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4 Crazy-Simple Ways to Break Out of Your Everyday Makeup Routine

For when the same-old just isn’t cutting it!

Last Updated on July 5, 2019 by April - George Washington University
This post may contain affiliate links, which means we may receive a commission if you purchase through our links. Please read our full disclosure here.

It’s too easy to get stuck swiping the same concealer under your eyes and the same crusty tube of mascara on your eyelashes before heading out for the day. Even when I have a few extra minutes to put on some eyeshadow, I always end up with the same brown-toned look!

Most solutions to the classic “makeup rut” are either full face looks that take 45+ minutes – something that not everyone has in the morning – or feature neon colors and sparkles that aren’t school or work-appropriate.

The best way to mix up your makeup look is to focus on defining one feature. By changing up one part of your look, you elevate your makeup without adding on any extra steps. Here I’ll show you some of my favorite ways of stepping up your makeup game in a realistic way!

Colored Eyeliner

A huge misconception about colored eyeliner is that it dominates your face and can be too bold for most work or school environments. However, these makeup looks show how to layer colored eyeliner or rock it alone to give your face a subtle pop.

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My birthday LEWK from Saturday💚🎾✨ ••••• EYES: @juviasplace Saharan II (Taza, Fez, & Hadiya) Tribe Palette (Koro) & Douce Palette (Chocolat); @anastasiabeverlyhills So Hollywood loose highlighter on center of lid; @lagirlcosmetics “Gotcha” shockwave neon liner ••••• BROWS: @benefitcosmetics Goof Proof Brow Pencil in 5 ••••• FACE: @coverfx Power Play in G90 mixed with @drunkelephant D-Bronzi anti-pollution sunshine serum; @fentybeauty pro filt’r concealer in 360; @lauramercier translucent powder to set under eyes; @theprimebeauty bronzeville bronzer & @cargocosmetics swimmables water resistant bronzer and blush in los cabos; @anastasiabeverlyhills So Hollywood loose highlighter for all over glow ••••• LIPS: @colourpopcosmetics BFF3 lippie pencil & @fentybeauty Fenty Glow gloss bomb ••••• • • • • • #juviasplace #lagirlcosmetics #fentybeauty #anastasiabeverlyhills #norvina #fentybeauty #birthdaymakeup #neonmakeup #benefitbrows #benefitcosmetics #thelist #abhprsearch #colourpopme #undiscovered_muas #slayershive #discoverunder10k #houstonbeautyinfluencer #houstonbeautyblogger #drunkelephant #muaannouncer_ #makeupforblackwomen #blackmakeupartist #blackbeautyblogger #coverfx

A post shared by Niara J.✨ (@niaraj_) on May 29, 2019 at 1:20pm PDT

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Sun Goddess. Springtime’s here and we’re channeling our fave warm-weather look: bronzed, beautiful and a pop of color!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Love the look? We used:⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Pure Pigments No. 15⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Dream Eyes Mascara⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Automatic Liner No. 244.11⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #makeupfactory #eyemakeuplove #eyeshadowlover #eyeshadowoftheday #eyeshadowswatch #eyemakeupideas #eyemakeupinspo #goldmakeuplook #makeuplookideas #makeuplookbook #eyeliners #eyemakeups #eyelooks #colorliner #coloredeyeliner ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ @makeupbyevva

A post shared by Make up Factory (@make_up_factory) on Mar 31, 2019 at 12:02pm PDT

https://www.instagram.com/p/BzX3VgenXMo/?igshid=142x14fcv2706

For a quick colored eyeliner look, you can either line above a black eyeliner, or you can sweep and feather the liner around the outer corner of your eyes, creating a softer line of color.

All Highlight

For the days when you’re really in a pinch and don’t have time for much makeup at all, one of my favorite go-to looks is the all-highlight. By using only highlighter or having your glow be the focus of your makeup look, you can apply as much or as little as you like.

The right highlighter can be used on your cheekbones, of course, but can also function as a shimmery eyeshadow and a lip sparkle if applied on top of lip balm or lip gloss.

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Just because we’re magic, doesn’t mean we aren’t real🖤

A post shared by SouKeyna Diouf (@soukeyna) on Feb 2, 2019 at 12:05pm PST

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Oooh that #ChampagneGlow! 😍🍾✨ Shop our iconic Pressed Highlighter in Champagne Pop at BECCACosmetics.com and @Sephora. #Repost Model: @choyuisfine MUA: @makeupsang

A post shared by @ beccacosmetics on Oct 4, 2018 at 1:51pm PDT

The best part about this look is that it freshens up your face in a natural looking way, and makes you look more awake on the mornings when you might not have been able to snooze the alarm.

Fenty Beauty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick Highlighter
Milani Strobelight Instant Glow Pressed Highlighter

Products: Highlighter Stick – Fenty Beauty ($25), Powder Highlight – Milani Cosmetics ($9.99)

Highlight sticks like the popular Milk Makeup Holographic Stick and the Fenty Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick (shown above) are super easy to swipe on in a pinch!

The Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector and the Milani Strobelight Instant Glow (shown above) are my favorite powder highlighters that can easily be brushed onto your eyes or cheekbones.

The Inner Corner

An often-forgotten part of the eye, the inner corner is the most important part of an eyeshadow look! Dabbing sparkly or white eyeshadow into the inner corner wakes up your look and draws attention to your eyes.

You can also use the inner corner as a place to put a pretty pop of color:

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🌻 🌻 🌻 Anzeige @etudehouseofficial double lasting foundation in "tan" @toofaced born this way concealer "almond" | natural face palette @ofracosmetics "bellini" blush @sigmabeauty fill + blend eyebrow pencil in "dark" @certifeye the tropical wonders eyeshadow palette @melody_lashes "ella" lashes @thebalmeu mary-lou manizer highlighter @ofracosmetics "sao paulo" liquid lipstick

A post shared by 𝑱𝑬𝑨𝑵𝑵𝑰𝑵𝑬 (@byjeannine) on Jun 24, 2019 at 9:03am PDT

Even if you want to stick with a neutral eyeshadow look, a sparkle in the inner corner can elevate and refresh your eyes.

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I should do warm smokey eyes more often. And again I got so many compliments from strangers of this look 😂🤙🏻💙 AND inspired by : ofc, @jamiegenevieve 🌺❤️ @morphebrushes 35o palette and morphe's single shadow in "Coal" for the black and @nyxcosmetics Black Bean Jumbo eye pencil for the base @urbandecaycosmetics Heavy metal glitter liner "ACDC" for a little sparkle on the lid & actually "Distortion" for the little "glitter freckles" 😌💅🏼 @anastasiabeverlyhills Brow Pomade in Medium brown as always for the brows @makeupgeekscosmetics Foiled eyeshadows in "Starry eyed" and "Whimsical" for the inner corner 💥 #makeupgeek #makeup #mua #smokeyeye #warmsmokeyeye #morphebrushes #anastasiabeverlyhills #abhcosmetics #anastasiabrows #morphe35o #morphe35opalette #35o #35opalette #warmeyeshadows #blacksmokeyeye #glitter #urbandecay #urbandecaycosmetics #urbandecayglitterliner #minklashes #falselashes #fakelashes #innercornerhighlight #blendblendblend

A post shared by Elisa (@elisagronmakeup) on May 27, 2017 at 8:54am PDT

Liquid eyeshadows like the Glossier Lidstar or the Stila Shimmer & Glow Liquid Eyeshadow work amazingly for these looks, as you can press the eyeshadow precisely in the corner of the eye and blend out with a brush or your finger!

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All the glitter 🙌 Who else finds their makeup bag is being taken over by our Glitter & Glow tubes?! 🙋‍♀️ Grab a few fav shades now! Make sure you tag us in your looks so we can see our #stilaettos shine! 📸 Picture credit: @makeupwithcortney #glitterandglow #shinebright #stilacosmetics

A post shared by Stila Cosmetics (@stilacosmetics) on Jun 27, 2019 at 3:49pm PDT

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Lidstar creates a twinkling glow that enhances eyes with a softly diffused wash of color. One-step eye enhancement that lasts 12 hours 🔒

A post shared by Glossier (@glossier) on Jan 18, 2019 at 10:34am PST

Do Your Same Routine with New Colors

One simple change you can make to update your makeup routine is switching up your colors. Altering your palette doesn’t take any additional time or makeup skills and can bring something unexpected into your everyday look.

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🧡🖤 Halloween eyeshadow look 🖤🧡 ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• @bhcosmetics Take me back to Brazil palette @urbandecaycosmetics Vice 4 palette @makeupgeekcosmetics Solar Flare sparkler @toofaced c Kat Von D Better together palette @clinique Pretty easy eyeliner @iikonn Jealous lashes @sleekmakeup Solstice Highlighter @nyxcosmetics Esmeralda eyeliner ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• #bhcosmetics #urbandecay #UD #nyx #nyxcosmetics #toofaced #katvond #iikon #iikonjealous #clinique #eyeshadow #sleek #eyebrows #sleeksolstice #mg #halloweeneyeshadow #eyes #halloween #makeupgeek #abh #anastasia #bettertogether #nyxesmeralda #greeneyeliner

A post shared by T o n e 💄 (@makeuptone) on Oct 19, 2018 at 6:40am PDT

If you usually gravitate toward warm brown tones for a night out, try a fiery orange look that adds a pop of color without going too far out of your comfort zone.

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Glamour goes beyond classic. This season, we bring color back to life with our Full Precision Liquid Liner + Even More Volume Mascara! Love this look? We used: Full Precision Liquid Liner No. 0I Even More Volume Mascara No. 01 Metallic Eyeliner No. 40 Eye Shadow No. 32 Mat Lip Fluid No. 50 #makeupfactory #trendmakeup #makeuplookideas #makeuplookbook #eyeliners #eyemakeups #mascara # #mascaralinermuf #makeupstyle #makeupvibes #makeupinstagram #makeuppassion #redlips #glowup #glowymakeup #fullfacemakeup Model: @natalieniebel MuAH: @michellenolan_mua Photography/retouch: @msmartphotography

A post shared by Make up Factory (@make_up_factory) on Jun 20, 2019 at 11:16am PDT

Another way to incorporate color without going overboard is by starting with jewel tones that are similar to brown or black shades. Burgundy and dark green are two colors that can step up your look while staying subtle.

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Makijaż jeszcze ze starego aparatu. Mam nadzieję, że zachęce Was do takich kolorowych akcentów w makijażu 😊 @naturallashes @bperfectcosmetics @nyxcosmetics_pl @tartecosmetics @catrice.cosmetics @wibopl @lovelykosmetyki @doll10beauty @inglot_cosmetics @kavaibrushes

A post shared by Barbara Marciniak (@pieknopomojemu) on Apr 23, 2019 at 8:00am PDT

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🌹 #anastasiabeverlyhills Eyes: @anastasiabeverlyhills @norvina #modernrenaissance Palette (red ocher, love letter, tempera) Liner: @anastasiabeverlyhills @norvina matte lipstick in Rum punch 🌹 Brows: @anastasiabeverlyhills @norvina Dipbrow in Taupe + @anastasiabeverlyhills Clear brow gel Lashes: @blinklasheslondon Megan @wakeupandmakeup @abhjunkies @fakeupfix @fakeuproom @browgame @slave2beauty @hudabeauty @bretmansvanity @makeupforbarbies @thebeautybombb @flawlesssdolls @dollgoals @flawlesssgoals #abh #abhlipstick #anastasia #anastasiabrows #abhbrows #glow #becca #champagnepop #burgundy #makeuplover #makeup #makeuplook #makeupdolls #makeupjunkie #brows #browgame #onfleek #fleeky #highlighter #cutcrease #fakeupfix #fakeuproom

A post shared by 🤍 lena 🤍 (@lenkalul) on Aug 25, 2017 at 9:39am PDT

How do you break out of a makeup rut?

What are some of your go-to makeup colors? Write below about some of your creative ways to step up your makeup routine!

Tags : Beauty Products, beauty tips, Makeup Tips

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Originally published on July 6, 2019
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