5 PRODUCT FACE

Although I love having my me time and applying makeup in the morning, sometimes I want a more minimal look that doesn't call for a lot of products or time. On a day where I'm rushing, don't feel like having stuff on my face, this is what I usually go for:

1. Undereye concealer

I'm not the kind of person that stays up late at all. I'm usually in bed by 10/11 and asleep by 12. For some reason though, I have really dark under eyes that no amount of sleep or hydration can fix. This can easily make me look tired/sick when I'm not so i usually like to cover those babies up. My current favorite product for this is the Maybelline Eraser Eye Concealer (£7.99). It's light, doesn't crease, and has good coverage - all the things I look for. I also dot it between/around my eyebrows and down my nose as that's where I get redness. Another favorite of mine is the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer (£22.00), but I've run out and I'm trying to use up other ones I have around to justify my repurchase.

2. Brows

I feel (as a lot of people do) that my face looks odd if I have any kind of makeup on with no brows. Mine aren't super sparse or thin or anything, but they're quite patchy so when I'm going for a natural look I like to fill them in with a light powder to make them full but natural. This means I go for non other than my Anastasia Brow Duo (£17.00). I find a powder to work best for this as pencils or pomades can look too strong and drawn on.

3. Mascara

I love me some mascara. After lipstick, this is probably my favorite makeup product. It can seriously make you look a lot more awake and alert than you really are - something we all need in the morning. I don't have any I'm really loving right now, just alternating between what I have open to finish them up.

4. Blush

I never thought this would be in my minimal look, as although it's something I use everyday, I didn't think it essential. However, I find that a nice blush can really perk up your skin and add diminution, especially if you're looking a bit tired. With a minimal look I like to use a one with a shimmer running through it to add a nice glow to the cheeks. My go-to is the Hourglass Ambient Lighting Blush Palette (£56.00) as the three colors are all lovely, easy to blend and stay put.

5. Tinted balm/Sheer Lipstick/Lipgloss

My final step is always lips. No matter how minimal the look I like to have a sheer color on my lips be it from a gloss, balm or lipstick. Nothing too bright or bold though, as it can look imbalanced if the look is very minimal. Something like the Fresh Sugar Lip Treatments ($22.50), Jouer Sheer Lipsticks (£18.00), or Maybelline Color Elixirs (£6.99) are great for this, but the options are endless really.

I also usually do a quick translucent powder down my T-zone to decrease oiliness throughout the day, but that's totally optional if you don't usually powder, or don't live in a super hot country like me. Let me know what some of your 5 product face essentials are, I'd love to hear.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

I'm never usually one to layer my mascaras. Most of the time I find it unnecessary as there are lots of great mascaras in the market that can give you whatever lash look you're going for, and I'm usually too lazy to add that one extra step. That being said, I have found a combo recently that I've been loving, and even thought it takes a teeny bit longer than usual, it gives me amazing lashes.

The duo I'm talking about is Max Factor's False Lash Effect Fusion Mascara (£11.99) and Soap and Glory's Thick and Fast Collagen Coat (£10.50). Both of these are very affordable drugstore mascaras that are nice on their own, but nothing special. I usually go for the max factor one when I want natural looking lashes as it's good at separation and lengthening, whereas I find the S&G one better for thick lashes. Like I said, both are good on their own but very forgettable. That is until I decided to try putting them together. I applied the Max factor one first, followed by S&G, and was I amazed. Since they both give different effects on their own, I was afraid they'd clump up together, but the complete opposite happened. One filled the 'weak spots' of the other mascara, and I had full, long, fluttery, non-clumpy lashes that didn't feel heavy on my eyes. They don't flake or smudge on me, stay put all day, and are still easy to remove with a cleanser at the end of the night.

Even if layering mascaras is not your thing, it's still not mine, I'd recommend trying out two in your stash that you think might work well together. You know what they say, sometimes two is better than one.