Picture this: it’s 7:35 a.m., you have class in 25 minutes, and you just woke up. Let’s face it, you have enough to worry at this point – brushing your teeth, washing your face, finishing up some homework (I am an admitted procrastinator), finding some clean clothes – so who has the time for make-up when you’re in that kind of time crunch, right? Wrong. The beauty of make-up is that it’s meant to accentuate your features, NOT to redesign your face. If used properly, then it shouldn’t take more than 5 minutes tops to apply in the morning. For those of you who are looking for a 5-minute process to look red-carpet ready, I can’t promise this article will help you; however, if you’re like most college girls rolling out of bed but still wanting to look fabulous – I’ve got ya covered.
The Power of Powder
A primary concern with the application of make-up is to take care of your skin. Those make-up counter girls have promised us all that their ridiculously expensive line of products will achieve glowing skin within two weeks (or some other sales pitch). So, I understand the temptation! But, ladies it’s time to stop the madness. No more 20-min-a-day skin care routines that do nothing but essentially clog your pores all day. Clear out all of that garbage and stick to one simple trick: powder. It’s all about the powder! I don’t care how bad you say your skin is, there is some type of powder foundation that will work for you – trust me! I’m speaking as a 15-year-old acne prone child. Powder takes 30 seconds to apply, leaves your pores free to heal, and gives your skin a natural look that most liquid foundations can’t.
Accentuate Two Features
Despite what many of you may argue, figuring out which make-up to use is not the most important aspect of this 5-minute routine. What is the most important is choosing two – and only two – features on your face that you’d like to highlight. Whether it be your amazing cheekbones, beautiful eyes, or full lips, simply pick your favorite attribute and make it a highlight. The reason I stress only picking two of your features to accentuate is because this is only a day-look. You want to leave some of that “wow factor” for when after the sun sets or on special occasions. That way, others can appreciate the difference between when you’re going out on the town vs. when you’re polished for class. Leave the detailed effort for when you really want to make an impression.
Happiness is Beautiful
Now the final step in finalizing this speedy process is to stop, take 30-45 seconds, smile at yourself in the mirror, and appreciate how beautiful you are inside and out. Don’t forget to recognize that no matter how much make-up you wear or how good you are at applying it, nothing beats a genuine smile on a happy person. In the immortal words of Audrey Hepburn, “…happy girls are the prettiest girls”. Briefly internalize these words and then hurry on up before you’re late to class!