As a mom of a small child and with limited time, what kind of 5-minute beauty routine would you recommend? I’d love to look polished and have a punch of color now and then, without the time commitment and having to dig through too many products.

This is a question I get from so many of my makeup clients — we are all very busy women and want to look polished in a pinch! You actually don’t need a lot of time, or products, to go from barefaced to beautified. A few minutes in the mirror with the right tools can make a huge difference in the way you look, and feel! Here’s what you can do in 5 minutes or less:

1. Apply concealer under eyes. If you’re up late with baby or burning the midnight oil working on a project, chances are you have dark circles. Using concealer will brighten them up and instantly make you look more rested. Using your index finger or a brush, tap a small amount of concealer on the inner corner of your under eye and blend well. Try: Christopher Drummond Duo-Phase Concealer, it’s so lightweight it can double as a foundation.

2. Get your glow on. Highlighters can help you look healthy and radiant in minutes. Using your fingers or a brush, dab highlighter on the top of your cheekbones, brow bones, inner corner of eyes and cupid’s bow (right above lips). Try: La Bella Figura Golden Highlighter in Brazilian Denise , it’s so easy to apply and works on all skin tones!

3. Add a pop of color to cheeks and lips. If you only have time to do one thing, this should be it! Color instantly brightens your face, not to mention your mood. Shades of pink, red and peach are flattering and feminine. Go for a multi-purpose cream stick (they can also be used on eyes) to save on products and time. Try: Vapour Organic Beauty Multi-Use Blush, it feels, smells and looks luxurious.

If you have a couple extra minutes, a bit of mascara and eyeliner can make a big difference in defining your eyes. For some women these are essentials, but if you only have a few minutes or are applying on-the-go, it may be a stretch to apply these too. Of course, you can always swap out one of the steps above for mascara and/or eyeliner if you want to.

Give this 5-minute face a try and let me know how it goes! I think you will find that even though you are short on time, it doesn’t mean you have to skip out on your beauty routine. We can all benefit from self-care that makes us feel like the beautiful women we are!

If you need some help choosing the right products and want to improve your makeup techniques, I would love to work with you one-on-one. Learn more about my signature “Green Your Beauty Routine” makeup lesson at www.rebeccacasciano.com. I look forward to hearing from you!

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