How To: Natural-Looking Full Coverage Makeup in 5 Minutes

I was chatting via email the other month with a fellow blogger, who isn't a beauty blogger (hey friend!). The conversation was about makeup and how she just wasn't it into it. When I asked her why not, I got these responses, which I hear from many of you quite often:

• It doesn't look good on me--either it doesn't really make a difference or I look too "made up"
• I don't have time for a makeup routine
• I refuse to spend a lot of money on makeup
• I don't want a ton of products--I only want to use like 3 or 4

Sound familiar? I asked what she used currently and she said she kind of smears a liquid foundation or liquid concealer on her face with her hands. Then she'll add concealer, mascara, and a lip product.

No wonder she wasn't getting coverage! I've talked about this before (see here), but using just rubbing the product around with fingers isn't going to give you the coverage you want. 

What you need to do is tap the product on your face, preferably with a brush. Let me prove it in the example below:

On your left, I used 3 light drops of liquid foundation that I tapped on with a brush. On your right, 3 light drops of foundation that I rubbed on with fingers. See the difference? On the right it looks as if I have no makeup on!

To get full-coverage that looks natural, I place the foundation in dots on my face and then use the brush to tap around the makeup into place. Stippling is another word for this method--just bouncing the brush as pictured above until all makeup is blended. I don't mean swirling the brush around, I mean tapping! It does not take a lot of time, promise...and I have a lot of surface area to cover with my freckles, uneven skin tone, and dark circles. I do just one application of this to keep it natural-looking, but feel free to add more if desired. Note: I don't do this every day but when I want full coverage quickly, but naturally, this is my method.

This brush is inexpensive and is from Target, but I love the Real Technique face brushes as well. I did this natural-looking makeup look in under 5 minutes...and using only drugstore products!

You can use the tapping method to apply concealer--I do this under my eyes for my dark circles. You can use your fingers for this method (I do this for my concealer usually) but it will take longer. Using the brush is easy and faster since it covers more area. You can use a sponge, but I find I don't get as much coverage that way. I did a post on that here.

I then curled lashes, added mascara and used a lip gloss on my lips and cheeks for a dewy glow. I usually use a blush and would recommend that instead.

I used:

• Maybelline Fit Me! Dewy and Smooth Foundation (matte foundations will provide more coverage, but I have dry skin and like the dewy look)
• Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Concealer and Revlon PhotoReady Concealer (I need more coverage on my dark circles)
• Essence Plump No Clump Mascara (ULTA)
• NYX Butter Gloss in Strawberry Parfait
• Sometimes I will rub a little L'Oreal Infallible Eyes in Bronzed Taupe on lids and under bottom lashes. I cannot remember if I did that here (these pics are from a few months ago). I also brushed through my brows with a spooley brush (clean mascara wand).

And this is the finished look! Natural-looking, full-coverage makeup in under 5 minutes, using a few inexpensive products! I think I proved it can be done! What do you think?

PS: Which is the best? Sponges, Fingers, or Brushes?

Extra Elle:

• Two purchases of the weekend: an air purifier and a pool float that looks like a donut! How's that for random?
• Two giveaways you'll LOVE: 
• here
• here