Five minutes doesn’t seem like much when you’re trying to look your best, but it’s actually a lot more time than you think. (Think about how long five minutes feels in a tough workout!) All it takes is a little strategy and some smart, thoughtful products to make a big impact in a short amount of time, especially when you’re rushing to get out the door. And if there’s anyone who knows how to put together a beautiful makeup look in five minutes or less, it’s the pros themselves—makeup artists!
Makeup artists often work under pressure: short timelines, quick change-ups or touch-ups, rushing from one event to another. They’re prepping clients and models, but they also have to prep themselves, so they know exactly how to curate a quick but effective routine.
Many pros recommend focusing on the skin when you’re short on time, as that’s the foundation—pun intended—of everything else. “My overall philosophy is if your base looks good and perfected, what you do on eyes and lips actually doesn’t matter that much,” says New York City-based makeup artist Kasey Spickard.
And when it comes to a five-minute face, practice makes perfect; the more you complete the same steps, the more seamless they feel. “Speed comes from repetition, not from rushing,” says Ash K Holm, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist. Holm recommends keeping your five-minute face products in one specific spot or grouped together so you don’t have to dig through a drawer or makeup bag for that one specific shade of blush or eyeliner.
Ahead, we tapped six professional makeup artists to share the three getting-ready steps they never skip, whether they’re prepping their own faces or working with a client.
Jonet Williamson
Jonet Williamson
Atlanta-based makeup artist Jonet Williamson’s easy everyday routine is to spot conceal any blemishes, fill in her brows, and hydrate her lips, but if she’s going to an event and only has five minutes to pull together something more impactful, she focuses on a few specific areas. “If you’re ever crunched for time, my advice would be to focus on nailing your complexion and eyebrows,” she advises. “These are the prime things that will make you feel pulled together and most like yourself.”
Foundation
If your base makeup looks good, it elevates everything else. “When you’re in a rush, focus on concealing any blemishes and brightening the undereye to look more awake,” Williamson says. To quickly perfect her skin for an important occasion, she likes to “sheer out a full-coverage foundation.” Incorporate some skin-care benefits by mixing your formula of choice with a little moisturizer, blend it out, and voilà!
