Ready in Ten: Easy Makeup Looks

When you’ve got next to no time to get out the door, there are plenty of things that rank higher than makeup on your priority list. That doesn’t mean, though, that you have to skip it altogether. With a few easy makeup looks in your repertoire, you can get your face on ASAP, while still looking like a million bucks.

Quick Face Prep

The key to saving time is simplicity. When you don’t have the time to do your full makeup routine, here’s how you can pare it down for a quick and easy base.

• If you have time to cleanse and moisturize, do so. If not, at least give your face a gentle rinse.
• You can go bare-faced, but if you want to even out tone and create an easier makeup base, smooth on BB cream, CC cream or tinted moisturizer.
• Spot conceal blemishes as needed.
• If you’re worried about shine or want to help set a cream or liquid product, dab on a light layer of translucent powder.
• If you prefer to wear some foundation, use as little as you’re comfortable with. Lighter application is quicker to place and blend.

The Looks

Once your base is ready to go, finish it off with one of these fast everyday makeup looks.

Au Naturel

For a “no makeup” makeup look that enhances your natural features:

• Brush brows into shape and hold them with a clear brow gel or minimal brow mascara. If you would still like to fill them in a little, use a light hand for softness.
• Bring back color lost during face prep with light layers of a subtle blush shade.
• Add a touch of definition to the eyes by gently blending a brown shadow into the upper lash line. Choose a color that’s slightly darker than your skin and suits your undertone (a reddish brown for warm undertones, for example).
• Apply a thin layer of mascara to add definition. If you do want to add color, don’t go much darker than your natural lashes.
• Keep lips natural-looking and moisturized with a clear (or sheer) balm or gloss.

Lively and Flushed

For a dewy, fresh-faced everyday makeup look:

• Swipe on a shimmery nude eyeshadow in a color close to your natural skin tone. Blend it out softly from the corners of your eyes. You can also swish a second, slightly darker shade into the crease if you have time.
• Add youthful vitality by blending a suitable pink- or red-tinted blush onto the apples of your cheeks.
• Top off your lips with a tinted lip balm, lipstick or lip gloss. Choose a shade that’s similar to your blush color to suggest a natural flush.
• Use a length-focused mascara formula to amp up the flirt (without too much drama), like Scott Barne’s MaxxxOut.
• Additionally, use a dewy face cream or moisturizer during prep to enhance your glow.

Smooth and Smokey

For an enchanting look that transitions easily from day to night:

• Achieve a work-wearable smokey eye by using warm, earthy colors. For a quick smoke effect, choose two shades: one a few shades darker than your lids and the other a bit darker than the first.
• Pat the darker shade onto the lower half of the eyelid, smudging it into the upper lash line. Then, apply the slightly lighter shade to the rest of the lid, overlapping the first shade. Gently blend upward to create a gradient and soften the division between the colors.
• Continue blending out the lighter shade toward the brow bone and outer corner, allowing it to naturally smoke out. Sweep some of the “smoke” on your brush down along the outer half of your lower lash line to bring it together.
• If time permits, you can top it with a soft, smudged liner and mascara. If not, just go for mascara.
• Pop a nude lipstick on for the office, then swap to something bright or sultry for happy hour.

Clean and Classy

For a timeless classic style:

• Skip shadow and go right to the liner. A sharp black cat eye is a go-to, but if you can’t nail it in a hurry, just apply a nice clean line along the upper lashes. Thicken it a bit toward the outer half for more “oomph.”
• Curl your lashes and apply a black or dark mascara for definition.
• Brush and fill your brows with a natural shade as usual.
• Apply just a bit of blush to the cheekbone for a touch of color.
• Finish with an Old Hollywood red lip. First, line your lips with a pencil or liner brush, then fill with a red lipstick. A matte finish is perfect for vintage looks.
• If you’re really short on time, skip the brows, blush, or even the liner. A bit of mascara and a good red lip can take you a lot further than you think.

Big Eyes

To draw focus to your dazzling, mesmerizing peepers:

• Dedicate the majority of your time to your eye look. Add glam shadows, dramatic liner and/or false lashes to your heart’s content.
• Leave a couple of minutes for the rest of your face, opting for nude or natural lips and cheeks. This saves time and keeps other features from drawing focus away.
• If you don’t count brows as part of your eye look, give them a quick shaping with a spoolie and, if there’s time, set them with a brow gel.

Tips and Tools for Makeup on the Fly

For those moments when you’re literally en route (but NOT driving), make sure you have  a handy travel makeup kit along for the ride with things like:

• 1 or 2 eyeshadow brushes
• A blush brush
• 1 black and 1 brown eyeliner
• An angled brush (perfect for smoothing inevitable “oopsies”)
• A natural-looking shade of blush

• A sheer lipgloss
• 1 or 2 natural shades of lipstick
• 2 or 3 go-to shadows that will work with anything

Whether you’re looking to build your own on-the-go kit or simply expand your makeup artist arsenal, Scott Barnes has the professional-quality products you need to create any look, anywhere, at any time. Shop Scott Barnes today for travel brushes, eyeshadow palettes, and much more.