Fast Beauty: 16 Smart Expert Tricks

Fast Makeup Tricks

First and Foremost, Look Alert
While bed head works for many people, there’s nothing fetching about a face that says “sleepy.” The fastest way to hide fatigue is to brighten the whites of your eyes by using a flesh-colored pencil to line the inside rims, says Los Angeles makeup artist Sarah Lucero. (One we like is Three Custom Color Specialists Light Clarifier, $16.50, threecustom.com.) “It cancels out red tones,” she says.

Spend Time on Your Skin
Don’t worry—it doesn’t have to be a major expenditure. But “clear, even skin is what makes the difference between looking disheveled and looking done,” says Fiona Stiles, a makeup artist in New York City and Los Angeles. So if you need extra coverage—as almost everyone does around the nose and under the eyes—skip eye makeup and concentrate on concealer and foundation. Note: Sweeping on a priming balm (which takes two seconds) before using a cover-up will keep it from caking noticeably in fine lines throughout the day, says Ricky Wilson, a makeup artist for Dior. Try Benefit Dr. Feelgood primer ($29, benefitcosmetics.com).

The Eyes Have It
They’re the focal point of your face, so if you have another moment after applying concealer and foundation, use it to play up your eyes. Spread a shimmery shadow onto your lids, advises Stiles: “It blends easily, doesn’t require brushes, and lasts.” Opt for a pale shade (Estée Lauder Pure Color Eye Shadow in Sugar Biscuit, $21, esteelauder.com) and create contrast with black mascara (Chanel Inimitable Intense Mascara in Noir, $30, chanel.com).

And, Now, a Word About Brows
You’ve probably heard it a million times, but when your eyebrows are groomed, you look polished. Put in time-saving terms, that means you can look pulled-together with less makeup. If you can’t get to a salon for a professional shaping once a season (which will shave minutes off your daily routine), try brushing a bit of shimmery taupe or deep brown eye shadow (whichever matches your brow color) over your arches, suggests New York City makeup artist Carmindy, author of The 5 Minute Face. The color will fill in sparse patches, and the shimmer will make your eyes sparkle.

Add a Dash of Flash
The final touch: lip and cheek color. “To speed things up, I use red or pink lipstick on the mouth and as a blush,” says Charlotte Willer, a global makeup artist for Maybelline New York.