This 15-Minute Makeup Formula Will Streamline Your Morning Routine

We’re all looking for ways to save time, especially on mornings when hitting the snooze button isn’t an option. Whether you’re getting the kids ready for school, yourself ready for work, or both, every minute counts and your beauty routine often falls by the wayside.

That needn’t be the case, says British celebrity and editorial makeup artist Angie Parker, who swears by a simple makeup formula to help you get glam in 15 minutes or less. By focusing on key areas instead of attempting a full makeup routine in a rush you’ll ensure you look chic and feel ready to face the day.

Here, the New York-based makeup artist lets us in on the secrets of her genius 15-minute makeup formula…

“To get my 15-minute makeup right, follow a very simple rule,” Angie says. “Choose one or two of the following areas, depending on what your comfort level is or highlighting one fave part of your face: a good brow; a cheek colour; a thick layer of mascara; a pop of colour on the mouth.”

As a first step, she recommends: “A clean tinted moisturizer, with or without an SPF, can be applied quickly. I find that with every one of the four areas, an evened-out skin tone just creates a great canvas, it doesn’t have to be complicated or time consuming.”

1. A good brow

Filling in your brows is so quick and easy, but it makes a huge difference to your overall appearance.

Angie says: “You could try some of the eye brow pencils and brow gels I love, such as RMS Beauty pencils in light/medium and dark brown; Victoria Beckham BabyBlade brow pencils in many shades or Milk Makeup Kush Fiber brow gels.”

2. A cheek colour

A wash of peach, pink or bronze colour on your cheeks, whether cream or powder, will transform a dull complexion.

“I always use Manasi 7 All Over Colour on the cheeks as their pigments are really strong yet creamy,” Angie says. “Also Westman Atelier Cheek Colour sticks are fab.” 

3. A thick layer of mascara

Give your eyes the wide-awake look even when you’re exhausted with a couple of coats of high-quality mascara. 

“Finding the right brush and a non-flaky mascara is the best combo for me,” Angie says. “I love RMS Straight Up Volumizing Peptide mascara, also Milk Makeup Kush High Volume Mascara is so good and Saie has a great brush on their mascara.”

3. A pop of colour on the mouth

If you’re choosing to highlight your lips, Angie recommends a subtle wash of colour rather than a bold lipstick.

“Invariably a lip stain of some kind, really blended well,” she says. “I adore the new Legendary Lip Serums by RMS Beauty, also Violette Fr has a lip balm which adds color and looks slightly worn-in, called the Bisous Balm.”

Here are some of Angie’s favourite tinted moisturisers to create your clean base:

Hourglass Veil

Saie Slip Tint

Ilia Super Serum SPF 30

Ere Perez Oat Milk Foundation

Katie Wright

Katie Wright is a freelance features journalist. For nine years she was Fashion & Beauty Editor at PA Media, covering fashion, beauty, food, travel, health and other lifestyle topics. Katie has attended London Fashion Week (covering front row and backstage news) and has interviewed celebrities including Kylie Minogue, Kate Hudson, Amanda Holden and Claudia Winkleman. Katie's journalism career began at the John Lewis Partnership working on staff publications.