Tick tock. Tick tock. As a busy mama, I'm always on the clock.
You may have heard that newborns sleep a lot, and while that may be true, they tend to do it in short chunks while you're holding them, so actually getting things done can feel pretty impossible.
My newborn doesn't tend to settle for a longer nap until mid-morning, and I need to be up and about long before then. My mornings disappear in a blur of feeding the baby, trying to get my toddler dressed, doing the nursery run and attempting to squeeze in a few household chores along the way.
The time for a lengthy makeup routine is long gone - I'm winning at life if I get ten minutes, and that includes getting dressed!
I've had to learn to be very speedy and condense my routine into just a few quick steps, with hardworking, multitasking products that deliver when you’re up against it.
Of course, lots of people might say: don't bother. Go bare faced.
And while I have no problem with the occasional makeup free day, putting on a basic face is an important part of feeling myself. If I slap on some concealer, get dressed properly and leave the house, I feel so much better mentally than slobbing around in my pyjamas.
So, I always like to make the effort, even if me and the baby are the only ones who see. It is possible to achieve a natural glam look in under ten minutes- if you have the right tools and products for the job.
Here are my top tips for rushed morning glam on the go…
Have a ‘daily face’ bag
Being a self-confessed makeup junkie, as you can imagine my drawers are overflowing with palettes, powders and everything in between.
But one thing I definitely don't have time for is sifting through everything, deciding which shades would be perfect to blend together today. For a quick and dirty makeup job, you need just the bare essentials- all together, in one place.
I have all of my quick, go-to products together in a makeup bag that I can quickly pull out. That way there is no hunting around for things - all my favourites for a speedy glam-up are there together.
Invest in a primer
Primer is one step you can't afford to skip, even when every second counts. Not only does it ensure that you get a smooth, flawless finish without hours of blending and buffing, but it also helps to keep makeup in place all day when there’s no time for touch ups.
The primer you use will depend on what your skin needs. For me, I like something that has a smoothing, line blurring effect to get rid of my fine lines.
My top picks are Pixi Poreless & Flawless Face Primer or Hylamide HA Blur Prismatic Skin Finisher - both work hard to let you fake being well rested.
Find a hardworking base
I demand a hell of a lot from my foundations, and there’s one I've found that ticks every single box- IT Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Illuminate. This stuff is seriously amazing.
It offers high coverage without being thick and mask-like, and the Illuminate version adds a wonderful dewy glow as well without making you look like a sparkly reject from Twilight.
The goodness doesn't stop there- it also contains an anti-aging goodies. Hydrolyzed collagen, peptides, niacin, vitamins, antioxidants to protect from pollutants and super line-plumping hyaluronic acid. It's a treatment and a foundation in one. It also colour-corrects, hides fine lines and the cherry on top- it had SPF 50+.
As far as I'm concerned it’s the holy grail, and the handy pump tube makes for super speedy application top- simply pop some on your foundation brush and swipe on.
If there’s one product which really helps me to leave the house faster in the morning, it's this!
Add some fake it til you make it products
The one guarantee about parenthood is that sleep is in very short supply! My eye bags are absolutely horrendous right now, so concealer is an absolute must.
I have a couple of favourites - YSL Touche Eclat is always a winner, and Mac Pro Longwear is my ride-or-die.
I set my concealer and foundation with a powder, again to make sure it all lasts. But because I want that flattering, dewy finish to help me cheat eight hours sleep, I go for sheer coverage that won't look cakey.
My favourites are powders which promise the effect of a real-life Instagram filter - Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder is gorgeous, and my other favourites are the Beauty Pie One Powder Wonder or BareMinerals Mineral Veil - all softly diffuse light to cheat well-rested skin!
Grab an all in one palette
So that little lit has probably taken around 3 or 4 minutes, and the clock is ticking. It's time to add some definition and colour - and the ultimate holy grail helper for rushed mornings is a does it all palette.
Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look In A Palette is ideal, because the quality of her powder products are beautiful and the light, buildable formulas make it perfect for a natural, polished look.
This palette contains a subtle bronzer, stunning satin taupe shades to define your eyes and a couple of blushes to lift your skin and make it look alive, plus a delicate highlighter. It sculpts and defines in seconds and hardly needs blending as it's so finely milled.
The ultimate shortcut, plus it feels so luxurious I can almost forget there’s a toddler mashing cereal into the carpet behind me…
Frame your eyes
When you’re in a rush, you need to pick key things to focus on. But one thing I wouldn't consider skipping is my brows.
Defined, filled in brows make you look instantly groomed. I use either the Anastasia Brow Definer or the IT Cosmetics Brow Power pencil. Both are super easy to use, with a spoolie at one end to brush through your arches, and an angled pencil at the other that it's easy to get a precise line in a hurry with - plus creamy formulas that simultaneously tint and fill in and hold hairs in place.
Sometimes, I add a dash of a soft, blendable eye pencil, and I love to tightline as well - Charlotte Tilbury Rock N Kohl in Barbarella Brown is less harsh than black on tired peepers and very easy to swipe on.
I give mascara a miss as I recently started doing my own eyelash extensions, which is such a time-saver on busy mornings.
Find a quick lip solution
My time is usually running out now and one of the kids will be beginning to call for me. There’s just time to add a little something on my lips, and I usually reach for Pixi Shea Butter Lip Balm.
It's deeply moisturising and comforting with a hit of colour. My favourite is the nude toned ‘Honey Nectar’ or sometimes I reach for ‘Ripe Raspberry’ if I want something a little brighter.
...and stop the clock! You’re done. A super quick, ten minutes or less simple face to do the nursery run in. One happy mama!
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