My 5-Minute Makeup for Real Women: because life’s too short for 40-minute routines.

Let’s be real, ladies. At this stage in life, we’ve earned the right to simplify, streamline, and skip anything that doesn’t serve us—including a complicated makeup routine. Whether you're heading to brunch, a board meeting, or just the grocery store, sometimes you want a quick pick-me-up that makes you feel polished without trying too hard.

Here’s my go-to 5-minute makeup routine: honest, effortless, and created with the real woman in mind—because we’ve got better things to do than chase perfection.

1. Start with Tinted Moisturizer or BB Cream (1 minute)

Forget full-coverage foundations unless you’re hitting the red carpet. A lightweight tinted moisturizer evens out your complexion while hydrating and often includes SPF. Dab it on, blend with fingers, and boom—fresh canvas, no fuss.

Pro tip: Look for one with a luminous finish to bring some glow back where time may have tried to take it.

My fave: BB Cream from Monat. It can be layered and includes an SPF of 40 for general outdoor sun protection.

2. Conceal Where It Counts (30 seconds)

Dark circles? A stubborn spot? A little redness around the nose? A creamy concealer can make all the difference. Just tap it in with your ring finger (the gentlest one) or a pointed makeup sponge and call it a day.

My fave: my BB Cream on a pointed sponge applicator. Keeping it simple keeps me from having to find another product and be sure it matches. And my BB Cream is buildable, so no clumpy messes

3. Keep It All In Place with a Light Powder Transparent powders are the bomb! They look white in the container, but go on clear, and set your foundation to reduce run off from sweat and brushing up against clothing and such. And again...keeping it simple...no color matching makes my life easy.

My fave: Smooth Operator by Tarte, Amazonian Clay Powder

3. Add Life with a Natural Color Blush (30 seconds)

Some say cream blush is your best friend. It melts into the skin and gives that “just took a brisk walk” look. For me, I gravitate to a pressed powder blush. One way or the other, I explore til I find one that compliments my skin tone, using the back of my hand at the beauty counter. Smile and dab a bit onto the apples of your cheeks—If you use cream blush don’t be afraid to use a little on your lips too. Or, One product, two uses. We love a multitasker.

Pro tip: select a color that mimics your natural lip color. This is a sure way to find a color that looks natural and will blend with your skin.

My fave: Flushed Blush by Ulta Beauty collections. My personal color is Retro Rose, but they come in a nice variety of colors to select from.

4. Brows & Mascara (1.5 minutes)

A quick swipe of brow gel (tinted or clear) to tame and define your arches goes a long way in framing the face. Or the old favorite of brow pencil, filling in the spaces where our greying brows (grimacing as I own this) betray us. Then, a coat (or two) of mascara to open up those eyes. That’s it. Resist the urge to overthink it.

My fave mascara: They're Real Mascara by Benefit. Plenty of videos online on how to layer this daily for a long-lasting full lash look. It's waterproof and literally lasts all day!

5. Lips—But Keep It Easy (30 seconds)

Tinted balm. Gloss. A soft lipstick in a tone that brings you joy. No liner, no drama—just something that makes you feel pulled together and a little fabulous.

My fave is from the Macximal Silky matte collection by MAC and the color is Velvet Teddy. My husband told me years ago that lots of lipsticks tasted waxy when we kissed. So, I looked long and hard to find one that was moist and creamy, lasted awhile and didn't taste bad. This was the winner!

Final Thoughts:

This isn’t about hiding the age, rather softening the harshness just a tiny bit. It’s about enhancing what’s already there. You’ve lived, loved, laughed, cried, and triumphed—your face tells a story, and makeup should never try to erase that. Just add a little color, a little glow, and a whole lot of confidence.

Here’s to makeup that fits into our lives—not the other way around. Stay radiant!