13 Makeup Hacks Every Lazy Girl Should Know

I'm always on the hunt for lazy girl makeup hacks because, at the end of the day, putting on a full face of makeup is hard work. Personally, I just don't have the patience or the dexterity to stand there with a Beautyblender and tap away at my foundation until it looks airbrushed. The only thing I love more than a good multi-purpose makeup product is one that I can't mess up, since few things can ruin my day quicker than smudging my liquid eyeliner.

There are plenty of other benefits to simplifying my makeup routine. It makes mornings easy, and since I will always prioritize sleep over makeup, I need something that will help me look put together without having to sacrifice those desperately needed extra minutes of rest. Plus, I'm least caffeinated and most likely to make mistakes in the early morning, which means that simple, time-saving hacks can be the difference between looking like a professional did my makeup or like a child took a crayon to my face.

I firmly believe that you don't need complicated techniques or routines to get a flawless look, and if you're a self-proclaimed lazy girl like me — who wants to look like a Kardashian without putting in any of the effort — then these 13 tried and true makeup hacks from my arsenal are for you.

1. Contour On The 3s

Smashbox Step-By-Step Contour Stick Trio, $45, Sephora

If contouring and highlighting terrify you because they look too complicated, never fear! Just take a highlighter pencil and draw a "3" above your eyebrow, under your eye, and around your cheek. Then, take a contour pencil and draw an intersecting "E."

If that still sounds confusing, check out this mini-tutorial from Cosmopolitan .

2. Replace Blending With Mineral Foundation

Tarte Amazonian Clay Full Coverage A irbrush Foundation, $36, Tarte Cosmetics

If you're always in a rush, or just can't be bothered with constantly tapping at your liquid foundation with a makeup sponge to get an airbrushed look, invest in some mineral powder foundation. In my experience, it's much more forgiving than a liquid in terms of the time it takes to apply.

3. Make A Point With Your Concealer

Instead of making crescent-shaped half-circles underneath your eyes to brighten up dark circles, draw a triangle down your cheek, like this tutorial from Cosmopolitan shows. Applying your concealer in this shape will reflect more light than just swiping it on haphazardly, but without the additional effort.

4. Practice Your X's And O's

Neutrogena SkinClearing Blemish Concealer, $10, Neutrogena

In an interview with POPSUGAR, Blair Patterson, director of global makeup artistry at Estée Lauder, explained that the best way to cover blemishes isn't to just dab at them with concealer. Instead, draw an X over the spot, followed by an "O" around it. The criss-cross shape over the blemish will make sure it's sufficiently covered, while the circle will hide the surrounding redness.

5. Add A Drop Of Facial Oil To Foundation

Boscia Tsubaki Beauty Oil, $46, Sephora

If you have dry skin, Jaclyn Hill recommends adding a drop of facial oil to your foundation, which will help hydrate skin and keep makeup from getting cake-y and flakey as the day goes on. Put a dollop of your regular foundation on the back of your hand and add a single drop of facial oil. Then mix it together with your finger, and apply as usual.

6. Apply Fixer To Brush Before Blending

MAC Prep and Prime Fix+, $24, Mac Cosmetics

Another flawless foundation tip from Hill is to spray MAC Fix+ on your foundation brush before blending. It'll help to set your makeup as you do it while giving you a dewy look and minimizing streakiness. Just don't spray a water-based spray on your brush if you're trying to blend in foundation mixed with facial oil. That'll end in a hot mess since oil and water literally don't mix.

7. Try All Lipstick Everything

Clinique Chubby Stick Moisturizing Lip Color Balm in Jumbo Jasmine, $17, Clinique

Lipstick doesn't have to stay on your lips, and using lipstick all over your face is a great way to minimize the number of products in your makeup bag. Seriously. Use a coral, rose, or plum-colored lipstick as a blush or even an eyeshadow, and a taupe or dark brown lipstick that's just lying around for contouring.

8. Ditto All Eyeliner Everything

Makeup Forever Kohl Pencil in Matte Mocha Brown, $18, Sephora

Multi-purpose makeup is a lazy girl's best friend, and really, no one needs a separate eyeliner and eyebrow pencil. Use one pencil for both things! If you don't have a brown eyeliner pencil, you can also use brown eyeshadow to fill in your brows.

9. Find A Nude Eyeliner

NYX Cosmetics Wonder Pencil, $5, NYX Cosmetics

As the name might suggest, a nude eyeliner like NYX Cosmetics's Wonder Pencil can really work wonders. Put it on your waterline or in the corner of your lids, and your eyes will appear instantly larger and brighter. You can even use it as a lip liner or a concealer if you're in a pinch.

10. Get Friendly With Your Highlighter

Too Cool For School Dinoplatz Pearl Bay Invasion Highlighter in Mother of Pearl, $26, Memebox

If you don't have the time or the patience to fully contour your face like a Kardashian, but still want some of that definition, try a good highlighter. Apply under your eyes to brighten dark circles or along your cheeks for a bit of a pop.

11. Tame Your Brows With Lip Balm

EOS Smooth Sphere Lip Balm in Sweet Mint, $4, Ulta

Taming your eyebrows can totally transform your face. If you're really crunched for time, taking a couple of seconds to brush out your brows can be the difference between looking totally put together and like your just rolled out of bed. If you don't have an eyebrow gel or pencil on hand, use some waxy lip balm to get your brows in order.

12. Make Mascara Last Longer

Add a couple of drops of contact or saline solution to mascara that's on its last legs to make it last a little longer. But as this tutorial from ModaMob reminds us all, don't try to salvage mascara that's more than six months old because, well, it's just old mascara. It will likely be dry, not to mention that gross germs can build up in those old tubes, potentially causing infections.

13. Use Face Wipes

Simple Cleansing Facial Wipes, $4, Target

Putting on makeup is fun, but you also have to take it all off at the end of the day. If you're too lazy to actually wash your face with a cleanser and water, buy face wipes in bulk. Leave a pack in your bathroom, in your gym bag, in your car's glove compartment, and on your nightstand so you never have an excuse not to "wash" your face before you go to sleep.

Putting on makeup shouldn't be a chore, and these makeup hacks will help make the process of getting glammed-up as painless as possible.

Images: sodaniechea/Flickr; Courtesy Brands; Maxine Builder