Trying to look human in a hurry

In the last couple of weeks I’ve been asked twice if I’m feeling OK, because I’m looking ‘a bit tired’. I wouldn’t mind, but on those occasions I’ve actually been feeling better than I have for a long time! It’s just on these occasions I haven’t been wearing makeup… way to make a new mother feel good about herself(!).

So I’ve had to figure out a daily make up routine I can do quickly (babies don’t tend to give you the luxury of more than 3 minutes in front of a mirror), and one that isn’t too expensive to maintain (mat leave doesn’t pay much).

So these are my day to day products. (If I’m lucky enough to be attending a social event I’ll bring out the big guns – maybe I’ll write about that later).

Foundation – I either use Bourjois 123 Perfect CC Cream (£9.99) or Rimmel Match Perfection foundation (£7.99) depending on how much coverage I need (the Rimmel one if I need more…). Both of these are easily and quickly blendable with my fingers.

Concealer – Bourjois Blur the Lines concealer (£7.99). This gives a really good amount of coverage, and again is really quick and easy to blend and use.

Under eye corrector – Bobbi Brown Corrector (£19.50). This is where spending money on a high end product can make ALL the difference. Dark circles have been a permanent feature on my face since my son was born (yay for sleep deprivation!) and this corrector is the only thing that helps, with a touch of the Bourjois concealer on top for good measure.

Powder – Revlon PhotoReady powder (£11.29). This is hands down the best powder I have ever used. I’ve tried a LOT of powders over the years, and this one (for me) is better than any high end powder I’ve come across. It adds a little extra coverage (often needed) and stays in place for hours without getting stuck in pores.

Blusher – Benefit Hervana (£24.50). I don’t mind using more expensive blushers as they seem to last for years (whether or not I should be using them that long is another matter…). This lasts for hours, a little bit goes a long way, and it has a slight sheen to it so I can skip highlighter. I also like Bobbi Brown’s Desert Pink.

Eyeshadow – Urban Decay Naked Basics (£24.00). Until I can find high street eye shadows that last as long as these, Urban Decay wins every time as I can’t be doing with reapplying during the day. But this is a palette that I’ve been using almost daily for a few years and it’s still going strong. I would love to skip eyeshadow altogether in a rush as it’s pretty time consuming, but my hooded eyes have other ideas.

Mascara – L’Oreal Paris False Lash SuperStar X Fiber mascara (£7.99). My hooded eyes also need all the eyelashes they can get, and this is the best high street mascara I’ve tried in a long time. If I’m feeling fancy (or rich) I also like Benefit’s Bad Gal Lash, They’re Real! or Roller Lash.

Brows – Maybelline Brow Satin (£6.99). Quick to build and lasts all day. I don’t need to draw a new shape to my brows, just fill them in, so this works perfectly.

Lips – Maybelline Baby Lips lip balm (£3.99). This is amazing, truly. I buy the colour Cherry Me, which adds a lovely tint of pink a little darker than my natural lip colour so I’m not too washed out. Because it’s a lip balm it’s really hydrating (I used to suffer from incredibly dry lips) and easy to apply on the go (without a mirror). And it smells good, added bonus!