Not to Brag, But I’ve Mastered the Art of the 5-Minute Face—The Best Secrets I Learned From MUAs

I have a special knack for making myself look put together with as little effort as possible, but when summer hits, even that routine gets cut by half. I’m talking no more than three minutes and 49 seconds at my vanity (yes, I timed it) before sliding on my sandals and dashing out the door. As much as I wish this was a natural talent of mine, the truth is that A) I’m always running late and B) it took years of learning the best time-saving hacks from industry-leading pros.

I’m lucky enough to have gone backstage at fashion shows and been a fly on the wall for celebrity photoshoots, watching makeup artists wield their brushes, creams, and palettes at the speed of light without sacrificing an ounce of star quality. Over time, I’ve absorbed the best of these tricks for my own minimal, at-home glam; I may not be crafting a razor-sharp wing on the daily, but I sure know how to sweat-proof my beat in about five seconds flat. Ahead, discover the easy makeup routine I’ve honed for years in the name of saving time, energy, and my dullness-prone skin.

1. Leverage Your SPF

It’s summer, so of course you’re slathering on bucketfuls of sunscreen—right? The thought of layering foundation—or even a lightweight tinted moisturizer—over an ultra-hydrating SPF sounds like a recipe for clogged pores during a sweaty summer, so I like to make my skin protection play double duty by leaning on tinted formulas.

Note, I’m not normally a tinted SPF kind of gal (I once found them to be way too heavy and pigmented), but a few recent launches have totally changed my tune. I’ve finally discovered the most breathable, sheer options that allow for a generous application (you know, for optimal protection) without feeling too cakey in the pigment department, and they’ve become game-changers for streamlining my five-minute face.

2. Swap Foundation for Spot-Concealing

Again, the thought of applying foundation amid rising, humid temperatures makes me want to melt into a pool of sweat, so I like to strategically spot-conceal where I have the most discoloration. This makeup artist-beloved technique allows your natural skin texture to shine through, which does two things: 1) It minimizes the amount of product you use, preventing clogged pores and cakiness later on, and 2) makes you look like you aren’t wearing a base layer at all, as if you just rolled out of bed with fresh, clear skin. Win, win.

In terms of placement, I like to first dab product underneath my eyes and directly on any blemishes, before adding just a touch on the sides of my nose, chin, and forehead. Less is more here—just a dot of product does more heavy lifting than you think, and you can always add more if you need. Blend with your fingertips to help the product naturally distribute across your skin.

3. Contour Your Cheeks, Eyes, and Lips

If I could only use one makeup product for the rest of my life, it would have to be a trusty contour stick. It sounds controversial, I know, but trust me—contour can help you craft a full face in seconds. Trace it just underneath your cheekbone to snatch your bone structure, across your hairline for a touch of dimension, and along your eyelid creases to accentuate the orbs—no eye shadow necessary. “It’s an old glam trick, but it really does open the eye,” celebrity makeup artist Buster Knight once taught me. “I’m also always loving bronzer under the bottom lash line, as it does really make the eyes pop [and] look bigger [and] fresher.

You can even add a small stripe across your nose to subtly lift the tip, and underneath the belly of your lower lip to create the illusion of fullness (a tip I recently learned from celebrity makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes). I repeat: For quick, no-fuss makeup routines, a contour stick can be your secret weapon.

4. Grab a Multitasking Blush

Personally, a summer makeup routine just isn’t complete without blush—and lots of it. Creamy formulas are key (celebrity makeup artist Misha Shahzada agrees), and I highly recommend opting for a multitasking formula you can apply all over—the cheeks, eyes, and lips—for an easy monochromatic moment.

Assuming you used your contour stick to trace your lips, you won’t even need a proper lip liner. Simply smudge your versatile blush of choice onto your pout, diffusing with your fingertip for a blurred, just-kissed lip.

5. Brush Up the Brows

“Use a brow gel to brush up the brows,” Shahzada advises. Whether you opt for tinted or clear formulas, fluffing up the arches instantly makes you appear more sculpted and polished. Better yet, use a brow serum infused with growth-stimulating actives to simultaneously treat those hairs as you groom them into place.

6. Add a Touch of Gloss

For an extra, ethereal touch, I’ll add a dab of gloss on the eyelids and cheekbones. It’s a trick I learned from celebrity makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench, who uses her Face Glaze gel to guide the eye to what she calls “glossy high points.” Rather than using a shimmery highlighter (which tends to immediately read as makeup), tapping on a translucent balm delivers the effect of natural, glass-like skin. I’ll add it over eye shadow for an instant “wet lid” look or wear it on my eyes alone for a fresh, dewy effect.

More Makeup Artists Tricks

We’ve covered my personal five-minute routine, but trust me, there are plenty more makeup artist tips to go around. Here, a few extra highlights from Ffrench and Shahzada.

• Prep with lightweight serums: Skin prep is essential, no matter what type of makeup look you’re gunning for. But in the summer months, you might want to swap your rich moisturizers and oils for bouncy, water-based confections. “I suggest serums, which offer incredible hydration but penetrate deeper into the skin rather than staying on the surface causing the skin to look overly shiny or sweaty,” says Shahzada. A few personal favorites: Tatcha’s The Dewy Serum, Refy’s Glow and Sculpt Face Serum Primer, and Rhode’s Peptide Glazing Fluid.
• Use color corrector strategically: Color correcting tints do the legwork for you, neutralizing discoloration so you’ll need less concealer later on. The exact pigment you choose can vary (use green to counteract redness; purple for a sallow appearance; or red-orange to add warmth and offset hyperpigmentation in deeper skin tones), but each balances the complexion in a snap. “The point is to be minimal and purposeful,” adds Ffrench. “I’d go for a touch of colour correcting serum to target specific areas while providing a light glow.” Her own Color Correcting Skin Tints are simply no-brainers.
• Add colorful eyeliner: On days you’re craving a bit more oomph, “I like using colored liner for the waterline and following with a few coats of mascara,” offers Shahzada. “This could really help make the eyes pop instantly in no time.” Victoria Beckham Beauty’s pencils will always have my heart, as will Kosas’s Soulgazer liners.
• Sport a quick smoky eye: “Another hack I love is creating a smoky eye using a kohl pencil,” adds Shahzada. “The application does not have to be precise. Apply as you would a liner and simply use your finger to smudge it out.” Valentino’s Colorgraph Pencil diffuses like a dream, and Charlotte Tilbury’s Rock ‘N’ Kohl in Smokey Bronze is a fabulous brown option.
• Blend with your fingers: Finally, consider your fingertips your best blending tools. “Warmth improves distribution and absorption,” Ffrench notes. And besides, she adds, “That is a time-saver in the morning.”