Ahhhh, the weekend. Time to relax and have a nice time with the family, right? Get a good night’s rest, let the kids frolic in the park while you sit on a blanket with a book under a big tree, enjoy a coffee with your girlfriend.
Right, except we live here in the real world, where weekends are a mad rush around the grocery store, attempting to keep the kids alive, beat back God-knows-what growing in your bathroom, and maybe, just maybe have a social outing that involves other adults.
So, on weekends that have a to-do list three pages long and an occasion where I want to look presentable wedged between errands and kid-wrangling (read: every weekend), I throw on a little makeup to help me look less like the wreck I really am.
This is a routine anyone (really, anyone) can do in almost no time. It cracks open as few makeup products as possible and results in a truly fresh, beautiful look that’s great for play dates, FaceTime calls with in-laws, and even the occasional brunch with a friend.
1. Even it out
Use a light liquid foundation (with SPF! cancer = bad), and put a little on the back of your hand. Then, dab a little onto a foundation brush, and pass with light strokes over your whole face to even out under-eye circles and reduce redness and veins. Don’t forget to close your eyes and pass over your eyelids. This, to me, makes the biggest difference in how tired I look.
2. Contour
After the foundation I use just a dab of bronzer under my cheekbones to make me look like I’m alive and have seen the sun in the last month. I use a highlighter stick atop my cheekbones to brighten my face up a little. It gives a more youthful, dewy look. You know, like I slept a little last night.
3. Set
Apply a little light powder to lock everything in. I use a brush to transfer some into the lid and then grind it into my brush and tap off the excess before applying to my face to avoid getting a cakey look
4. Stain
I love the Benetint lip and cheek stain by Benefit because I only have to open one container and it’s the perfect color for me (it comes in three shades so you can choose what works best for you). Also, it looks wonderfully natural and isn’t sticky in the slightest.
5. Swipe
Apply a little mascara to open the eyes. If you’re pale like I am, brown or brown-black mascara looks much more natural and unfussy. Black can look too stark or fake.
And there you have it: A lovely look that doesn’t try too hard, and that’s easy to apply so you can get on with your weekend.
Share your easy playdate makeup routine in the comments!
