There are very few things in life that I love more than sleeping. One of them is makeup, and the other is fluffy kittens, but I feel like that’s universal. My morning makeup routine is, for that reason, quite simple, but effective. Here are the steps I take every morning in order to look good.

Start clean

Wash your face first using a gentle cleanser. Never use the same soap that you use to wash your hands to clean your face. It will irritate your skin and make it dry. A face specific gel or foam will work much better. After the cleaning, moisturize your face with a cream that fits your skin type. In between the washing and the moisturizing you could use a light serum that will nourish your skin and keep it glowing.

Prime your face

Now’s the time to use a quality primer that will help your makeup stay on longer. Primer gives you a smooth canvas to work with so your makeup can be applied more easily.

Set up your foundation

Use a beauty blender to apply your foundation. If you don’t have any, the tips of your fingers will do. However, a beauty blender is a good investment because it helps even out the foundation and covers every spot. If your face is oily, then set the foundation with translucent powder or setting spray.

Highlight the details

Contouring is a little too heavy for your everyday look, so only do it if you’re going out. Instead of contouring, use a highlighter. If you don’t have a good highlighter, then a regular white eye shadow will do, just make sure to blend it well. Put a small amount on your cheekbones and under your eyebrows and your face will get a lovely fresh look.

Bring out your eyes

When it comes to eye makeup, softer shades are a good choice. Apply the lightest shade to the inner corner of your eyelid, the medium shade to the middle, and the darkest shade to the outer corner. Use a blending brush to blur any harsh lines and then feel free to apply your regular eyeliner and mascara. If this seems too heavy of a look for your taste, then stick to just one light eye shadow and mascara. Lighter colors will make your eyes seem more awake, especially in the morning.

Another cool trick is to take white eye pencil and line your waterline. Your eyes will look bigger and more alert. No one has to know you didn’t get enough sleep last night.

Rouge your cheeks

Now comes the blush. Find something that goes well with your complexion, in softer, more natural colors suited for the day.

Pay attention to eyebrows

Use an eyebrow brush to clean any excess powder from your brows and then fill them in neatly. If you are very pale, try to find an eyebrow pencil in a soft hazel color, rather than dark brown.

Choose the right lipstick

The last step is lipstick. Lipstick can really make your whole face come alive if you choose the right shade. I myself enjoy a nude brown, but you should pick something that fits your complexion. Stick to natural colors during the day, but if you don’t wear much eye makeup feel free to go for a bold lip.

With just a bit of practice, you can master this morning routine, which will allow you to get that much needed extra minutes of sleep. I enjoy my makeup routine because it’s soothing and fast. It’s my favorite ritual and I do it while drinking my morning coffee. I look forward to it, and it helps me start my day in a good mood.

Author BIO:

Sophia Smith is Australian based beauty and fashion blogger. She is very passionate about latest fashion trends, DIY projects and organic beauty products. Sophia writes mostly in beauty and fashion related topics, mainly through blogs and articles. She is regular contributor at High Style Life.