Flawless Makeup Tips- 4 Ways, 4 Minutes


4 flawless faces
4 flawless faces

With the summer heat still going strong, I think I speak for all of us when I say I would much rather enjoy my time outside rather than sitting in front of my vanity. So for the ladies that want to look fab without spending the time, here are four flawless faces that you can do in four minutes flat. Yes, four minutes. And since we’re on a time crunch I will be substituting certain steps with multi-taskers or others that are either quicker in order to meet the four minute mark because after all, I’m a makeup artist and not a magician! But for each face, the result will be a fresh face that can be worn to the office, to dinner, or to the beach!

Sultry in Summer

Sultry
Sultry

The first look I call Sultry in Summer, and features wing-tipped eyeliner which is a great way to add some drama without adding a lot of time.

I often don’t wear foundation in the summer and instead spot conceal then powder my whole face. So on my own pre-moisturized face, I started by using Bobbi Brown’s Corrector and Creamy Concealer on my under eyes then used that same concealer to spot conceal around my nose and a few blemishes. And instead of using an eye base, I used the concealer on my lids. The more one product can do, the more time I save. Then, using MAC’s 109 brush I buffed powder onto my entire face, using it as a foundation substitute and to mattify that summer shine.

When doing makeup, I always start on the area that I want to be the feature so my next step was my eye liner. Using MAC’s 266 brush and Fluidline in Blacktrack, I started at the center of my lid and made my way out, drawing a straight line. Then, I built up the drama (and you can control how little or much emphasis you want this way) by filling in that line and extending it out on a slight angle. I didn’t go too extreme which makes this eye wearable in the day or at night. For mascara, I skipped the primer and used Lancome’s Definicils for both length and definition. I quickly and lightly hit my cheeks with MAC’s Margin blush using a 116 brush, and glossed my lips using Fusion Beauty’s LipFusion in Crave. And that’s a wrap!

Beautifully Bronzed

Beautifully Bronzed
Beautifully Bronzed

On the lovely Adela, I did a look I call Beautifully Bronzed – a face that belongs at the beach.
Again skipping foundation, I used CoverGirl’s tinted moisturizer all over the face and set it with a translucent powder. By doing this, I combine coverage and moisture saving the ten minute wait time in between and I get the dewy look I love for summer. I wanted to play up her summer tan so we concentrated on bronzer and bronze tones. Using the edges of MAC’s 109 brush, I applied Urban Decay’s Baked Bronzer in Toasted to the hollows of her cheeks and worked my way up to her temples, leaving the apples of her cheeks bare. Switching to a MAC 116 brush, I used the Physician’s Formula Shimmer Strips Custom Blush and Highlighter in Natural Glow , a glowy bronze shade, which saves me the trouble of getting out my highlighter and blush because it’s all there in one convenient compact. I brushed over the darker side of the compact and applied that color to the apples of her cheeks, then used the other side of my brush and went over the lighter side for my highlight and applied that at the top of her cheekbones. Then using the MAC 129, I blended all three colors together to get a gorgeous shimmery bronze. Since it was all about the tan, I just gave her lashes one coat of the Korres Abyssinia Oil Volumizing Mascara, glossed up her lips and she was a bronze beauty.

Perfect Pout

Perfect Pout
Perfect Pout

Back to my face, I wanted to do a look that could be worn to a spontaneous dinner out so I came up with the Perfect Pout. By putting a bold color on the lip and making that the focal point, I can easily get away with not putting much else on.

Doing the same spot conceal and powder routine as Sultry in Summer, I was able to move quickly to work on my pout. I decided to use a stain for all of its benefits, one being I can skip the liner! On a bare pair of lips, I started with my upper lip by outlining it first then coloring it in with MAC’s Pro Longwear Lipstain Marker in Purposefully Red. On the lower, I flip the routine by starting in the center of my lip and coloring it in, then drawing my line to define my lips. Doing this gives me the most precise line and saves me the trouble of having to fix any mistakes that could occur with over extending the lip line. Then to really bring on the drama, I topped it off with Dior’s Addict Ultra Gloss in Little Red Dress which brought on the sparkle and shine and also intensified the red stain.

With my pout now perfect, I didn’t have much left to do. A quick coat of Lancome’s Definicils on my lashes and another brush of MAC’s Margin on my cheeks and I was done.

Simple Yet Sophisticated

Simple Yet Sophisticated
Simple Yet Sophisticated

On the beautiful Maria, The Cos View’s very own Drugstore Diva, I did a look that is Simple Yet Sophisticated using a palette of pink and plum tones. For her look, we wanted to give her everything – eyes, lips, and cheeks – all under four minutes. Working quickly and cleverly, here’s what I did.
A tinted moisturizer all over her face gave us the little coverage she needed as well as gives her moisture and SPF protection. To prevent any shine, I went over with a sheer powder from Bobbi Brown. Since I was applying eye shadow, I primed her lids using Lancome’s Aquatique (my personal favorite eye base) and went over with MAC’s Gleam as both the base and highlight, and contoured with Shale. Her already thick lashes got a dash of Cargo’s Lash Activator and her eyes were set.

For color on her cheeks and lips, and in order to make my four minute mark, I used The Multiple by NARS in Malibu which gave her a gorgeous plum brown. On her cheeks, I simply dabbed her face directly with the product and blended thoroughly with a brush and my finger. On her lips, I topped off Malibu with a dab of iridescent gloss in the center of her bottom lip to complete her look.

You don’t have to spend many of your precious summer moments to get a fresh and flawless face. By combining steps and using multi-taskers, you can be your beautiful best in no time. Do you have any time saving tips?

This article was written by Natasha Kohli, makeup artist and editor of TheCosView.com . Natasha’s philosophy on beauty is to find and then do what makes you feel good and feel gorgeous no matter what it may be, because that’s what this is all about.

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59 thoughts on “Flawless Makeup Tips- 4 Ways, 4 Minutes

  1. thats is something ???? :yes: :yes: :yes:
    i appreciate the hard work and will be bookmarking this ….again :yes: :yes: :yes:

      1. i was reading your blog and it seems very interesting … i do need to look around and explore more and i am happy to see the stuff or say beauties you used 🙂 awesome man 🙂
        had i been in chicago i would have troubled you a lot and i really mean a lot 🙂

  2. You are gorgeous, Natasha and the article is very useful. I would love to give these a try. And my fav is the perfect pout . 🙂

    Thinking of the products I could use in creating the looks…

    What’s your take on Lancome’s Definicils?

    1. Thanks so much, Rati and thank you for being such a gracious hostess yet again! I’d love to see what you do with the looks and how you would make them your own.

      Definicils is great for a natural look, just the right amount of definition but no volume (which is something I love– dramatic lashes). Lancome’s Hypnose is one of my faves.
      .-= Natasha´s last blog ..LORAC Mocktail Lip Gloss =-.

  3. Natasha, you are gorgeous… :-*

    And your skin is perfect.. So I am sure you can go without makeup ANY day.. :yes: :yes:

    I just ,lovvved all the looks you did..

    Any tips for skincare from the master MUA????

    1. Hi Mrunmayee, thank you so much. 🙂

      Skincare is really the foundation for great makeup, because if your skin looks good your makeup looks good! It’s hard to recommend specific products without seeing and touching your skin, but everybody can benefit from a simple 3-step process (cleanse, tone, moisturize) and be sure to remove ALL of your makeup before going to sleep… no matter how tired you are. 🙂

      Hope that helps!
      .-= Natasha´s last blog ..LORAC Mocktail Lip Gloss =-.

      1. Sure!! I am new to make up world, though I do take care of my skin regularly!! 🙂 :)…Surely want to try some of your tips..I loved your blog as well!!! 😀 :-* 😛

  4. hi natasha….
    lovely post..esp fr smone like me whos always pressed for time and is always on hurry….i liked the look perfect pout….i m surely gonna get that purposefully red lipstain marker fr sure… :yes:

    1. Yes! This is article is just for gals like you– always on the go and always in a rush.

      I don’t think it’s sold on MAC’s website anymore (unless you can find it in store), but last I checked it’s still available on Nordstrom’s site.
      .-= Natasha´s last blog ..LORAC Mocktail Lip Gloss =-.

  5. Natasha,
    You have given me the best monday morning gift ever… 🙂 Loved all the 4/4 mins looks. Specially, the last one. It’s going to save me sooooo…much of time in the morning…I can literally dash out of the door.

  6. Natasha, forget about the make up you sure are an artist :cute: :cute: , but i cant take my eyes from your beautiful hair 😀 did you use curling thong on your normal hair, or you had any perm, or rebounding done to keep away the frizz? looks so perfect i could die 😀

    1. Hi Deb,

      Thanks so much for the kind words. I actually have naturally curly hair, and it took about half a lifetime to realize that then another quarter of a lifetime to figure out how to deal with it! Finally, I’ve gotten to a routine I can manage– I use all Bumble and Bumble products, starting with the Curl Conscious Cream (helps to define the curls and keep them separated without frizzing), then Defrizz which is a serum (again, helps fight frizz and adds some shine), then Thickening Spray (volumizing hair spray). And then I diffuse and am done!

      1. OHgmahgosh Noooo WAY!!!!! You looks r just stunning….

        I have curly hair as well, that i had straightened for a change of looks as you can see in the pic, also i colored it black, my natural hair is medium brown as it always looked sort of sun burnt :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: .

        But i got so tired of the straighted hair and color that i chopped it off 😀 and now i am with a pixie hair cut (will change the display pic as soon as i get a decent pic) :P, which i actually did to cut off all the straight and grow my curls back 😀

        I do enjoy my short hair style and can easily manage it, but want my curls back at least chin length.

        So Adorable of you to share your experience and secrets, thanks u made a curly hair girl very happy today :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy: :shy:

  7. Btw, I used to have the pink ones from Tony and guys, but it always left my hair very heavy…my hair is still very short now, but do you know where can i get bumble and bumble products in India?

    1. I just checked their site and unfortunately they don’t ship internationally. I would suggest ebay, but sometimes the products can be old (or even tampered with), so I always purchase mine direct… The next best thing would be to find a stylist in your city that specializes in curly hair and see what they have to suggest. Maybe their suggestions will work even better than B&B for you!

      The key to not having your hair feel too heavy is to go light on the product. When I was first experimenting with how to manage my curls, I always thought more was better… If a little does a little for my hair, a lot would do even more! Of course, that’s not the case (with hair product or anything, for that matter) so practice and pay attention to how much product is the best amount for the amount of hair you have. Hope this helps, and I’d love to see your curls!
      .-= Natasha´s last blog ..LORAC Mocktail Lip Gloss =-.

      1. :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute: :cute:

  8. Lovely make up Natasha. BTW, which lip product did you use for the bronzed girl (in the 2nd pic)? I am going to check out your website right now.

    1. Hey Sabrina,

      Thanks very much. 🙂 On Adela, I used Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Lip Gloss in Lotta Coolata. They’re inexpensive, fun, and just plain great glosses. I didn’t use any liner or lipstick beneath it, either.
      .-= Natasha´s last blog ..LORAC Mocktail Lip Gloss =-.

      1. Thanks so much for the info on the lippie, Natasha. It looks so lovely……what a pity we don’t get this brand here…..or do we, I don’t know?

  9. Thanks, Natasha. As a newbie to cosmetics, I never really given a thought to varying my looks… I mean, I just needed to get ONE look RIGHT, right? 😀 But you’ve given me ideas, girl. Thank you for that.

    Oh, you look stunning! :yes:

    1. Thanks, Anita! I’m so glad you’ll be able to start spicing things up. 😉

      The basics are always the most important, and if you’re mastered one look already you’re well on your way! I try to change it up a little every day– trying new color combinations and new techniques. It’s the best way to learn. 🙂
      .-= Natasha´s last blog ..Laura Geller Spackle Under Makeup Primer =-.

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