Do Light Daytime Makeup and Casual Hair

When you’re in a rush in the morning, the last thing you want to think about is doing your hair and makeup. Thankfully, daytime hair and makeup skews much more casual than nighttime hair and makeup, so you’ll be able to get your face and hair ready and be out the door in no time. All you need is some time, a light touch and hair and makeup products - all of which can be found in your own home or purchased at a specialty makeup store or drug store.

Steps

Applying the Makeup

1. Create a good base. To make your skin look as blemish-free as possible, start by applying facial primer evenly across your face. Next, put on your preferred foundation and blend it in. Apply concealer under your eyes and on top of any blemishes.
   • You can swap out the primer for facial lotion or a light moisturizer.
   • If you have naturally good skin, you can skip this step and only apply the primer.
   • To select the right foundation for your skin, dip a Q-tip into a container of foundation, then run the Q-tip over your jawline.
   • If you can't see where your skin ends and the foundation begins, this is the right shade for you.
2. Make up your eyes. Start with the eye shadow; apply a tan color across the lid of your eye, making sure to go from the base of the eye to the brow-bone. Rub a darker brown shade of eye shadow across the crease of the eye to define it.
   • Run the same shade of brown across the bottom lash line to darken it.
   • Curl your eyelashes with the help of a lash curler, then run your mascara wand over the lashes on both eyes.
   • Make sure to run the brush from the root of the lash to the tip of the lash.
   • Avoid eye-liner. Eye-liner is a great way of making your eyes stand out, but during the day it can look a little aggressive.
   • If you don't like brown, look for eye shadow tones in bright pink, champagne, purple or peach.
   • Pair your eye shadow with a dark mascara to make your eyes stand out.
3. Fill in your eyebrows. Find an eyebrow pencil that is a similar shade to your hair color. If you don’t have a pencil, you can also substitute an eye shadow that matches your hair color and apply it by using a thin slanted makeup brush.
   • Outline and fill in the brow using the pencil.
   • Check your work to make sure the eyebrows are as even as possible.
4. Add some color to your cheeks. Start by smiling; the fullest, fleshiest part of your cheeks when you smile is called the apple of your cheeks and this is where you will be applying the blush.
   • Run your blush brush up the apples of your cheeks, towards your temples.
   • Use a cotton swab or some tissue to blend the color in.
   • Keep a light touch - it's easier to add more blush on later than it is to remove it.
   • If you do over-apply, don't worry! Instead, place some powder or liquid foundation on a sponge and use this to help blend the excess blush.
5. Finish up with a neutral lip. Start with a lip color that is very similar to the natural color of your lips. Forgo lip liner and instead use the lip brush or tube to apply the lip color directly to your lips.
   • If you’re not a fan of lip color, try substituting Chapstick or a clear lip gloss instead.
   • Make sure to reapply the lip color periodically throughout the day.
   • If you're going to do a red lip in daytime, keep the rest of your makeup minimal.
   • Don't feel like you have to stick to a matte lip - glossy is also fine.

Following the Daytime Rules

1. Wear sunscreen. Since you’ll be out during the day, it’s important to protect your skin from any negative sun exposure. And if you don’t like the way sunscreen looks or feels – don’t worry. You have other options.
   • Use a moisturizer with built-in sunscreen.
   • Use a powder sunscreen. You can easily reapply it throughout the day without ruining your makeup.
2. Keep it simple. The whole point of casual daytime hair and makeup is that it’s simple and quicker to apply than hair and makeup intended for evening. Avoid dramatic makeup trends, like false eyelashes or contouring.
   • If you still want a little more cheekbone action, use a little cream highlighter on your cheekbone.
   • If you can’t go without the false eyelashes, try going down a step and combining a volumizing mascara with a lengthening mascara.
   • Use the volumizing mascara at the end of the lashes and the lengthening mascara at the roots.
3. Find an efficient routine. You’re busy during the day – you don’t have time to rush around touching up your makeup or fixing your hair. Keep experimenting with different makeup routines and hairstyles until you find looks that are easy to execute and that make you feel great.
   • Remember, makeup shouldn’t hide who you are, it should enhance it.
   • It’s also completely okay to go without makeup. Do what feels comfortable to you.
   • Do your hair at night so you don't have to style it morning of.
   • Keep your beauty products organized to help streamline your morning routine.
   • Look for products that can do more than one thing - search for tints that work on both cheeks and lips and an eye shadow stick that also doubles as a liner.

Styling the Hair

1. Put your hair up in an elegant ponytail. Make sure your hair is clean and dry before beginning. Lightly mist hair with water or hairspray to subdue any stray hairs. Gather your hair in your hands and coax it into a mid-level ponytail.
   • The ponytail should be positioned on the back of your head, as opposed to on top of your head or just above your neck.
   • Secure the ponytail with an elastic or fabric hair tie.
2. Braid your hair. This is a great look for when your hair is dirty and messy and you’re short on patience and time. Back-comb your hair to give it a little more volume. When you’re done teasing, shake your hair to one side, then braid.
   • Make the braid look a little bit more undone by strategically pulling small pieces of hair slightly outside the braid.
   • Secure the finished braid with an elastic or fabric hair tie.
   • Try a half-crown braid. Gather a two-inch strand of hair on the right side of your head and braid it at an angle around the back side of your head.
   • Secure the braid with bobby pins.
   • Repeat the above step on the left side of your head.
   • Position the braid so it slightly covers the tops of the ears.
   • On days where your hair is slightly greasy, hold a can of dry shampoo six inches from the roots of your hair.
   • Apply the shampoo evenly to help conceal grease.
3. Add an accessory. Wrap your hair into a messy bun, positioned just at the nape of the neck. Wrap a silk scarf around the bun, then tie the ends of the scarf into a big bow and position the bow directly over the bun.
   • If you don’t have a scarf, you can also try using a ribbon.
   • Forgo the bun entirely and wrap the scarf around the top of your head and position the bow on the top of your head.
   • Ignore the scarf and hide your hair with a baseball cap or fedora.
   • Use a headband to hold your hair back, then throw your hair into a messy bun.
   • On hot days, use a hairclip to keep your hair from clinging to your neck.

Tips

• Give yourself some time to perfect your daytime makeup and hair skills. With some practice, you’ll be able to shave some time off your hair and makeup routine.

Sources and Citations

• Videos provided by Cass Sersemis

See also

• Apply Makeup for a Natural Look
• Apply Everyday Makeup
• Wear Natural Makeup for 12 14 Year Olds
• Apply Simple Makeup
• Apply Simple Every Day Makeup
• Apply Subtle Daytime Makeup
• Apply Makeup for a Fresh and Clean Look