Except for a few, in today’s world, most of us don’t have the time to sit for hours on makeup. We want to look fresh and polished, but very often we can barely manage a couple of minutes. Be it to go to work, brunch with a friend, or even that virtual meeting, having a few fast and effortless makeup looks in the kitty saves one much precious time sans disheveled looks.
The trick for these simple makeup looks would be to look more enhanced in terms of your features with the least effort. In this tutorial, we try to present 11 simple makeup looks that could be made in less than 10 minutes. These looks would work wonders for both beginners and busy people who want to look effortlessly chic without having to spend much time in front of the mirror.
Table of Contents
11 Best Simple Makeup Looks
Mastering the following 11 simple makeup looks will save one time and give one the capability to enhance features with minimal effort. Whether you go for a bold lip, a fresh glow, or a quick smoke, it is going to be under ten minutes.
The trick is just being sure one focuses on just a few essentials to get the job done and keep it short and sweet without sacrificing style. The following speedy, easy simple makeup looks will get you ready to take on the day no matter how short on time you may be.
1. Fresh-Faced Glow
Time required: 5-7 minutes
It’s all about that “fresh-faced glow,” which has something to do with a natural, healthy look that’s appealing and simple for any day. It’s all about hydrated, luminous skin with just a hint of color popping on the cheeks and defined lashes framing your eyes to make your makeup look awake and fresh.
Detailed Steps:
1. Prime Your Skin: Start with a lightweight moisturizer that hydrates the skin. If one has dry skin, then a thick, cream-based moisturizer should be used. Conversely, if a person has oily skin, an oil-free formula should be applied. You may want to apply a primer so it makes the skin feel even in texture and last the entire day.
2. BB Cream or Tinted Moisturizer: Ditch the heavy foundation and instead go for BB cream or tinted moisturizer. Both of these give light coverage and at the same time, most of the time, extra skincare advantages like SPF and hydration. Apply this with your fingers to the middle of your face for simple makeup looks and blend it outwards.
3. Conceal Strategically: Go for a light, thin layer underneath the eyes, at either side of the nose where redness is most common, and on spots or uneven tone. Pat concealer gently with your ring finger or beauty sponge, ensuring no lines can be seen.
4. Cream Blush: Cream blush is essential for this makeup look because it will melt into the skin to provide an extremely natural flush of color. Pick up one shade that coordinates with your skin tone-peach if you’ve got warm undertones, pink if you’ve got cool undertones. Smile and apply the blush onto the apples of your cheeks, blending upwards toward your temples.
5. Highlighter: Pat a liquid or cream highlighter on the high points of your face cheekbones, bridge of your nose, brow bone, and cupid’s bow for that lit-from-within glow. What you get is dewy skin sans the greasiness.
6. Mascara: Just curl those lashes, and your eyes open up instantly; apply one or two coats at the root for longer and fuller lashes.
7. Lip Balm/ Gloss: Finish the makeup look by completing it with a tinted lip balm or a sheer gloss. One may choose a balm with a slight tint just to enhance their natural lip color or use a gloss to give that juicy, hydrated look.
Tips:
• Set the concealer with translucent powder slightly for more durability. Avoid powdering your whole face to create simple makeup looks. This will cause the skin to lose its glow.
• Dewy or radiant finish products can be chosen to give an extra boost to natural luminosity.
2. Soft Smokey Eye
Time: 8-10 minutes
The soft smokey eye can turn out to be quick, and chic for any occasion that you come across to create simple makeup looks. Employing more neutral tones and paying more attention to the blending of those tones gives a sultry look without being too dramatic for daytime or night.
Detailed Steps:
1. Prep with Eyeshadow Primer: Cover your eyelids with a primer, so that it does not crease and will be longer in staying on your eyes. If you do not have a separate primer, concealer will just do fine to work as a base.
2. Neutral Base Color: Using a big and fluffy blending brush, apply a light taupe or neutral beige all over the eyelid. This would create an even canvas-evening out the skin tone on the lids.
3. Deepen the Crease: Using a medium-toned brown, taupe, or soft bronze, place the shade in the crease of your eye. Immediately take an action of windshield wiper and blend it right into your socket. This adds such great depth and dimension to the look.
4. Smudge Eyeliner: Ditch the sharp, sharp eyeliner for a soft kohl pencil along the upper lash line, delicately smudging it with the help of a small brush or even your finger. That gives a soft, smoky effect without having to use a sharp, precision winged liner.
5. Lower Lash Line: Next, some kohl pencil or eyeshadow should be used along the lower lash line, softening it a bit. It will add to the effect of the smokey eyes and not be too exaggerated.
6. Mascara: Use two liberal coatings of mascara to define the laces, giving them length, too. Also, pay attention to volumizing formulas for adding drama to your eyes.
7. Neutral Lip: Since the eyes are the focal point, use nude or soft pink on the lips. A satin or matte finish is ideal to balance out simple makeup looks.
Extra Tips:
• Quick Smokey eye? Use one color over the lid and then blend out at the crease.
• Light brown or bronze shadow continues to make this soft and daytime-friendly.
3. Bold Lip and Bare Skin
Time needed: 5 minutes
In a rush but want to create that wow factor? It’s a bold lip. While all the limelight is taken by your lips, the rest of your makeup can be as minimal as you want, yet you will look polished and chic.
Step-by-Step Explanation:
1. Moisturize and Prime: Even out the skin for a smooth and supple base. Avoid heavy foundation tinted moisturizer or concealer only, just a little around the eyes, nose, and blemishes.
2. Bold Lip Color: The lip is going to be the focus of the simple makeup looks. Choose a bright shade of lipstick that would just look great on your skin tone-classics are usually red, plum, or coral. Outline first with a lip liner and then fill it in with the chosen lipstick. For detailed work, one may use a lip brush.
3. Mascara: Just apply some mascara to define the eyes and balance the bold lips. Of course, you do not need to do heavy eye makeup since the focal point of this makeup is the lips.
4. Cheek Tint: Tap a wee bit of blush onto your cheeks but keep soft if you feel your face needs a little color in order not to compete with your lip color.
Tips:
• If you want a more finished, pulled-together simple makeup look, go for a matte finish to accompany your bold lip. But if you wish for a younger, even more playful look, go for gloss.
• If it is ultra-bold, prepare those lips. Scrub them first, then put on some lip balm and apply the lipstick for not-so-dry-and-flaky lips.
4. Bronzed Goddess
Time: 8-10 minutes
The “bronzed goddess” simple makeup looks is about warm, glowing skin and bronzed tones to give one that sun-kissed look no matter the season. It is especially great for summer but can be worn at any time of the year.
Step-by-Step Details:
1. Bronzer Base: Instead of wearing heavy foundation, wear bronzer all over to warm up the base of your face. Using a big, fluffy brush, gently dust the bronzer on high points across the face, including the forehead, cheekbones, and jawline. A cream bronzer gives a more natural dewy finish.
2. Paint the eyelid: Paint the whole eyelid with a warm eyeshadow in a bronzy color. An already-applied bronzer on your face color will be perfect for this step. Then, blend it into the crease and all over your lash line to create cohesion through an all-over sun-kissed effect.
3. Highlight: She then amazingly highlights the cheekbones, down the bridge of the nose, and onto the brow bones with either a cream or powder highlighter to notch up the heat of the bronzer and make the skin look naturally lit from within.
4. Mascara: Outline those lashes in lengthening mascara. One or two coats will frame the eyes and won’t detract from the overall bronzed effect.
5. Glassy Lips: Seal it with a nude or peach gloss for a soft natural finish. A gloss will complement dewy skin and add to the overall glowing vibe.
Tips:
• Give an extra bronzed glow with your moisturizer or tinted foundation by mixing in some liquid bronzer.
• Go monotone bronzed with warm peachy tones on the cheeks and the lips to create simple makeup looks.
5. Classic Winged Liner
Time required: 7-9 minutes
The winged liner is a classic and can work its magic from day to night. Admittedly, it does take some practice to perfect, but it’s pretty quick and does instantly add an air of polish.
Step-by-Step Detailed Instructions: 1. Primer for the Lid: First, prime your eyelids with eyeshadow primer or concealer to make the application of eyeliner much smoother and long-lasting.
2. Neutral Eyeshadow Base: Incorporate the action of blending a light, neutral shade right over your lid to add that extra finish to it. It will balance the skin tone on the eyelids and create a nice, clean base for your liner.
3. Wing the Liner: Starting from the inner corner of the eye with liquid or gel eyeliner, draw a thin line as close to your lash line as possible. Continue this line into a flick or a wing at the outer corner. To make both wings even for beginners, place a small piece of tape as a guide.
4. Perfect the Wing: If your wing is not perfect, then don’t freak out. You can clean up using a cotton swab dipped into a makeup remover and sharpen the edges of the wing.
5. Mascara: A generous coat of mascara on the upper and lower lashes adds to the enhancement. Winged liner just looks amazing with those extra-long, fluttery lashes.
6. It is paired with nude lips: Apply simple lips with a nude or light pink shade on the lips. As your eyes are a focal point, a subtle lip color will balance out your simple makeup looks.
Tips:
• Skip liquid liner if too hard for you; using an angled brush and also a gel liner will give you so much better control.
• Practice makes perfect! Start off using small wings, then work your way up to a more dramatic shape when you get comfortable with the technique.
6. Soft Pink Flush
Time required: 6-8 minutes
The soft pink flush is ideal for a romantic and youthful look featuring freshness. This types of simple makeup looks enhances the natural flush with soft pink hues on the cheeks, lips, and even eyes.
Step-by-Detailed Steps:
1. Light Base: A light layer of tinted moisturizer or BB cream is to be worn. Remember, this is all about the skin’s natural luminosity, so full-coverage foundations are out unless necessary.
2. Pink Blush: Choose a pale pink or rose-colored blush in a shade that suits your skin. Then, smile and swipe the color onto the apples of the cheeks, feathering it out toward the temples to give a healthy flush. At this spot, cream blushes are put to the best use, since they really give that natural, skin-like texture and make it look like one is not wearing too much makeup at all.
3. Soft Pink Eyeshadow: A pale pink or rosy color all over the eyelids gives a soft color. You can use the same blush that you will be using on the cheeks in order to co-ordinate the makeup.
4. Mascara: A light coating of mascara on top and bottom lashes defines the eyes the while keeping it soft and feminine.
5. Pink Lips: Complete the simple makeup looks with soft pink lipstick or some tinted lip balm. Apply it in such a way that it either gives a glossy or satin finish to keep the look fresh and young.
Tips:
• Give the cheekbones a bit of depth by lightly contouring them with a soft bronzer but sparingly so as not to take away the freshness of the look.
• For simple makeup looks, cream products work lovely, as they will seamlessly blend into the skin for a dewy finish.
7. Basic Contour and Highlight
Time: 7-9 minutes
Contouring and highlighting doesn’t have to be intimidating or take much time; within minutes, you will define your features with only a few products and give your face more dimensions.
Step-by-step:
1. Foundation: Begin with your foundation or tinted moisturizer for an even base. This should be appropriately blended using a beauty sponge or foundation brush.
2. Contour: Take under-eye cream/ powder contour products and apply in the hollows of the cheeks, alongside your jawline, and down the sides of your nose. If applying powder, take a large, fluffy contour brush and place the powder. If using cream, blend in with a beauty sponge or with fingers to create a more natural finish.
3. Highlight: Apply a liquid or powder highlighter to the high points of your face cheekbones, brow bone, down the bridge of your nose, and your cupid’s bow. This will catch the light and give your skin a radiant glow.
4. Blend: Make sure your contour and highlight are well-blended to create a seamless, natural finish. The secret of fast contouring lies in blending, so really take those few more seconds to buffer the edges well so that there won’t be any sharp lines.
5. Mascara and Lips: Complete simple makeup looks with a coat of mascara, to widen up the eyes and a matte or satin lipstick of nude or peach color, to balance the sculpted look of your face.
Tips:
• If you are a contouring novice, then use a shade just one or two shades deeper than your skin for a subtle contour that doesn’t appear too dramatic.
• Cream contouring products tend to blend in way easier and not appear as severe, compared to powders.
8. Glossy Lids and Lips
Time: 6-8 minutes
Glittering lids and lips inject a fresh, dewy look into the very modern and editorial-type style. You can achieve this high-shine makeup look in record time with just a few products, making it perfect for all the experimentalists out there.
Lively Steps:
1. Light Base: Apply an even layer of foundation or tinted moisturizer for an even skin tone. Make sure the skin looks fresh and dewy; hence, go for products that have a radiant finish.
2. Glassy Lids: Eyelids can be a straight-up dedicated eye gloss or a clear lip gloss that glides on your lids for a wet sheen. Go ahead, and apply a small amount across your lids to achieve that wet, shiny simple makeup looks. Do not overdo it, as this product may crease easily. Go light-handed and minimalistic if you want to look fresh and editorial.
3. Mascara: Apply a coat of mascara through your lashes just to define the eyes. Leave the rest of your eye makeup very simple, letting your glossy lids be the focus.
4. Glossy Lips: Complete the makeup look with a high-shine lip gloss. You could just go in for a clear one or take one tinted for color. The glossy lips balance the lid and give you an all-around cohesive dewy look.
Tips:
• To make it last longer, place an eye primer underneath the gloss to minimize creasing.
• Should the gloss be a lot more discreet, it is wise to balance it with a matte or satin shadow underneath.
9. Monochrome Magic
Time needed: 7-9 minutes
Monochromatic makeup essentially means using one color scheme on your eyes, cheeks, and lips to create a put-together, smooth makeup look. It is an easy and chic way to do your makeup and can be done in a very short amount of time using only a few products.
Step-by-Step Directions:
1. Select Your Color: Choose a color family that will look great on your skin tone and that you’ll love wearing. Colors that look awesome for creating a monochromatic makeup look are mauve, peach, pink, or bronze.
2. Apply to Eyes: Use your chosen color as eyeshadow. Sweep it across your eyelids and then blend into the crease for a soft, diffused look.
3. Cheek Application: Use the same color on your cheeks. Using powder blush, sweep onto the apples of the cheeks and then blend it outwards; using cream products, tap it into your cheek with your fingers for a seamless finish.
4. Blush on the Lips: Finish with the same shade on the lips. You can use a matching lipstick, lip gloss, or even a bit of that cream blush.
Tips:
•Layering in a deeper shade of your color choice in the crease of your eye or even on the outer corners of the lips will add some depth to the monochromatic feel.
• Monochromatic is as loud or soft as you make it with shades of one tone.
10. Minimalist Brows and Lashes
Time needed: 5-6 minutes
Pressed for time, or want the bare minimum makeup? A little grooming of your brows and adding definition to those lashes will turn your simple makeup looks around by a mile.
Full Instructions
1. Brows: Perfect your brows by brushing them into shape with a spoolie brush. If you have sparse areas in your brow, you may want to fill in with a brow pencil or brow powder. Lightly define the brows and set them in place for a natural, polished makeup look using a brow gel.
2. Mascara: Apply one to two coats of mascara to your lashes for volume and length. Keep your lashes defined without the drama.
3. Concealer: Dot a little concealer underneath your eyes and on any blemishes to give your skin a fresh and awake feeling.
4. Lip Balm: Finish it off with a moisturizing lip balm or gloss to hydrate your lips while giving them that subtle shine.
Tips:
• Tightline: If you want to give your simple makeup looks just a bit more definition, try only putting eyeliner on the upper waterline. It gives the impression of fuller lashes without looking like you’re wearing heavy liner.
• Brow gels with a tint will save even more time; they create color and hold in one step.
11. Dewy Skin and Bright Eyes
Time needed: 6-8 minutes
Dewy skin with bright eyes gives a fresh, youthful makeup look that would be perfect for many occasions. This is great because it gives your face the appearance of being hydrated while your eyes are made to look more awake.
Step-by-Step Instructions:
1. Base Dewy: Hydrate the skin, instantly glowing up the base with a hydrating primer or dewy foundation. If you want less coverage, then go for a radiant-finish tinted moisturizer or BB cream.
2. Concealer: Apply some light-reflecting concealer under the eye to lighten it out. Place it in triangle form underneath the eyes and, with your beauty sponge, blend in an outward and away direction for that wide-awake makeup look.
3. Highlighting: Use liquid or cream highlighters to highlight your cheekbones, the bridge of your nose, the brow bone, and the inner eye corners. It will enhance your dewy look and eventually make you have a natural glowing skin tone.
4. Mascara: Open your eyes with mascara on the top and bottom lashes. Otherwise, you line your lower waterline with nude or white eyeliner to create an illusion of bigger and brighter eyes.
5. Glossy Lips: Finally, seal the whole makeup look with a clear or sheer pink lip gloss for a fresh and shiny lip.
Tips:
• You can pull this look off even with oily skin; all you’d have to do is use a matte foundation and apply the highlighter only at the points for a controlled glow.
• You can extend it even further by setting your concealer at the under-eye area with a light, translucent powder, so it would not wrinkle.
The more you practice, the easier it will get to go from one makeup look to another simple makeup looks. Whatever your day calls for business, hanging out with friends, or some other event you can always adjust. You most definitely don’t need an entire team of glam to look and feel your best in just a few minutes.
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