For many of us, time is precious. We’re always zipping from one place to the next: rushing through the morning to catch the train or beat traffic, zooming through the 9-to-5, then squeezing in a social life amid all those life and work tasks. Every minute counts, and that definitely includes the time you spend getting ready each day.
A long, unhurried routine is so much fun when you’ve got an hour or two to perfect every step of your makeup—painting on layers of concealer and contour, fluffing on precise clouds of blush, lining and shaping your lips into a work of art. However, the everyday rush typically requires a little less precision and a little more go, go, go, but you still want to look your best and make the most of each brushstroke and blend. So, where can you save time in your daily makeup application, and where should you spend a few extra minutes to ensure everything looks like an IRL filter?
As with all things makeup-related, practice makes perfect, and the more you hone your skills, the faster and easier your day-to-day prep will be. But if you’re looking to optimize your routine to get the most impact in the least amount of time, here’s where pro makeup artists recommend spending and saving those precious seconds—and some easy tips to help you perfect your visage when the clock is ticking.
Where to Save Time in Your Makeup Routine
Smudge your eyeliner
While a precise cat eye can be time-consuming, celebrity makeup artist Christian Briceno says a more casual liner look doesn’t need to be perfect. (It often looks cooler that way!) “Instead of building a full wing, press a bit of liner or shadow right into the lash line and softly smudge it,” he says. “It defines without the time commitment of precision.”
Celebrity makeup artist Kasey Spickard also likes a smudgy look when on a tight schedule. “Blending out eye shadow takes time to perfect,” he says. “Skip the eye shadow and do a quick smudged liner and lots of mascara to define the eyes.”
Try a lip stain
When you’re pressed for time, skip the liner or liquid lipstick in favor of something easy, breezy, like a stain or just a hint of soft color. “Tap color in with your finger,” advises Briceno. “Let the edges stay slightly diffused. It looks modern and takes seconds.”
Celebrity makeup artist Vincent Oquendo agrees and recommends using a lip stain to save time. “A lip stain is an excellent time-saver because you can apply a wash of color on your lips and not have to worry about touching up for a long while,” he notes.
Swipe on highlighter
Highlighter can be one of the most impactful parts of a makeup routine, but that doesn’t mean it needs to take as much time as, say, sculpting your brows or layering bronzer and blush. Here, a little product makes a big difference. “You don’t need multiple layers” of a glow-getting product like highlighter, says Briceno. “A small touch on the high points of the face [cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, for example] is enough.”
Maximize your lash routine
A few strategically applied individual lashes can totally elevate your eye makeup and, with a little practice, become second nature. Oquendo recommends spending some time nailing your lash application technique so it can save you time in the future and give your daily routine a little extra zhuzh, even if you’re going mostly barefaced. “After overcoming the initial learning curve and becoming comfortable applying individual lashes, you can do this really fast and save yourself a ton of time,” Oquendo says. Plus, he notes, many lashes now come pre-glued, so you can skip that often-messy, painstaking step.
