Sometimes it’s the items you use the most or most often that I forget about in your make up stash. There are days where I simply don’t have a lot of time to do my make up and that’s when I love going for a quick and easy look. Especially on warmer days and on vacation, I like to forego a heavy base and I like to keep things simple. And there are a few go to items in my stash that I always reach for whenever I want my make up to be quick and dirty.

Lots and lots of creamy eye products, a face powder and a pop of color on the cheek is all I really need…

… for a quick and easy make up look. I will usually also apply a little bit of concealer and mascara apart from this. Lipstick is also a go to in my make up routine, but I find it easy to do that when I’m already out the door. So if I am truly in a hurry, I will skip the lipstick for the time being and apply it when I’m on the train. I like having done the rest of my make up though and these the key items.

MAC Mineralized Skin Finish Natural in Medium

This product is well-loved as you can see. Just give you an idea: when I first got this, it had a domed top to it. Since it has completely flattened out and by now I can see the pan coming through. I love dusting this all over my face and if my bags under my eyes aren’t too bad I will even be brave and skip the concealer and wear just this. I find this to be non-cakey when worn by itself, mattifies the face but in a natural way and gives just a little bit of coverage.

Covergirl Cheekers Blush Rose Silk

A rosy toned blush is a must have for me when I go for a quick look. It is pink enough to make my cheeks have that subtle pop of color, while not emphasizing the redness in my skin too much. This Cheekers blush by Covergirl is the perfect candidate for such an effect. Of course there are many other blushes on the market that will give a similar effect, but I find this one to be especially pretty. The soft rosy shade with a hint of shimmer works every time.

Catrice Eyebrow Filler Perfecting & Shaping Gel

When I am in a hurry, I like my brows to looks polishes and neat, but nothing too dramatic. I will skip my eyebrow pencil and simply opt for a little comb through with the old brow gel. This one by Catrice kills two birds with one stone. One, it is a gel with some fibers mixed in. This means your brows are instantly more plump and sculpted looking. Two, it is tinted, which leads to a naturally filled in effect.

Eyeshadow sticks & eyeliner pencils:
Make Up Forever Aqua Matic, Kiko Longlasting Eyeshadow Stick, Charlote Tilbury Color Chameleon
Estee Lauder Doublewear Stay-In-Place pencil, Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-on Eye pencil, Hema Smooth Smokey eye pencil

The easiest way for a quick eye look? Cream shadow sticks. I adore these products come spring/ summer time. They are not only easy to carry when you are traveling, they also apply quick and easy. I personally love a good bronze eye shadow stick combined with a bit of eyeliner for some extra definition. It makes for an instant smokey brown look that just works for the warmer months.

MAC Paintpot in Let it Pop
Maybelline Color Tattoo in Pink Gold

Along the same vein, you could say I love my cream shadows that come in a pot. I have a few that I love. MAC’s Paintpots are of course classics. From skin toned Painterly to more outspoken variations, I prefer the subtle shimmery versions of this product. A similar and much more budget friendly option are the Maybelline Color Tattoos. These have to be stored properly to ensure longevity as they dry out quite easily, but this stunning pinky shade is one I wear a lot when I want a simple neutral eye.

Swatches:
MAC MSF Natural, CoverGirl blush, brow gel, cream shadow sticks, eye liners, cream shadow

These are my 5 essentials that I cannot go without when I am making a quick make up look.

What are yours?