: Adapting Your Routine
India’s heat and humidity can melt makeup faster than you can say “chai break”. Here’s how to retain your simple makeup looks by adapting to the environmental factors that can easily dissolve it:
1. Use Lightweight, Non-comedogenic Products: This type of products is specifically formulated to not clog pores, which would stimulate acne. It’s recommended to look for non-comedogenic products so that they can cover acne blemishes without the risk of further worsening acne. (3) Especially in India, where we generally have hot or humid climate, it’s important to choose the right products.
2. Powder Strategically: If you have oily skin, powder-based products like concealers and blush can appear cakey or give the skin a grainy appearance, especially in hot climate. To avoid this, just lightly dust a translucent powder on the T-zone – i.e. across your forehead and down the centre of your face, covering the nose and chin. This area is usually more prone to oiliness than the rest of the face. Translucent powders are used to control shine and lock your makeup in place.
3. Don’t Skip Sunscreen: Even if you’re indoors, sunscreen is an important component that adds a protective layer to your skin. You never know how or when those UV rays will catch you, so it’s better to be safe than sorry. Some sunscreens also promise hydrating effects and work as a foundational base for your simple makeup to sit better, so choosing a dual-purpose sunscreen can even cut down on the makeup steps while protecting your skin.
Final Thoughts
Achieving a flawless look doesn’t require a lengthy routine or a whole shelf of products. With a few key items and an easy daily makeup routine, you can enhance your natural beauty in just five minutes. Not only does it help you feel more put-together, but following a routine also gives you a few calm and focused moments to start your day with intention. And sometimes, that’s exactly what you need to carry that glow – inside and out.
FAQs
Q1. How to do makeup in five minutes?
You can easily get the perfect everyday makeup look in five minutes:
• Prep Your Skin: Wash your face with a cleanser to get the dirt and extra oil out. Then use a protective serum and lightweight foundation to even out your skin tone.
• Add Blush: This gives you a natural flush look. Just apply some blush on your cheeks and blend it upwards.
• Enhance Your Eyes: You can wear kajal or eyeliner if you want to define your eyes. Mascara also does the trick to give your eyes a pop and make them look bigger.
• Complete with Lips: Wear a moisturizing lip tint or lipstick to give your lips some color. A lip balm works if you don’t want brighter lips.
Q2. How to do lazy girl makeup?
A lazy girl makeup routine uses lesser time, lesser products, and creates a fresh and natural look. Use a serum or moisturiser for a protected and hydrated base, apply a BB cream, apply concealer to cover up dark spots, use a multi-purpose product for both your cheeks and lips (you can find one to act as eyeshadow too!), and define your eyes with a coat of mascara. Finish off with setting spray to make sure your makeup stays intact throughout the day.
Q3. What are the basic makeup products you need?
Some basic makeup essentials that cover a simple everyday look are serum, moisturizer, foundation, concealer, blush, mascara, eyeliner, lip tint/lip balm/lipstick, and setting spray.
Q4. How to do basic makeup for Indian skin?
Firstly, select products made for your skin type, whether oily or dry. Make sure to use sunscreen to protect against the harsh Indian sun. Apply concealer to cover dark spots, use blush for a natural glow, and lip tint or lipstick for some colour on your lips. Indian makeup usually emphasises the eyes, so use kajal or eyeliner and mascara to define your eyes.