Streamlined Weekend Makeup

Do you want to streamline your makeup routine for the weekend? Do you want to get out the door fast without a lot of fuss? I want that everyday! I've sorted through the steps of my makeup routine and narrowed it down to the most needed parts. The key is to simplify, do only what's necessary, and still have a little fun with your look.

Face first. Keep your skin in top shape with the right skin care. If you have acne prone skin, use a skin care system with salicylic acid. If you have aging skin, look for products that improve skins elasticity and promote the production of collagen. If you have dry skin, look for something with hyaluronic acid to help your skin absorb moisture. Using the right skin care products will help your skin look its best, which means you can spend less time trying to perfect it with makeup.

Fast foundation. A dusting of mineral powder foundation should do the trick for the weekend. It goes on fast, provides light coverage and a bit of SPF. As long as you don't use too much it won't settle in fine lines, either. For minimal coverage, use a tinted moisturizer instead. It will save you a step. Only use concealer where you absolutely need it.

Focus on your eyes. Make your eyes the center of attention, and they will dress up the rest of your makeup look. For a fast and playful eye look, use a thick, brightly colored creamy pencil eyeliner - such as teal or electric purple - to line the tops and bottoms of your eyes. Make the top liner a little thicker, and wing the ends out like a cat eye. Smudge if you want. Complete the look with two coats of mascara. For a more subtle look, swipe on a creamy bronze eye shadow and line eyes with a deep sable. Finish with a single coat of mascara.

By-pass the blush. Unless you are very pale faced, you can get away without blush on the weekends. If you desperately need to wear it, choose a sheer, peachy or slightly tan blush for a hint of color. A pale blush will minimize mistakes, which cost you time. A few swipes down your cheekbone or a swirl on the apple of each cheek will do the trick. Blend well!

Love your lips with gloss. Skip the lipstick, and swipe on some gloss or a tinted lip balm. Both are forgiving of mistakes and quick and easy to apply. If your eyes are neutral, you can punch up your look with a deep, burgundy lip gloss. If your eyes are dark or bright, keep your lips neutral with a sheer color or a pale, shimmery pink gloss.

After just a few tries, you'll get your weekend look nailed in no time. You'll be able to jump out of bed, throw on your face, and head out for your weekend fun. Top off any weekend look with an air of confidence and a great smile!