The 5 minute, easy makeup routine a beauty editor swears by

A quick makeup routine is a good makeup routine, especially when you’re attempting to get somewhere in a timely manner. But when you’re feeling lacklustre, it’s still nice to have products that wake up your skin, even things out, and leave you looking visibly fresher. We might be in a rush, but we don’t want to look as such (if that’s not too much to ask).

Fortunately, with the right products it isn’t. And so, here is my very quick but very glowy five-minute, easy makeup routine. It’s simple enough to do on the fly, but effective in the sense that you’ll look as if you put in some effort.

 

 

Chanel CC Cream

This is such an easy base product. It’s sheer enough that you can apply it in less than a minute, but has enough coverage to even out spots, discolouration and dullness.

 

Kosas Revealer Concealer 

 

On a good skin day, I would skip the above and just wear this. It’s a firm favourite in the RUSSH office because of the creamy texture, good coverage and natural finish. It’s also the best concealer I’ve found for the under-eye area.

 

NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer

 

Two concealers seems counterintuitive in the context of an easy makeup routine, but I swear by this for breakouts and scars. I find targeting little imperfections and leaving the rest of my skin relatively bare is faster than doing an entire Unlike Kosas, it has more of a matte finish and is densely pigmented to diffuse redness and uneven texture.

 

Byredo All In One Brow Pencil

 

Creamy and easy to manoeuvre, this brow crayon is 10/10. It doesn’t drag or bleed; I love the way it shapes and fills without looking too ‘fake’. It’s waterproof so the longevity is great (a characteristic that’s difficult to find in a brow crayon).

 

Mecca Max Brow Guru Power Brow Strong Hold Brow Gel

 

This brow gel is cheap, cheerful and effective. It has enough hold to keep my brows up but it doesn’t flake or leave little fluffy white bits behind. The applicator is very user-friendly, as well.

 

CHANEL No. 1 de CHANEL Lip and Cheek Balm in Lively Rosewood

 

This is the perfect ‘in a rush’ beauty product. A hybrid tint for your lips and your cheeks, it leaves a dewy wash of colour that’s easily blended with fingers alone. Pat it all over (eyes, lips, cheeks) for instant freshness.

 

Dior Beauty Rosy Glow Blush in Lively Rosewood

 

This could admittedly be left out, but I love the finish of this viral Dior blush. It’s very pink in the compact, but has a youthful vibrance to it that, when applied, lifts my complexion.

 

CHANEL Beauty Multi-Use Glow Stick in Transparent

 

 

If you want to look like you’ve just had a facial, this is what you should reach for. It’s constantly sold out so if you find it, buy instantly. Unlike most highlighters, it doesn’t have any shimmer, pearl or glitter particles, so it’s believable on the skin. Also doubles as a lip balm and a brow gel.

 

NARS Powermatte High Intensity Lip Pencil in Dolce Vita

 

I adore the original Velvet Matte NARS pencils, but they’re no longer stocked at Mecca? But this is a very similar formula — it deposits colour but it’s weightless and slightly matte, so looks really natural when applied. Dolce Vita is an iconic pinky rose that looks best when patted in.