Five minutes to fabulous
By Sophie Isbister, Life & Style Editor
Does your face look hideous from staying up into the wee hours, bettering yourself intellectually? Do you look sallow and wrinkly from devoting all your free time to your studies? Do people flee from you in the halls, yelling, “Crone! Crone!”?
If you answered yes to any of these scenarios, you could probably benefit from a five-minute minimal-makeup, face-freshening makeover!
That’s a lot of words to simply describe the quick application of a few strategic products that will take your look from blah to bangin’ in less time than it takes to blow-dry your hair. And let’s face it, almost anyone can spare five minutes in the name of beauty.
Because having fresh and clear skin is the key to looking well-rested, the first thing you’ll need for your five-minute look is a great skincare regimen. Everyone’s skin is different, so I’m not going to get into specifics here. Whatever you choose, I recommend going to the beauty counter for advice tailored to your skin. The ladies at the store are there for your use, so use them!
The ultimate secret to a natural-looking foundation is mineral makeup. It’s a little bit pricier at the store (I got a starter kit of Pür Minerals from Shoppers for $39—it included a bronzer, blush, foundation, and brush—but I liked the products so much that when I ran out of the tester sizes I upgraded to full sizes, which run about $25 per product), but it’s so worth it. Mineral makeup outperforms regular makeup. It looks natural while still providing ample coverage, especially when used with a primer (I splurged on Smashbox’s primer at around $50), but it’s fine without. It’s also free of pore-clogging and breakout-inducing ingredients like oils, waxes, and dyes—great for sensitive skin.
After I wash my face, moisturize, and apply primer, I follow up with my mineral foundation. In total, this takes a minute. For eyes, I just do mascara; it’s a very easy and quick way to look polished while still natural. Adding shimmer and dimension to your face will take you further than just colour, which is why if you’re pressed for time in the morning, you can forgo heavy eyes in favour of some face-magic in the form of well-applied blush and highlighter.
Any blush will do when it comes to perking up your face, but highlighter is key. Sephora has a number of great luminizing products available which, when applied to your cheekbones, brow bones, and inner eye (near your tear duct), will make your beautiful features leap out at whomever crosses your path. I like Benefit’s Watt’s Up! ($36), which comes in stick form, or their High Beam ($32), which is a liquid product. They will both give you a luscious, dewy appearance.
I say this makeover takes five minutes because I am assuming you’ll work at a glacial pace to begin with. However, while I may have started out spending five minutes on my slacker look, I now barely have time to listen to my power song in its entirety before my makeup is applied and I’m out the door to face another day.
