Jenn’s Five-Minute Face: Summer Edition

As I’ve gotten older, I am stricter about how I look when I leave the house to be seen out in public. Unless I’m heading to the gym or a quick run to the grocery store, I am wearing some kind of outfit that’s been given some consideration with a face with some makeup. But it is hot in Texas, so I don’t like to wear foundation every day. Here is my summertime five-minute made-up face.

#1 – Concealer – I have dark circles under my eyes, so this is a must. Concealer not only evens out your complexion, but it brightens your eyes and makes you look more awake. To properly apply, I squirt some on the back of my hand, and then use my fingertip to mix it and then apply under my eyes. I also apply the concealer in that crevice on the side of the nose, where my skin gets dark. I currently use Cover FX Conceal FX Camouflage Concealer.  Choosing the right color in any concealer can be tricky, so try to get someone to help you, even if it’s just another friend providing moral support

#2 – Eyebrows – You’ll most likely hear this time and time again on Beautypendence, but EYEBROWS ARE VERY IMPORTANT. (Wendy has especially strong opinions on eyebrow shapes.) Eyebrows frame your face, and if mine are not properly groomed, I don’t feel like the rest of my face looks finished.

I use an eyebrow brush to comb them into place, and then I prefer to use powder to fill and lengthen them. With naturally black hair, I find that cosmetic companies make eyebrow powders too light, since they usually come in dark brown for brunettes and no darker. So, I use a soft black eyeshadow – same difference! If Urban Decay ever discontinues their matte eyeshadow in Perversion, I will cry.  I then use an angled liner brush to apply the powder.

#3 – Bronzer – Using a fluffy powder brush, I apply LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer in the shape of the number “3” along the sides of my face. Start at the forehead, curve down in a “C” shape below your cheekbone, and then curve down along the jawline. Don’t get too crazy with the bronzer, though, or you’ll be a shimmery mess.

#4 – Blush – As I discussed in an earlier post, I’ve been feeling Benefit CORALista for the summer. Using a fluffy blush brush, I smile and apply to the fullest parts of my cheeks.

#5 – Translucent powder – Even though I haven’t put on a lot of make-up, out of habit, I’ll seal everything up and matte-ify my look with a finishing powder. I use Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil with a very full, dense powder brush. I see that Mineral Veil now comes in a SPF 25 formula, which I’ll definitely try out next time.

#6 – Mascara – My lashes are woefully puny (so much hair on top of the head, but not above my eyeballs), so I apply a touch of mascara. I am in LOVE with DiorShow Iconic Mascara.  The brush is a plastic comb, which helps prevent clumping, plus it’s a curling formula, so I can give my Shu Uemura Eyelash Curler a rest. It’s not officially waterproof, but I have never had problems with this mascara smudging.

#7 – Lipgloss/Lip balm – Lips are last, and I tend to get lazy on this part. I’ll usually just apply whatever lip gloss is in my purse or some Smith’s Rosebud Salve over my SPF30 chapstick. My lips are fairly pigmented au natural, so I don’t require a lot of color.

And that’s it! In the photos left and right, you can see that I’ve made-up half of my face, and I think you can see the difference just a few steps in a few minutes make.

What steps do you take for your five-minute make-up face?

Images: ConcealFX Camouflage Concealer, Sephora Eyebrow Comb, Urban Decay Matte Eyeshadow, Urban Decay Angled Liner Brush, LORAC TANtalizer Baked Bronzer, Benefit CORALista, Bare Escentuals Mineral Veil Finishing Powder, DiorShow Iconic Mascara, Smith’s Rosebud Salve, author’s own