7 Super Easy Makeup Picks, According To Real Women

I don’t know about you, but unlike beauty bloggers, makeup artists, and celebrities, I do not have all the time in the world to do my makeup. So when it comes time to get ready before work or an event, I’d much rather use these easy makeup and beauty products that will make me look flawless in as little time as possible.

As much as I love experimenting with different looks, there are some makeup skills that I leave to the pros, such as how to do a cat eye or sometimes how to wear red lipstick. Sometimes, if my glasses aren’t on, I have no idea whether or not I’m blending foundation properly. In other words, how to do makeup perfectly is one of those many life skills that’s tricky to master. And talk about stressful! Who has time to do and then re-do their eyeliner five times? I certainly don’t.

Luckily, there’s a slew of beauty products that make makeup application easier, from eyeliner to blending, brows, and more. I asked my friends for their holy grail picks, because who better to trust than your BFFs? After all, everyone has a trick under their sleeve and might as well share it.

1. The Best Acne Cover-Up

The Pick: BareMinerals Broad Spectrum SPF 15 Matte Foundation, $27, Amazon

Why It Works: "I have really bad scars from picking (guilty) so it always looks like I have acne, even though it's not," says Julianne M. "This foundation covers everything — including redness — just a few swipes, and leaves me with flawless skin."

Remember when covering pimples used to be a five step process? This foundation makes dealing with acne a whole lot easier.

2. Sculpted Cheekbones With Just One Swipe Of Blush

The Pick: Urban Decay Naked Flushed, $32, Sephora

Why It Works: "A couple of years ago, I bought this Urban Decay blush palette and it changed my world," says Allison B. "It's a mix of highlighter, blush, and bronzer, and when I'm actually in the mood to step up my makeup game, it always helps me look polished with just a couple of swirls around my cheekbones, temples, and on the bridge of my nose. It's so easy!"

3. An Eyeliner For A Mess-Free Cat Eye

The Pick: Eyeko Eye Do Liquid Eyeliner, $22, Birchbox

Why It Works: "When I'm trying to line my eye, I find it hard to get it to go on smoothly with most eyeliners," says Heather B. "This liquid eyeliner's felt tip makes it effortless, and it's a gorgeous black color."

Mastering a perfect cat eye is like winning the lottery, but with this liquid eyeliner, you can do it in one stroke.

4. A Classic Red Lip

The Pick: Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick Creme in Certainly Red, $8, Amazon

Why It Works: "My routine is all about a fresh face with a red lip, which I find is a look that works for pretty much everything," says Heather T. "My go-to is Revlon's 'Certainly Red.' It's matte with a bit of shine and doesn't look too cakey or glossy, which is a huge plus. If you want a drugstore red lipstick that is affordable and actually stays on for a long time without rubbing off, I would definitely recommend this hidden treasure."

5. A Multitasking BB Creme

The Pick: Erborian 5 in 1 Fondation Bb Creme Au Ginseng, $30, Amazon

Why It Works: "I am so bad with makeup, but I am constantly searching for products that multitask and aren't fiddly," says Grace H. She struggles, in particular, with base products that won't irritate her oily skin. "[Erborian's BB Crème au Ginseng] actually works, and I can apply it with my fingers while on the bus to work, without a mirror, and it just magically melts into my skin and looks flawless every time," she says.

6. An Easy Way To Blend Foundation

The Pick: Beautyblender Original Makeup Sponge, $20, Amazon

How It Works: "I've always been bad at the 'basics' of makeup," says Maria C. "I could never get the foundation to, well, blend correctly! That's exactly what the beauty blender did for me."

She was skeptical when she saw the product advertised, and it actually took a friend's convincing in Sephora to actually take the sponge home. It changed her mind, though. "After buying my own, my makeup no longer clumped up in the corners of my nose, no longer caked under my eyes, and no longer formed a line across my neck," she says. "It made all the difference in the world!"

7. A Wand That Makes Your Brow Game Strong

The Pick: Benefit Cosmetics 3D BROWtones Instant Color Highlights, $24, Sephora

How It Works: "I'm terrible at eyebrows, but have found the easiest ways to do them are brow gels with a mascara-like wand," says Diana C. "The gel holds them in place and provides just the right amount of coverage for the sparse spots, but not too much where they look overdrawn."

While gel pots and drawing in eyebrows were a struggle for her, she says, "The gels are easiest for me because I can swipe, and they don't look too perfect but they still look present."

Images: Bustle (1); Birchbox (1); Sephora (2); Amazon (4)

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