If putting on makeup has started to feel like a full-time job for you, I’m sure you’re not alone. Because my job is to actually put makeup on others as a professional makeup artist, I understand that the majority of women out there probably don’t want to spend 45 minutes in the bathroom putting on their face! Heck, maybe some of you may not want to spend any time at all and just accept your bare face because you’re overwhelmed at the idea of makeup. But, if you’re continuing to read this post, I highly doubt that, wink wink 🙂
Here’s the thing, instead of just quitting applying any sort of makeup altogether and giving up, let’s just SIMPLIFY.
Let’s throw away the accumulated drawers of products, endless steps, and the pressure to “do it all” for those who don’t want to. When in reality, less CAN look fresh, more modern, and sometimes more flattering. A bare, colorless, blank face can not, however…there I said it.
Unless you are a fresh-faced teenager, our faces will ALWAYS look a teeny bit better if we take a few minutes for ourselves to use the right products that will enhance and amplify our features.
The goal isn’t perfect; it’s looking polished, rested, and confident without overthinking every step. And you probably need to spend more time creating holiday magic for yourself and the family right now rather than in the makeup chair!
So here’s how to stop overcomplicating applying makeup. I’m sharing with you some exact steps and the products you’ll need to look beautifully put together – no instruction booklet needed, and it takes mere minutes!
1. Start With a Skin Tint, Not a Heavy Foundation
Milk Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint, $38
A skin tint evens out tone while letting your natural skin show through. Heavy foundations can settle into fine lines and make skin look flat. A tint gives just enough coverage to blur redness and discoloration while keeping your complexion soft and alive.
How to use it: Apply with a damp sponge, $20, or a buffing foundation brush, $32, focusing on the center of the face and blending outward. You don’t need full coverage everywhere. Use a stippling motion instead of swiping to get a better blurred effect.
Why it works: This Milk Makeup gel tint I’m using has an amped-up form of hyaluronic acid and niacinamide, and feels weightless due to its gel tint that is clinically proven to boost skin’s hydration by 24%. It moves with mature skin instead of sitting on top of it. I love, love, this finish – just check out the reviews. Wearing shade #6 for reference.
2. Use Concealer Strategically
Maybelline Instant Age Rewind concealer, $10
Concealer isn’t meant to cover your entire face. It’s there to brighten and lift where you need it most—usually under the eyes, around the nose, and on any dark or blemish spots.
How to use it: Tap a small amount only where needed (usually directly under the eyes, just where you see darkness or discoloration, don’t go past those areas ) and blend gently with your ring finger if you must. But I’d prefer you use a fabulous concealer brush like this BK Beauty A506 brush, $24!
Use whatever is left over on your brush to also cover the eyelid to even out the skin tone there. And always apply the concealer AFTER the foundation/skin tint.
Why it works: Targeted concealing with this iconic Maybelline formula promises a fresher look and avoids the heavy, cakey effect. There’s a reason this drugstore formula has been widely reported as America’s most popular concealer based on Nielsen sales data from major retailers. (This means it outperformed other concealers in both dollar and unit sales during the period analyzed) I’m wearing shade 120 here for reference.
3. Define Brows Softly With a Brow Powder
Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Powder Duo, $23.
Brows really do frame the face, but overdone brows can look harsh. A brow powder fills in sparse areas and restores structure easily and realistically.
How to use it: Use light, hair-like strokes with a small enough angled brow brush,$20, and focus on the front and arch of the brow. Keep the tail soft and slightly lifted. The easiest way to figure out where your brows should start and stop is to anchor a pencil beside your nose straight up (where the brow should start), then turn the pencil, keeping it next to the nose, to the end of your eye (this is how far you should draw in the tail).
Why it works: Fuller-looking brows instantly make the face appear more youthful and polished. I’m wearing shade: Medium brown in this powder.
4. An Eyeshadow Stick Is All You Need
Nudestix Magnetic Eye Pencil, $27
Forget complicated palettes. A neutral eyeshadow stick adds subtle definition and color in seconds. You can choose one with shimmer or matte – totally up to you. Just don’t keep your eyelid naked of color!
How to use it: Swipe across the lid starting at the eyelash line and then blend with your fingertip slightly above the crease. Coloring under the lower lash line is optional – but I did! Choose shades like taupe, soft bronze, or champagne. In these Nudestix (I think they’re currently on sale on Sephora), I am wearing two colors for reference: “Burnish” (the majority of the lid) and “Chocolate” (just along the upper lash line.
Why it works: Cream sticks don’t emphasize texture and give the eyes gentle depth without effort.
5. Mascara to Open the Eyes
Milani Highly Rated Lash Extensions Tubing mascara, $13.
Mascara is the fastest way to look awake and pulled together. But PLEASE curl your lashes first for best results with ANY mascara.
How to use it: Apply two coats, focusing on the upper lashes. Skip heavy lower lash mascara if it drags the eyes down. But I do add just a touch to my lower lashes.
Why it works: Lifted lashes make the entire face look more alert, and this formula creates mega-long lashes and easily removes with warm water and your fingers!
6. Add Blush for Life and Lift
L’Oreal Le Lumi Liquid Blush, $15.
Blush brings warmth, dimension, and LIFE back into the face.
How to use it: Apply high up on the apples of the cheeks and blend upward toward the temples. Be timid with it, or be bold with it, this color will NOT disappoint! It’s seriously my go-to blush right now and has just enough rosy warmth and a touch of shimmer that requires no highlighter at all! Use your fingers to blend quickly, or my choice would be the very affordable Morphe rounded cream blush brush, $12.
Why it works: A soft flush mimics healthy, youthful skin and adds instant freshness. I’m wearing shade “Glowy True Rose,” it is just SO GOOD and easy to pull off!
7. Finish With a Sophisticated Lip With A Hint of Shine
L’Oreal Infallible Lacque Resistance Liquid Lip, $15.
Matte lips can feel aging and drying. A gloss or satin lip adds softness and polish. Finding a long-wear formula earns extra bonus points.
How to use it: Choose a neutral rose, mauve, or sheer berry and apply straight from the tube. The reason I tell y’all to get yourself one of these L’Oreal lipsticks is that it is the longest-wearing I have found, that doesn’t dry out the lips, leaves them looking healthy, and the applicator is so precise you don’t even need a lip liner! I’m truly obsessed.
Why it works: Gloss or shine reflects light and makes lips look fuller and more youthful. Wearing their popular shade “Medium Worth It.”
The Rest of My Look Details
My super soft red bunny cropped Target cardigan, $30, is cute right now for the holidays, but will totally transition past New Year’s for the bunny lovers – has sparkly buttons too, // My hoops with stars on them are very old, but Mint + Lily has some similar vibes here, $39. // My white Amazon square neck tank I have in 3 colors, $23.
Some of you have inquired about hair products I’m using and for today’s hair, most of the glory goes to this Pantene Biotin Blend shampoo, $10 + conditioner and some root volume mouse by Sexy Hair, $23 // Get 20% any full sized fragrance from Sephora right now using code: SAVESCENTS at checkout thru December 24th – take advantage ladies, 20% a prestige perfume is a great deal! Check out the scents I’ve been wearing lately here.
Now, have I piqued your interest in prioritizing wearing makeup? If so, be sure to check out one of my popular past posts, 8 Beauty Products That Deserve More Attention!
Bottom line, looking put together doesn’t require a plethora of products—it requires the right ones. When you stop overcomplicating makeup, you gain confidence, speed, and a look that truly suits you. Simple is not boring—it’s modern, elegant, and empowering!
When I’m back next week, Christmas will be over, and we’ll be days away from 2026! Can y’all believe it?? Have a very Merry Christmas or a Happy Hanukkah to those who celebrate!
If you’re still shopping for gifts, don’t miss Last Minute Gift Ideas. And if you ever wondered whether you can wear leggings over 50, you want to read How to Wear Leggings Over 50. And I LOVE winter dresses, so stop by this post, Best Winter Dresses for Women over 50.
Great tips and thanks for sharing affordable products.
You’re very welcome Linda. Drugstore products have come a long way! So many good ones out there that can perform like prestige!
Happy Holidays to you too Jennifer. I have applied many of your techniques and products this year and look better for it.
Thanks for the great posts.
Wonderful to hear Susy and I’m glad to hear that some of my suggestions in the world of beauty have worked for you! I appreciate you sticking around and reading my posts – looking forward to sharing more in 2026.
Thank You For Your Great Advise Have A Marry Christmas Love 💕 Your Sweater and All The Advise You Give To Make Things Easier
Hey Maria. I’m so happy to hear that some of my advice has been easy enough to follow for a successful beauty routine! Cheers to you!
Thanks for these tips, Jennifer! I don’t like to spend a lot of time on makeup, but this looks doable for me.
Wonderful Cathy. Doable usually = success in some capacity! Here’s to enjoying any new makeup tips you implement!
Love the sweater!
Thanks Nancy – it’s a Target special!
Great tips, just in time! Love a fresh easy face. I’m one who takes 45 minutes to an hour every day to do my make-up and it’s becoming tiresome, so thanks!
Will be incorporating these ideas asap!
Merry Christmas!
Great Nancy! You sound a lot like me with the 45 minute face, but yes I agree, every now and then a simplified version works just as good. Hope you had a very Merry Christmas yourself!
Greetings from across the pond!
Like Cathy, I spend little time – actually no time at all! – on actual make up, apart from lipstick, which I love, but I do use a decent face cream daily. Unfortunately, I’ve never really got the hang of finding the right shades of anything under unrealistic pharmacy lights, and after spending a fortune on years’worth of bad buys, I just gave up.
However, as Cathy said, your ideas do seem doable, Jennifer, and Maybelline is available over here – it’s very popular – so perhaps by some judicious shopping and utilising your tips, there’s hope for me after all!
A Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year, everyone!
Hi Zepherine! I think a great lipstick color is one of the most important beauty products you can use to look put together in a flash – so you’re on the right track! And there’s ALWAYS hope for implementing and being successful with some new makeup tricks, so don’t give up! Thanks for being here Zepherine and Happy New Year 🙂
You seem to have skipped the eyeliner application. This model obviously has some sort of eyeliner
Beverly, she did say that she used the darker eyeshadow stick along her lash line. I believe that is what you are noticing. I don’t see a sharp liner line, more like smudged shadow color.
Exactly Leslie – you noticed!
Hello Beverly! I did not use a traditional eyeliner, but did use a second darker shade of the eyeshadow stick to run just above my lash line in an eyelining fashion. Hope that helps and makes sense.
Great tips very helpful- thank you
You’re so welcome Rose. Thanks for taking time to comment on this post.
Where have you been all my life, simple, clean make up look….love it all, thanks!
Ha ha! Right here Debi!! I am happy to hear this post spoke to you 🙂
I don’t usually read an entire article about this kind of thing. But yours felt more real than so many I’ve seen. I’ve tired of the Reels that seem to be more about the creators need to be noticed. I truly enjoyed this. Thank you!
Cheryl – thank YOU for saying this!! That means a ton and I hope some of this simplified makeup advice helped!
Jennifer, I am 71 yrs. & honestly, for the very 1st time since since my teen yrs. I’ve been able to follow your simplified guide to bringing out natural beauty with makeup. I’ve steered away from foundations & eyeshadows for fear of presenting a clown instead of a naturally attractive woman. With aging these last few years I knew it was time to try “the world of makeup” You’ve helped me believe I Can!! Thank You!!!
Debra, YES to believing you can enter back into the world of makeup and make it work for YOU and your face! Nothing makes me happier to hear than this. It truly only takes a few new products or steps to implement that make such a big difference on the face. Happy Holidays to you!!
Thank you for all the invaluable information. I enjoyed and learned from reading every word. HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU!!!
Thanks a bunch Stephanie for saying this and I am so thrilled to hear that you’ve learned some new tips/tricks/products along the way from reading these posts.
I loved this post and I really love the Milk foundation and the blush you suggested. I already use the concealer you recommended
I see the Milk tint does not contain any sunscreen. Can you recommend one to use and I assume it goes on under the face tint?
Great post!
so happy to hear you’ve had success with some of my suggestions Janet! currently I’m using the kiehls Better Screen™ UV Serum SPF 50+ Facial Sunscreen with Collagen Peptide under any foundations that don’t already include spf. i like it bc it’s thin!