Basic daily makeup - quick/easy/light

So... I'm back at work on Tuesday after a year of mat leave and I feel like I'm starting to look OLD! Consequently, I need to start wearing some light makeup to help disguise the ravages of time!

I only ever wear makeup on special occasions and need some advice on a quick and easy makeup routine that'll look good.

I have a mineral powder (it's so messy though) and was thinking maybe a lip gloss and clear mascara (I hate panda eyes and dark mascara residue) blush? Whatever I wear will need to go I in <5 minutes and wash off in the shower.

Any advice or ideas?

Oh, I'm a teacher, so not corporate but I dress in suit style skirts/pants and blouses etc

Is it a loose mineral powder? Pressed are less messy. Try that a little blush, mascara and gloss and you are done. If you are not confident with blush you can use bronzed powder on your cheeks :)

Would you consider getting your lashes tinted? Then the nice definition of mascara but no smudges. Or try a tubing mascara - washes off with water but the way the mascara works (coats around each lash like a tube) means it won't smudge. Loreal Beauty Tubes is one, and Blinc and Becca do them too.

Re lips, sure go a gloss. Or you could try a tinted balm- like something from Korres or Burt's Bees. They both do nice natural options. You can also dab a bit of colour onto your cheeks as a cream blush.

There are a few liquid mineral foundations out there if you get annoyed by the powder one. Like Inika, Jane Iredale or Nude by Nature. Or you could go a tinted moist/tinted sunscreen, I like Invisible Zinc, Nars (pricey but great) or Laura Mercier. Not sure how natural you like your products to be- the latter two have some chemical sunscreens, the IZ is just zinc as the sunscreen.

I would get brows and lashes tinted, use a BB cream, cream blush (much easier than powder and a more natural finish) and finish with a lip gloss!

My lashes and brow are super dark anyway and tinting has never been noticeable. But I like the definition/ appearance of mascara.

I might look at a pressed mineral powder as I find even a tinted moisturiser too thick/heavy but I like the appearance / coverage of the powder finish. Anyone recommend a good one?

What does a BB cream do? Is it "thick" I hate foundation and how it looks and feels :(

Thanks everyone :)

Thin lizzy works well for a light coverage and then you can just use it a little more heavily on your cheeks for a blush. Burts bees pomegranate lip balm is a nice natural tint.

nothing like foundation, more so a tinted moisturizer

"BB cream is promoted as an all-in-one facial cosmetic product to replace serum, moisturizer, primer, foundation, and sunblock"

Garnier make one you can get at the super market, Big W etc, it comes in 3 different shades and either the normal one or an oil free one. Its what I use when I'm in a hurry. Its a reasonable price as well.

For the last few years i have been using a tinted moisturiser and the one I am using at the moment is Nivea Be beautiful which I find feels lovely on my skin and has sunblock.
It takes me less than 3 minutes to put on and what is left over at the end of the day comes of in the shower.
I like it as it's a moisturiser and a cover in one
I hardly wear makeup as I hate the clogged feel on my skin.

I use mascara, eye shadow, eye liner and lip gloss for day wear to work. If I have to use a bit of cover I use a tinted moisturiser without sunscreen.

I bought the Garnier BB cream at Coles this morning and a cheapie Covergirl pressed mineral powder. I'll give them both a try and if I'm liking the pressed powder I'll upgrade to a better one!

Where do I get the Burt's Bees lip balms?

Thanks for all the advice!

I'm going to jump in here because this is something I've been wondering about. I've thought about the BB cream style of things but even the lightest shade seems a bit too tanned/dark for my skin. Can anyone advise about how you find the best colour that you need? And if I need lighter than the lightest shade, isn't makeup just going to make me look a bit like a poor-effort goth?

(Not that there's anything wrong with rocking the blacks, I just don't have a wardrobe full of punk victoriana LOL).

Also - the few times I've tried a makeup/tinted moisturiser/whatever, I run into problems because it seems to collect in every tiny flake of dry skin/acne that I have. Does anyone else have this problem and how do you deal with it?

Maydean mecca cosmetica and adore beauty sell BB creams in a wider colour range but they are more expensive than the supermarket ones.

Even with very light skin you shouldn't be looking "white", I would say that if you are you it isn't a very good product.

If your skin is very flakey you need to be exfoliating, I use a gentle daily one whenever I'm going to use make up but also a "heavier duty" one 2-3 times a week.

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I bought the Garnier BB cream at Coles this morning and a cheapie Covergirl pressed mineral powder. I'll give them both a try and if I'm liking the pressed powder I'll upgrade to a better one!

Where do I get the Burt's Bees lip balms?

Thanks for all the advice!

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Usually chemists, the big one outside coles at erina use to have them

Marydean I've got fair skin and the Loreal BB cream is light enough on me. It's a colour adjust one. It's quite matte, which is good if you like a matte finish, but I prefer something more satiny. But other than that a good product for the price.

The Biotherm BB cream is pretty light too.

FYI Natio have a nice looking mineral range too now, I've not tried it though.

I have gone across to using Natio after using Nutrimetics for years. I find the BB cream does settle in. Initially it looks much, it just needs a moment.
Some days I use the BB cream first, then a light brush over with the mineral powder. Other days, I use a light foundation.
If you can find a decent chemist that sells Natio, the assistant should be able to help you with colour matching.

BB cream is my best friend :rofl:

For 'quick' makeup for me, I use a tinted moisturiser (Dove, with spf, I quite like it), eyeliner pencil on upper eyelids (I use a glittery one, even for everyday wear), and a lipstick or tinted balm. When I go down the street, I will brush over a pressed powder (I like covergirl). I bought a manicare brand retractable (natural bristle) powder brush, so that and the powder live in my handbag, quite handy. Someone on here told me to use a brush for pressed powder so whatever cream/lotion is on your face doesn't just get 'pulled' or smudged around. I also like the pressed powder, because it's not messy like loose powder.

Yay for going back to work!

i highly recommend the Napoleon primer to put on before foundation. if you choose liquid foundation, it just glides on. :)

thanks for this thread! i'm no fan of makeup either, but never knew about this "BB cream" i'm going to have a looksies next time i'm at the shops!!

To be honest I'm not a fan of BB creams... The cheaper ones anyway, except the Loreal which I mentioned. I find it just as simple/quick to apply a very quick and light dab of foundation over my SPF moisturiser.

Some feedback :)

Tried the CG pressed mineral powder this morning, but the one I had was too pale and it was a bit flakey on my dry patches :(

I'm going out for dinner tonight (hooray) so tried the Garnier BB cream and I LOVE IT!!! Goes on easily, lovely light non-greasy coverage that seems to even everything out but still show my skin through (if that makes sense)Added a tiny bit of blush a black/brown mascara (can't find a clear one) and lip gloss, I feel great without a lot of makeup on!!!!


Thanks so much for all the advice!

yay! enjoy your night

Yay! Glad you found something you like.