Ready in 5: My Drugstore Skincare & Foundation Routine
Hey hey, pretty girls! If you’re anything like me, you find it hard to look presentable for all of those 8AM classes. Sometimes I get up with only a few minutes to spare and find that my foundation routine is so time consuming that I usually end up just skipping it… and once I get to class, I always wish I hadn’t.
Anyway, to combat this problem, I had to get strategic. I’ve recently devised an easy skincare and foundation routine that’s super fast to do, while also being incredibly good at combatting the dark under eye circles and blotchy skin that I see every morning due to countless hours of homework (and, okay, watching shows on Netflix…)
So with that said, today I’m going to be sharing with you my new quick and easy skincare and foundation routine! With these products and about 3 minutes of your time, you’ll be able to look fresh and awake for those early morning classes.
Step 1: Wash your face!
Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash – $6.99
This first step should be obvious – you should always wash your face in the AM! I like using Neutrogena’s Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Scrub because it exfoliates and cleanses your skin while waking you up with the scent of fresh grapefruit!
Step 2: Moisturize your face.
Garnier Skin Renew Daily Moisture Lotion – $10.99
I’m not that picky when it comes to moisturizer because I have normal-dry skin and most products seem to work okay for me. That said, I really like Garnier’s Skin Renew Daily Moisture Lotion because I find that it really does moisturize my face as well as protect it from the sun – it boasts an SPF of 28! Being pale and attending school in SoCal requires that I wear sunblock 24/7, so this is a godsend.
Step 3: Apply your foundation.
Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Ivory – $9.99
I was so excited to find this foundation at the drugstore because I have heard so much about it even though it has only been out for a few weeks!
This is the Revlon Nearly Naked foundation in the shade Ivory. This product is light, airy, smooth, moisturizing, and completely natural-looking once applied. I’ve found it’s incredible for reducing the redness in my cheeks and evening out my skintone. Also, a little bit goes a long way – this stuff is unbelievably pigmented. I can honestly say that this might be the best drugstore foundation I’ve ever used. (It just might beat the CoverGirl Nature Luxe foundation that I previously reviewed!)
Step 4: Apply your concealer.
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind in Fair – $9.99
I have dark circles, so after I apply my foundation, I need to conceal them. Lately, I’ve been applying Maybelline’s Instant Age Rewind concealer in the shade Fair.
In order to use the product, you have to twist the top of the bottle and the product will come out of the sponge on top. I quickly run the product under my eyes as well as on my eyelids and then blend it out with my ring finger. Voila! My dark circles are covered in less than a minute.
Step 5: Apply your powder.
Revlon Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in Fair – $9.99
Now, if you have a long day ahead of you, it’s extremely extremely important to set your foundation – that way it won’t slide off of your face, crease, or look cakey after a few hours.
To set my foundation, I use Revlon’s Nearly Naked Pressed Powder in the shade Fair. This product is great for setting foundation because it doesn’t rub off or look too thick! In addition, it adds an extra hint of pigment for a totally flawless finish.
What do you think?
That’s all there is to it! A few quick steps and you’re good to go! It might seem time-consuming, but I can easily do this routine in less than 3 minutes – it’s the perfect thing for those awful early mornings.
Now I want to hear from you! What’s your go-to skincare and/or foundation routine? How do you fix dark circles in a hurry? Tell us your thoughts by leaving a comment.
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Posted on on January 29, 2013 / Filed Under: Beauty & Hair / Tags: drugstore, Foundation, garnier, Maybelline, quick face makeup, quick makeup, Revlon, routine
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Miah
This is pretty neat! My routine is:
1) Moisturize with Aveeno Daily Moisturizing lotion
2) Apply Maybelline BB cream (Deep)
3) Apply mascara (Falsies) and lipstick (Clinique, usually Apple Brandy) and out the door
The face washing usually occurs in the shower, but I use Aveeno Clear Complexion Cream Cleanser. The makeup routine usually takes about five minutes, but goes up to 10 if I decide to do eyeliner. I never really thought about concealer so I wouldn’t even know where to begin with that, haha.
Isobel
I use No.17 BB cream as my moisturiser, SPF and foundation, although some mornings I add a bit of foundation if I have time, with translucent powder on top to set it. I use a mix of BB cream and highlighter as an under-eye concealer, seems to work!
Lynn
Nice article! I will have to try that foundation, I’ve heard good things about it.
Although my only criticism would be, it sounds like you are pretty fair (like I am). I am about 95% sure you need to use a different concealer for your under eye area. You don’t want a concealer that is the same or lighter than your foundation. If you have dark under eyes, the discoloration needs to be neutralized by a more salmon-colored concealer. It sounds strange, I know, but I worked as a MAC makeup artist and once I started using the salmon it made a big difference – especially in photos! Lighter concealer will pick up on the light and actually makes the area stand out – which is the opposite from what we are trying to do: conceal. It is the same concept as using a green tint to conceal red areas, like blemishes because it neutralizes. You can then use a bit of your regular foundation on top to blend everything in. Older women who have wrinkles in these areas, but not dark undereyes, should use a highlighter just below the area because the cheekbone area will not have as many wrinkles and it gives almost a ‘blurring’ effect to make wrinkles less noticeable.
Phidias
I have always wondered this…
I do a lot of painting, and one thing that you learn in art classes is that when you combine colours that are complementary on the colour wheel, it actually dulls them down and brings them closer to a grey colour. If you used that same theory for concealer on the eyes, would that not make the undereye area appear more grey, rather than “neutralize” it?
I don’t mean to criticize, I have just always wondered about this whole makeup theory thing (I hear about it a lot, but I don’t have a MAC or a Sephora close enough to my house to ask a makeup artist about it).
Maybe CF can do a post explaining this concept… and showing pictures of the difference.
Sarah
I’ve recently heard what Lynn said, about the salmon colour. I was always scared of the salmon because I’m quite fair, but I’ll give it a try!
By the way, I really like this post! I’m going to try that Neutrogena wash…sounds like it was made for me! Combats acne AND smells like grapefruit? What more do you need? Haha, thanks :)
Also…what drugstore moisturizer would you (or anyone!) recommend for dry to combination skin? Thanks again!
Maria
Washing my face in the shower. Moisturizing with Aloe night cream from The Body Shop. I use Lancome Colour Ideal foundation under my eyes and around the nose. Mineral powder for L’Oreal on top, the whole face. A touch of blush (I use MAC). Mascara.
Voila!
My makeup routine takes like 2 minutes :) I’m blessed with even and clear skin though, so I’ve got it easy :D
Emma - University of Southern California
Maria- That sounds like a great routine! I hardly use blush because my cheeks are really red, so you’re lucky you can play around with different blushes!
Emma - University of Southern California
Isobel- that sounds like a great routine!
Emma - University of Southern California
Lynn- Which brand/shade of concealer would you recommend for a pale complexion?
Emma - University of Southern California
Miah- I love Aveeno’s face washes, I use them all the time!
Emma - University of Southern California
Phidias- I’ve always wondered about that, too. As Lynn commented, she said that salmon colored concealers tend to correct blue under eye circles, so I definitely should check that out.
Emma - University of Southern California
Sarah- the face wash seriously wakes me up, like immediately. For combination skin I would definitely recommend trying Neutrogena’s oil-free daily moisturizing lotion. My younger sister swears by it and she has combination skin. It also has SPF in it so it will protect your face from the sun!
m
I need a fuller coverage because i have really uneven skin, acne, acne scarring plus bad undereye circles!
i wash my face with the generic brand of Purpose from CVS. it’s super gentle and takes off everything! i found it works better for clearing up my skin than acne products. then i use Olay moisturizer for oily/combo skin. for foundation, i reach for Revlon Colorstay Liquid foundation – good coverage, staying power, and doesn’t make me oily. Concealer – I use glamoflauge by Hard Candy. This is the most heavy duty stuff on the market! or photoready coverstick concealer. it doesnt get cakey. and powder, I’m loving Milani’s Multitasker. It’s not cakey at all and gives a matte finish and extra coverage
Steph
I have olive stone skin so dark circle are just a fact of life with my skin tone (I was a toddler and had dark circles), but nothing has ever worked to conceal them: they look grey or the product clumps in fine lines and makes me look older (I’m only 21!!). I find adding mascara and highlight on the brow bone work better to distract instead of covering them up. I rarely use foundation of any sort. My morning routine consists of: washing my face in the shower (St-Ives scrub and any wash with Tea Tree Oil is what I prefer), and moisturize with Vaseline Aloe Fresh Moisturizing Body Lotion (yes I use body lotion on my face, but it’s the only one I’ve tried that doesn’t clog my pores or make my oily skin oilier).
Emma - University of Southern California
M- My sister uses the Hard Candy Glamoflauge concealer and she absolutely loves it!
Emma - University of Southern California
Steph- I definitely need to do a better job of highlighting my brows! Do you have a specific product that you recommend using to do that?
Erin
Sarah,
I have VERY dry skin that gets flaky and clogs my pores if I don’t keep it hydrated properly. It is also quite sensitive, so I have to choose my products carefully if I don’t want to break out. I like the c Booth brand of skin care, you can find them at Rite Aid. I’ve also been using a heavier Lumene brand moisturizer at night, from Walgreen’s. It makes my skin very soft in the morning without instigating blemishes.
I haven’t been able to find this in a while, but if you can get the Olay Quench in-shower moisturizer (not the body wash or lotion), it works great on your face too. It only stays on for a few minutes, and then you rinse, like your hair conditioner, so it doesn’t clog anything up.
Katie
the concealer you showed is wrong, its for dark spots on your face. the original one maybelline has is call instant age rewind dark circle treatment -which i use and it works wonders.
marian
putting foundation, concealer and powder on your face is a bad idea. That much product does not let your skin breathe, and it clogs pores. So besides causing acne for acne prone skin, it will cause you to age faster.
elyse
In the morning I don’t wash my face, I just use a face wipe and splash some water on it. I put 100% natural argan oil on my face as a moisturizer at night and in the morning. Contrary to what you would think, it makes my face get WAY less oily during the day. My skin is moisturized and doesn’t overproduce oil anymore!
Then i’ll usually use a BB cream and my bare minerals powder foundation, or sometimes skip the BB cream if i’m in a hurry. I like to spend more time on my eyes so I do eyeshadow base, 2 or 3 neutral shades and mascara, then blush to finish things off. I’ve gotten pretty good at my routine and all in all it won’t take me more than ten minutes.
Sarah
Thanks Emma and Erin! Great suggestions! I live in Canada, so I’ll see what I can find :) I know for sure the Neutrogena lotion is available for me.