Easy 5 Step Natural Drugstore Makeup Routine

Since we’ve been spending all of our time at home, I’ve started to think about ways to adjust or streamline my daily beauty routine. I am continuing to follow all the normal steps of my skincare routine, but when it comes to makeup, I must admit, it’s hard to get inspired to apply makeup when there is nowhere to go!

Today, I’d like to walk through a quick and easy 5-step natural drugstore makeup routine that is perfect for every day or when you are short on time. It will provide a natural makeup look, and it shouldn’t take you more than 5 minutes from start to finish. These easy steps will provide pretty color and an even tone to your skin, all while looking natural and not overdone.

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Step #1: Apply Your Base: Foundation/Concealer (Powder Optional)

I use a few makeup products, such as Giorgio Armani Luminous Silk Foundation or Estee Lauder Double Wear Makeup, which are pretty expensive. So, needless to say, on days when I’m not leaving the house, I’d rather not waste expensive foundations and other luxury makeup products when there are some fantastic drugstore alternatives that are available at an affordable price.

Foundation

The drugstore has some fantastic foundations to provide a base for the rest of your makeup. If you want quick and easy minimal coverage, you can apply a tinted moisturizer or BB cream. I’ve been wearing CoverGirl Clean Matte BB Cream and love its light matte coverage. For my combination skin, wearing some sort of foundation seems to keep oil production in check throughout the day and creates an even and smooth complexion.

For full coverage, one of my favorite drugstore foundations is Revlon ColorStay Makeup. The coverage is natural-looking, and there is a large selection of shades to match your skin tone. Plus, there are different formulas for normal/dry skin and combination/oily skin.

I find the quickest way to apply foundation is to place a swipe across each cheek, your forehead, and your chin. If you want to get fancy, you can use a sponge or foundation brush. Otherwise, you can blend with your fingers to even out the coverage. If you want lighter coverage, use less foundation or keep blending until your desired level of sheerness is achieved.

Concealer

If you have issues with dark circles or want a brighter under-eye, concealer is a must. I follow the foundation directly with concealer. I’ve tried so many drugstore concealers, and I keep coming back to Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Concealer for its highly pigmented coverage. I remove the sponge applicator since I don’t think it’s hygienic, and I don’t get an even application with the sponge. Simply twist the tube a few times until the concealer comes out of the top and apply it with your fingers. I never apply the concealer tube directly to my eyes.

OPTIONAL: For those with combination/oily skin, you may want to finish with face powder to keep shine at bay throughout the day. Maybelline Fit Me! Matte & Poreless Powder has over 20 shades and works to mattify skin with blurring micro-powders.

Related: Drugstore Beauty Must-Haves

Step #2: Apply Blush

A few swipes of blush can transform your makeup look from blah to bright and cheery, depending on the shade of blush you choose. For a natural makeup look, I’ve been loving Burt’s Bees Blush in Shy Pink.

For the spring and summer, I like to re-introduce pink blush into my makeup routine. You can read more about some of my favorite drugstore blushes in this post on Pink, Rose & Wine Drugstore Blushes. With a light hand, I simply swipe from my cheekbone under each eye to the edge of the cheek and blend if the color is uneven.

Step #3: Define Brows

Whether your brows are prominent, unruly, or barely there (that would be me!), taking a minute to fill in your brows can even out your overall makeup look. I love CoverGirl Easy Breezy Brow Micro-Fine + Define Pencil for its ease of use. No messy sharpening is needed.

I use small hair-like strokes to create realistic-looking brow hairs in only a minute or so. A quick brush with the other end of the pencil will buff out any lines or color that is too prominent. I pay extra special attention to sparse areas and fill them with a light hand. The even color and definition the pencil provides are worth the effort.

QUICK TIP: To brighten up your eye area without applying eye shadow, try applying a small dab of concealer under the arch of your brows.

Step #4: Apply Mascara

To be perfectly honest, when I am at home and not leaving the house for the day, I never apply mascara. But for a pretty natural makeup look, mascara is what pulls everything together.

I love L’Oreal Voluminous Lash Paradise Mascara for volumizing and lengthening lashes. A single coat applied from root to tip provides beautiful lashes that are soft to the touch and won’t clump. No wonder there is one tube of this mascara sold every 5 seconds!

Step #5: Apply Lip Color/Balm

While not required, you can finish off this easy makeup routine with lip color or a simple lip balm. While you can choose your favorite lipstick or lip stain for a natural look, a lip gloss or lip balm is ideal. In the colder months, I always have lip balm nearby for re-application multiple times a day.

Some favorite balms from the drugstore include Physicians Formula Organic Wear Lip Treatment and the classic Rosebud Salve in a Tube. If you prefer color, CoverGirl Colorlicious Lip Gloss comes in over 20 shades, and the price is so affordable! The coverage is light to medium, and this gloss leaves your lips soft but never sticky.

Final Thoughts on a Quick and Easy 5-Step Drugstore Makeup Routine

You don’t need to spend an endless amount of time creating a beautiful and natural makeup look. There are many more makeup products that you can use, such as primers, highlighters, and contour products, but for a quick and easy routine, address your base, cheeks, eyes, brows, and lips, and you’ll be on your way to the rest of your day in no time flat. When it comes down to it, this easy makeup routine will simply make you feel better.

Do you apply makeup every day, especially now that we are all at home? I’d love to hear about your makeup routine in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and until next time…

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