A 5-Minute Makeup Routine

If you’re a working mom (and what mom isn’t?), going full-throttle with makeup may seem too time-consuming. Washington, D.C.-based stylist Mindy Peterson empathizes. “Their lives are overwhelming,” she says of her clients, most of whom are moms with kids and jobs. “The mom pressure and work pressure to keep up and multitask is more intense and stressful than ever.” But with the help of multi-purpose beauty products, you really can look fresh and polished in a matter of minutes. Here's how.

On clean skin, begin with a nourishing eye cream, such as the aptly named Fabulous Eye Cream by MyChelle Dermaceuticals ($28). If undereye puffiness is a problem, try Philosophy Eyes Wide Open ($30). Lightly mist your face with Rodial "Dragon’s Blood" Hyaluronic Tonic Spray ($35), whose name is scary but whose un-scary rose water and vitamin B3 lock in moisture and refine the appearance of pores. Immediately apply serum like Kate Somerville’s Quench Oil Free Hydrating Face Serum ($65), whose anti-aging peptides defend skin and give an ungreasy luminosity. Moisturize with a light, protective tinted moisturizer and primer such as Hydroxatone Anti-Aging BB Cream ($50).

Apply concealer wherever you need it, especially under the eyes and on the eyelids. “It brightens up your whole face,” Peterson says. Laura Mercier’s Undercover Pot ($34) is portable and comes with three components: oil-free camouflage for blemishes, scars and broken capillaries; emollient concealer for undereyes; and translucent loose setting powder to set both, so they’ll last all day.

Comb through your eyebrows with clear or tinted Anastasia Brow Gel ($21 each) to fill in the brows and frame the face.

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For eyes, “Simply smudge shadow along the lash line with an angled brush,” Peterson says. Sigma Beauty’s Eye Shadow Palette in Bare ($35) is perfect: eight fool-proof and neutral matte, satin and shimmer shades, plus a dual-ended eyeliner and blending brush, and a mirror. Or use a blendable crayon to line and smudge, such as MAC’s Shade & Smoke Shadow/Liner ($22).

Curl your lashes. “I never skip this step,” Peterson says, “no matter how tired or rushed I am.”

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Coat lashes with mascara. For summer, I love Dior’s Diorshow Mascara in Azure Blue ($25), which looks neon bright in the tube but subtle and pretty on lashes. It makes the whites of your eyes really white, too.

Blend a cream blush on the apples of the cheeks. The best is Tarte’s natural cheek stain in tipsy ($30). This swivel-up cream stick is flattering on everybody and gives a rosy-peachy, flushed look. “It’s a cinch to apply and blend,” Peterson says, “and can also be used on the brow bone as a highlighter and on the lips.”

To complete the look, apply a neutral, universally flattering lipstick, such as Simply Vera Cosmetics Smoothing Lipcolor in 701 ($19), a bronzed, muted pinky-coral that looks like summer lips; a hybrid lip liner and lipstick in one, Clinique’s Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm in Curvy Candy ($16); or a colored gloss like Elle Cosmetics Lip Gloss ($16). You can put any of these on with your eyes closed.

For when you have 60 extra seconds, continue to the next slide:

10 Seconds: Brighten sleepy eyes by lining eyelids’ upper and lower inside rims with Benefit’s Eye Bright ($20), a pearly pink wake-up crayon that does wonders.

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To quickly get a bit of soft shimmer over the cheekbone, use Nars The Mutiple in Orgasm ($39), a shimmery peachy-pink cream-to-powder stick highlighter. Try it under your eyebrows and on your lips, too.

Brush all over with Make Up For Ever’s Super Matte Loose Powder ($26). It shuts down shine and evens out the complexion for a radiant day-long look.

With a fat, fluffy brush, lightly sweep Bobbi Brown’s Bronze Shimmer Brick Compact ($40) where the sun would naturally fall: forehead, nose, cheeks and chin. The Brick’s five complementary shades give a soft, understated glow.

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