7 Editors on the Easy Makeup They Do in Under 5 Minutes

I personally love the routine of putting on makeup and have fun taking my time to thoroughly prep my skin, experiment with new shades of eye shadow, and test out a buzzed-about product to see if it lives up to the hype. Carving out that time leaves me room for some fun and experimentation, but oftentimes, I find myself in a rush to do easy makeup in the morning, so I’ve got my everyday makeup routine down to just five minutes with a few simple products. A look that focuses on fresh skin and natural colors, it’s quick to do in the morning but makes me feel pulled together when I have conference calls on the calendar.

Curious to find out the easy makeup routines of Who What Wear editors, I asked them to share their favorite looks that can be achieved in under five minutes. Scroll on to see the beauty products they swear by, beginning with my favorites.

When it comes to easy makeup, I typically go for a look that feels fresh and natural. Skin is where I always start. Pat McGrath's buildable foundation is my everyday staple, and one of my favorite things about it is how well it photographs. This photo has zero retouching or filters, so you can see how amazing the finish is. While I usually wear a fresh pink lipstick, lately I've been into a more muted '90s lip. I actually ran out of my Charlotte Tilbury lipstick, so I've been using the Pillow Talk lip liner in its place with a touch of lip balm to smooth it out. And no matter how little makeup I put on, this Chanel blush is essential for me because it lends some shape and color to my face. To finish my easy makeup, I always add this super-inky black mascara from Dior. My eyelashes are light, so mascara is pretty much my best friend in the beauty world.

Shop my makeup picks:

"I'm the type of person who's either completely bare-faced or has a full face of makeup. That said, if I'm in a hurry or on the rare occasion that I do want something more minimal, my routine involves the following essentials: a concealer pen, tinted lip balm, clear brow gel, lengthening mascara, creamy blush, and if I'm feeling fancy, maybe a tinted face serum or a highlighting wand. Ilia's new SPF-spiked serum is bottled magic and pretty much erases any discoloration or spot right before my eyes. I reach for concealer pens because they're usually more of a liquid consistency, which makes them easy and fast to blend out while still delivering a sheer, natural, and dewy finish. YSL's cult pick and Clé de Peau Beauté's skincare-infused formula are the two I always have on standby. Glossier makes the absolute best mascara for long, fluttery lashes, but if I want some extra volume, I'll reach for Chanel's Le Volume formula instead. For blush and highlight, it's always something from Kosas or Charlotte Tilbury, and my favorite tinted lip balm ever is from Tata Harper. It goes on so smooth, has a subtle shine, and gives your lips the prettiest punch of raspberry color."

Shop Erin's makeup picks:

"This look is so easy to achieve and looks insanely cool. I'm a cat-eye girl, and this is kind of an extension of that and takes no time at all. I just trace my lash line with a vibrant liner, extend the wing beyond the corner of my eyes, and then bring the line just above my crease to create negative space. It's subtle but still brings the drama, so I keep the rest of my makeup very chill with brow gel, mascara, and a nude lip gloss."

Shop Courtney's makeup picks:

"I never do eye makeup other than mascara, so my go-to look is a statement lip. Call me boring, but I exclusively wear reds and pinks on my lips (same with nail polish). Here, I'm wearing Rogue Coco Lipstick in Corail Vibrant. Other than that, I just used my holy-grail concealer, Nars Creamy Radiant Concealer, and a few swipes of Marc Jacobs Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara."

Shop Erin's makeup picks:

"When it comes to my everyday makeup routine, I’m not too fussy. (Read: I’m lazy.) Plus, I never leave enough time to get ready in the mornings, so I’m always trying to beat the clock. After washing my face, I put on moisturizer and sunscreen. Next, I curl my eyelashes (this helps me look awake when I’m far from it) and put on mascara. I don’t wear foundation every day and prefer to dab concealer on the spots that need it. Then, I fill in my brows and put on some bronzer (to look even more awake). Lastly, I put on some lip color. This is where I can have a lot of fun: bold for days when I’ve got a big meeting and neutral for days when I’m just working on my laptop."

Shop Sarah's makeup picks:

"When I’m trying to do my makeup very quickly, I stick to products that I can apply with my fingers, so sheer foundation or tinted moisturizer, cream blush, and eye shadow all make the cut. The only actual tools I make time for are an eyelash curler and an eyebrow brush. I finish things off with a natural mascara, brow gel, and foolproof lip balm.”

Shop Allyson's makeup picks:

"When I want to create an easy makeup look in a short amount of time, I always start with one of my favorite products, the tinted face oil from Kosas. It’s the easiest all-in-one product to even out skin tone, hydrate, and create a nice glowy canvas. Using a brow pencil and brush is also a must, and I’ve been loving this duo from Oak and Fort for a natural, fluffy brow look. I never skip mascara, but if I have two extra minutes, I’ll do a subtle cat eye and finally apply a classic red lipstick to tie it all together.”

Shop Anna's makeup picks:

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