Getting up for work at 6.30am sucks. Having about 30′ available for your whole skincare/ makeup routine sucks even worse. I somehow always manage to get everything done in time but, in the mad ‘locate keycard/ grab keys/ find phone/ organize bag/ head out the door’ dash that ensues, rarely have time (let alone the presence of mind) to  take a ‘Makeup of the Day’ photo. This morning was a shining exception.

I was a bit late getting up, which meant I had even less time than usual. Having completed my usual AM routine (i.e. cleanse and tone, with Clinique’s Anti Blemish Solutions Cleansing Foam and Clarifying Lotion respectively, then hydrate with the Clinique Pore Refining Solutions Stay- Matte Hydrator), I opted to keep things light and easy…

First I applied my all- time- favorite Tea Tree Flawless BB Creme by the Body Shop, mixed with the tiniest bit of my trusted MAC Studio Sculpt Foundation. My skin’s been acting up lately, so I needed that bit of extra coverage – and I have found these two products to work well together. Mixing 2/3 of the BB with 1/3 of the (much thicker and drier textured) Studio Sculpt keeps things fresh and natural looking, while going that extra- mile coverage wise.

I then applied the tiniest bit of MAC’s Select Cover Up Concealer (which, as you can see, is on its last legs) to the couple of hormone- induced little spots that recently decided to grace my chin with their presence and added a bit of L’Oreal’s Lumi Magique Concealer/ Highlighter under my eyes and on the browbones, for a more awake luminous look.

Base done, I used the tips of my fingers to quickly apply a dash of Benefit’s Majorette Blush – which let me tell you is an absolute dream, both to apply &… to smell (if you haven’t tried it yet, just do!) and moved on to the eyes. I applied some Excess Shimmer Eyeshadow (in No20- Copper) by Max Factor – to emphasize and open them up. I got 3 of these a few days ago (Copper + No25- Bronze & No30- Onyx), and have promptly fallen in love! They are amazingly easy to apply and blend (for a more or less intense look) and have an understated but gorgeously sparkly finish. Definitely, another budget buy to go for – especially in time for the holidays.

Now, makeup wouldn’t be proper makeup without my staple MAC Mineralize Skin Finish, so I added a swirl of that and rounded out the look by lightly defining my brows (with Benefit’s Gimme Brow) and eyelashes (with Estee Lauder’s Sumptuous Extreme Lash Multiplying Volume Mascara), then adding one coat of Flower Shine On Lipgloss (in the shade LG12- Stop the Violets).

Writing it all down, I realise it sounds much more complex and time- consuming than it actually was. The whole thing only took about 10 minutes, allowing me to be out the door with plenty of time to spare (while still looking great, especially considering the time)! How about you guys? What mood were you in makeup- wise today? Would love to hear what you all singled out for your #MOTD…