This will either be a post you find tremendously interesting or a complete yawn-fest.
Most makeup tutorials I see online feel wildly unrealistic for me.
I want fast. I want cheap. I want minimal.
My entire everyday makeup routine takes about three minutes and uses relatively inexpensive products. I am no makeup connoisseur, but for anyone curious, hereās exactly what I do and what I use.
Also, I look quite pale in some of these photos because I took them right after waking up. I normally put makeup on a bit later in the morning, and I think thatās better for everyone involved!
The pictures are straight out of the camera, and weāre dealing with zero natural light, but youāll catch the general drift.
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
July 2026 update: The basic structure of my routine hasnāt changed, but I have switched a few products since taking these original photos. Iāve updated the links below and included my current favourites where relevant. I also shared a more recent look at my easy makeup routine here
Table of Contents
My 3-Minute Makeup Routine at a Glance
This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Here are the main products I use:
- A microscopic amount of coconut oil
- NYX Face Glue Primer, when I want everything to stay put
- Maybelline Lifter Stix or concealer
- e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush
- e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter
- Essence 8h Matte Liquid Lipstick, used as blush
- e.l.f. Complexion Duo Brush
- e.l.f. Brow Lift
- Essence Wow What a Brow Pen
- e.l.f. Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara
That looks like a long list when written out, but I donāt use very much of anythingāand several steps are entirely optional.
Step 1: Prep My Skin
I keep a tiny container of coconut oil and take the tiniest amountātruly microscopicāthen rub it between my hands so it melts and put it all over my face.
When I say tiny, I mean tiny.
At the time I took these photos, coconut oil was my only preparation step. More recently, Iāve started using NYX Face Glue Primer as well.
It IS tacky. If you dislike the sensation of a sticky primer, this may not be the product for you. But it helps everything stay in place, particularly the Halo Glow, so it has earned a permanent spot in my routine.
Step 2: Apply a Simple Makeup Base
Next, I add a small amount of stick foundation or concealer. My favourite is the now-discontinued Maybelline Fit Me Next, I add a small amount of stick foundation or concealer.
The product pictured is my belovedāand now discontinuedāMaybelline Fit Me Shine-Free Foundation Stick. Imagine my delight when I found a brand-new one tucked away in my bathroom drawer!
Hooray for stockpiles, no doubt purchased on sale and tucked away for a rainy day OR FOR IT TO BE DISCONTINUEDāsob.
My current replacement is the Maybelline Lifter Stix. I use Shade 20, and it works similarly enough that I remain loyal to foundation sticks after more than a decade of using them.
Sometimes I use the Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser instead, especially when I want lighter coverage.
I do four quick swipes:
- Chin
- Both cheeks
- Middle of my forehead, home to a faded spider vein
Then I blend everything out with my e.l.f. Ultimate Blending Brush.
This brush offers excellent bang for the buck. Belle has the same one and loves it too.
Sometimesāoften; 70% of the time?āI stop there.
Step 3: Add an Optional Glow
When Iām feeling fancy, I add e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter to the same general areas.
I use the Light/Medium shade.
Halo Glow is fairly sheer, so donāt expect a lot of coverage. It blurs things a bit and adds a subtle glow. A little goes a long way, and one bottle lasts me for a very long time.
I apply a few small swipes with the doe-foot applicator and blend them using the same e.l.f. brush.
Same brush. Same technique. Nothing complicated.
Step 4: Use Liquid Lipstick as Blush
Yes, you read that correctly: I use liquid lipstick as blush.
My current product is Essence 8h Matte Liquid Lipstick. I use Shade 05 Pink Blush, though you could likely get the same effect with many liquid lipsticks.
I do NOT put it on my lips.
My go-to blush for more than 15 years has been some form of lipstick. This is one of the bestāand least expensiveāoptions Iāve tried.
In the original photos, I used two colours:
- An earthier shade to add a little contour
- A brighter pink on the apples of my cheeks
I blend the pink upward toward my temples using an e.l.f. Complexion Duo Brush.
It works.
The blending is not always perfect on my first attempt, but I do a final once-over with the larger blending brush at the end.
Step 5: Shape and Fill My Eyebrows
Ah yes, the ā90s.
My brows were extremely overpluckedāthanks for asking.
I use e.l.f. Brow Lift, applied with the spoolie from my brow pencil. It gives my brows some shape and helps hold everything in place.
For filling, I always come back to the Essence Wow What a Brow Pen. I use the Light Brown shade.
Iāve tried many eyebrow pencilsāadmittedly, all inexpensive because THAT IS WHO I AMāand this one wins.
I also appreciate that it doesnāt require a sharpener. I cannot see myself voluntarily returning to an old-fashioned eyebrow pencil.
Step 6: Curl My Lashes and Apply Tubing Mascara
Mascara time!
I curl my lashes with a manual curler for a few seconds and then apply e.l.f. Lash Xtndr Tubing Mascara.
I love this stuff.
Is it super bold? Not really.
Can it be layered? I have no idea; I donāt layer mascara.
Does it flake? NEVER.
Have I had raccoon eyes since switching? Not once.
I tend to flip-flop between black and Deep Brown and canāt decide which I prefer.
Sometimes I swipe a little Essence liquid highlighter onto my eyelids for texture. I have heavily hooded eyes, so complicated eye makeup feels like a poor return on investment.
I also forgot to take a picture with both eyes finished.
Oops.
How I Remove Tubing Mascara
Removing tubing mascara is an art, not a science.
I put very warm water on my fingertips and gently press them against my eyelashes until the mascara warms up and begins to āmelt.ā It comes off in little tubes and looks extremely strange.
Some people dislike tubing mascara, which is completely fair. I am a convert.
I wash the rest of my face with warm water and a facecloth.
Thatās it.
No special makeup remover. No complicated collection of skincare products.
I moisturize with coconut oil.
Meh. It works, and the price is right.
The Finished 3-Minute Makeup Look
The whole routine takes about three minutes.
Five minutes if Iām taking step-by-step photos.
I suspect much of the āglowyā effect comes courtesy of the e.l.f. Halo Glow.
For years, I blended all my makeup with my fingers. Over the last year or two, Iāve switched almost entirely to brushes and strongly prefer them. I find brushes less messy, and they seem to spread the product more evenly while using less of it.
I donāt wear lipstick, but I consider it my civic duty to have at least ten lip balms in rotation at any given time.
A different day, better lighting, same techniques!
Your turn.
- Quick: You can only use three makeup products…what do you choose?
- How long does your everyday routine take?
- Have you ever repurposed a product (like my liquid lipstick-as-blush situation)? Tell me all your hacks!
- Anyone else stockpile lip balm? Tell me your favourite (as long as it’s inexpensive!).
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This is my very favorite type pf post, and I am going to write this one, too– so I will save my answers š I LOVE lipstick as blush and have recently also started using under eye concealer on my lids and clear mascara on my eyebrows. Mainly, I am into those unicorn products that are designed to be multipe things at once
Sarah, I WILL BE THERE FOR YOUR POST!! Clear mascara on eyebrows is genius!!!!
Well, I don’t wear makeup (but according to my daughter, I should probably start). But if I did, I would want a three minute routine. And- you look relly pretty! Your routine is definitely working for you.
I kinda wish I didn’t feel more comfortable wearing makeup, to be honest. I mean it doesn’t take me a lot of time and money but still…
My mother has never worn a stitch of makeup IN HER LIFE and I am jealous of the lack of routine. That said, makeup does make me feel more confident and it can be kind of fun? I don’t love it, though.
I wish this was my makeup routine! Due to my eye sensitivity I’ve had to go the natural route. If there’s a special occasion I’ll wear foundation, powder, blush, and tinted lip balm but that’s it.
I feel you on the lip balm. I have tubes of Burt’s Bees stashed throughout the house and in my purse. I use a more expensive moisturizer ($70 and I think I use about 2 a year?), but I feel like it does the job of keeping my aging skin looking good without giving me acne so I’m happy to spend the money on it.
Ohhh. I want the deets on what moisturizer you use. I’m unlikely to switch from coconut oil, but I’m still very curious!!
I have so many lip balm. In a perfect world I would have one in every single pocket.
You are so pretty!
I need mascara, vaseline (for my lips), and my Neutrogena moisturizer with sunscreen and then I am good to go! If I could get a fourth item, I would pick my Tula cooling eye balm.
Cooling eye balm. That sounds VERY fancy and also wonderful.
My routine is neither fast, cheap, nor minimal. I REFUSE TO CHOOSE ONLY THREE PRODUCTS ELISABETH. I would say my makeup from start to finish takes…ten minutes at most? So I guess it’s medium-fast. It’s not three minutes, that’s for sure. Also, how were you plucking your eyebrows in the 90s? Weren’t you like three years old? Or were you plucking in your tweens? You know what, it doesn’t matter, I also had overplucked eyebrows, so solidarity! My eyebrows are fine shape-wise these days but they have a lot of white in them, so I use this Maybelline product which is like a mascara for eyebrows.
Now I, like Sarah, want to do my own post! PERHAPS I SHALL (I don’t know WHEN though, maybe it’s a good New Year post).
Ten minutes is pretty fast, Nicole.
I did hit my teens in the VERY late 90s. But, yes, more accurately, I guess it would have been overplucked as a teen.
I will be HERE FOR YOUR POST, Nicole, whenever it lands š
I’m right there with you, Nicole! I refuse to choose three products! I REFUSE. I spent the entire drive to work pondering three products and I can’t get there. My routine does not take much longer than yours, Elisabeth, but once I factor in washing and moisturizing and doing makeup, it’s probably about ten minutes.
So far I do not use any products on my brows, though. They are still dark and full. Once they start greying, though, I’m absolutely investing in brow tint!
I’m glad I filled your head space during the ride to work, Engie š
I use 2 makeup items but really need to do more!! You look great, simple and fresh and YOUR HAIR – swoon!
You always look bright and fresh, Colleen! I say keep going with whatever it is that works.
My hair is just overnight sock curls! They really do work like a charm.
My makeup routine probably takes 3 minutes as well. I get so mad when my favorites are discontinued! It happens all the time, so I really don’t have faves anymore. I dot on a foundation on the sides of my nose to cover the redness, use a loose setting powder all over, powder bronzer for the cheekbones and then a dark beige powder on my eyes. If I’m going out at night, I’ll use a metallic purple on my eyelids, with mascara and a purple or bronze eyeliner. I’m much more picky about my hair, to be honest. I use a curling iron every day and Garnier full control hair spray (so I guess that’s a favorite because it’s the only one that works!)
Any cream moisturizer makes me break out! It’s insane. I use a tiny amount of liquid retinol on my face after my evening shower.
I’ve tried a few moisturizers and they cause me issues (sometimes with allergies and making my eyes water). That is another benefit of coconut oil, for me at least, because I have zero reaction.
I’m a make up minimalist as well and I go make-up free on the weekends unless we have an event of some sort. I used to even not wear make up when I WFH and had zoom calls but that only works in the summer when I am quite tan.
My make-up routine consists of 4 products most mornings – undereye concealer, eye shadow, mascara (same as yours!) and an undereye powder to sort of smooth out the concealer I use. So I would drop the powder if I had to. I sometimes wear a bright red lipstick but not every day. I am such a minimalist! I also put on an SPF lotion every day, even in the winter. I cannot use any foundation or it will make me break out – even the tinted moisturizers cause that issue!
I don’t always wear makeup on the weekends, but I definitely feel better when I do. Sometimes I’m just too lazy to think about taking it off!!
I can literally count on one hand the number of times I’ve worn lipstick (as lipstick)!
I read this post before doing my makeup so I timed it this morning – 5 minutes. My routine includes 4 Ordinary products, face wash that I use in the shower, so not included in the 5 minutes after. I start with a liquid for hydration, then squalane mixed with moisturizer – a very small amount of each. I only started using these products in the last couple of years because my skin started to feel dry and I like the results. Then move into a bit of liquid foundation, blush, eye-shadow and mascara. If I’m going out I will add lipstick.
Like you I don’t want to spend huge amounts of money or time on beauty products; however, I do like the results and price of the Ordinary products (recommended by my neighbour and niece who both work in the beauty industry), and feel adding makeup gives me a little boost.
I have a few Ordinary products that were handed down to me by Belle (she stopped using them because she switched to some anti-acne products for teen skin). I should try them out…!
I recently started using Vaseline on my lips and LOVE it. We have a travel size of it at every sink. Every time I wash my hands, I then touch some of the water from my wet, clean hands to my lips, rub the rest through my (curly) hair, then add a tiny dab of lotion to my lips, followed by a tiny dab of Vaseline. My lips havenāt chapped since I started doing this, and I live in a desert.
Hooray for non-chapped lips. They are the WORST and it’s so nice to have a routine that works so well.
I guess I am whatever comes under minimalist? Way to make it fast and cheap and very natural and good looking! I am always confused by people saying to use coconut oil as a moisturizer because I have always read that it is comedogenic, meaning it clogs pores. But it seems to work for everyone – I can’t try it because I have a sensory issue with anything oily touching my face. This reminds me that I did a similar (but less organized and more janky) post like this that I meant to post during November and did not. Not sure I can now that I’ve seen your pictures, lol.
Ohhhh, please publish it! I would love to read it. I find routines like this fascinating to read about.
I know someone who tried coconut oil and they broke out very badly; thankfully it works well for me. The texture is NOT for everyone, but I put on such a tiny bit and I love how makeup goes on overtop. It’s very “dewy”; likely not great for long-term hold of products, but some of that could be that I’m buying such inexpensive things to start with?
You’re stunning, with or without makeup. I have that very same Elf Brush!
I used to have a simpler routine, but age has gotten the better of me. I need a little more cover-up; I’m getting splotchy as I age. (why??) Also, I am the driest person alive, and I require a few rounds of moisturizer.
You only wash your face with water? How do you remove the makeup at the end of the day? Water does it?
You are too darn sweet <3
I use a facecloth, too. So water (warm) and a facecloth is literally all I ever use!
Since I’m not working or seeing very many people, my makeup routine has been pared down significantly. Generally, I skip foundation/base completely. I *might* use a bit of concealer, if I think about it (it’s rare). I use two different eyeliners – a brown for tightlining my upper waterline and a bronze for my under my lower lashes, mascara, blush and lipstick. It takes maybe 3 minutes (I’ve not timed it). Now, WHEN (when not IF – we are going to think positive) I land a job obviously, I will need to bring my makeup game back up a little.
I am hopeless with eyeliner. I cannot figure out how to do it properly so I’ve abandoned any attempts…
Definitely WHEN and I hope it’s very soon, Gigi <3
I don’t wear makeup – I wish I could, but I look stupid every time I try. My lips are too thin, and mascara irritates my eyes. If I could wear makeup easily, it would be mascara, a little blush, and a touch of lip color.
You have settled on a routine that helps you glow!
Makeup can be such a nuisance.
I think if I could only pick 3 products I’d go with the FitMeStick, blush, and something for my brows. I like what mascara does, but it’s also the hardest thing to remove, so if I’m feeling lazy I skip it!
I also use just a few products (but I NEED those few!). Fun fact about lip balm: in my home of south FL, I don’t need it. But when I go anywhere else it’s like an instant lip emergency. I guess our high moisture air like . . humidifies the lips? Anyway, I always pack it in travel bags and use it a lot when I leave but never home!
I cannot imagine not dousing my lips CONSTANTLY in lip balm, especially this time of year! Yet another perk of living in a temperate, humid environment. (Though you summers do sound brutal. I think we’ve settled on me needing to snowbird later in life.)
OMG – I have never connected that the reason I rarely use lip balm is due to Florida’s climate! I also do not use lip balm regularly because my lips usually feel moisturized on their own. Mind blown, ha!
Mind blown for you, insane jealousy for me š
I very rarely wear makeup, but my three products would be lipstick, concealer and mascara in that order. I’m still umming and ahhing about whether to get my makeup for the wedding done professionally, but I probably won’t. That means I will need to buy makeup, since the only thing in my bathroom drawer right now is lipstick.
I’ve never had my makeup done professionally (other than once at a makeup counter, but it was just a few minutes and no money exchanged hands). I think it sounds fun but also I think I’d feel…weird? I assume the makeup would be more vibrant and heavy-handed than I’m used to doing myself? We shall see, but I’m doubting this will ever end up happening for me. Maybe ahead of a wedding, I suppose??
Ironically, Belle was in a wedding this summer and she did get her makeup done professionally.
I can only do three if moisturizer doesn’t count.
Moisturizer – has to have spf; currently Cerave because it was on sale.
Blush – powder blush and only the tiniest bit on the apples of my cheeks
Mascara – brown
Lipstick – I use lip balm throughout the day and at night but at a minimum, start the day with lipstick
I prefer to add tinted moisturizer, powder foundation, and a light coating of eye shadow, too.
I buy everything except the tinted moisturizer at the drugstore on sale.
5 minutes maximum
I love that brush. I blend with my fingers or my powder brush but that one looks like it would work better.
I often use brown mascara; the last time I bought it, they were all out of brown so I went with black, but because of my hair colour, I think I like brown better!!
I LOVE the elf brushes, especially the blending brush. I’ve owned it for a year and it is literally in the same shape a year later. 10/10 recommend.
I do love the dewy look, and your skin looks amazing with it.
That posted in the totally wrong place, lol. Sigh.
YOU ARE TOO SWEET <3
I have a SIMPLE makeup routine and a more robust one that I only break out for special occasions. Simple is just eyebrow pencil + mascara, sometimes lipstick if I feel like I need a bit of color. So I guess those would be my three times. I would die without my eyebrow pencil because my eyebrows are so light that they blend into my face if they aren’t filled in.
I rarely do any sort of foundation these days because I hate the way it feels on my face. Maybe I need to try one of these stick options, though! I definitely need the foundation (dealing with breakouts in my late 30s WAS NOT PART OF THE DEAL, BODY) so I’ve been trying to find one that I don’t hate for a very long time, lol.
I had awful acne at the beginning of my 30s. Hormonal?? I blame everything on hormones š
This was a great post! I love learning about what day-to-day beauty products everyone uses… and I am definitely more on the make-up minimalist side (and do not spend a ton on makeup). I think my three main products (after moisturizer, that’s skincare!) would be a pressed foundation, mascara and blush. I am a big fan of the e.l.f. products.
I don’t think I have ever used a brow product in my life LOL (I never plucked my eyebrows – except for the odd straggler hair – and they’re luckily naturally thin and shaped).
e.l.f. makes some great products at very reasonable prices. Ditto Essence!
I hate dealing with brows, so am jealous yours are perfectly ready at all times!!