Makeup Tips for Busy Gals & Working Moms from Celeb Makeup Artist Nathan Johnson

Celebrity makeup artist (and Sparkle*Shelf friend) Nathan Johnson shows us a simple makeup routine that will have even the busiest diva feeling beautiful....

 Finding the perfect makeup routine is not an easy feat for anyone. But when you mix in the stress and responsibility of being an overworked career gal, super busy student, or working mom, even the easiest routine can seem like way too much effort.  However that does not mean your days of glamour (or even your days of being pulled together) have to be a thing of the past.  

Here are a few SIMPLE steps that will make you beautiful (in minutes) with no guesswork.

1.  First, brush a TINTED MOISTURIZER over your face.
This will even out your skin tone, hide the dark circles and give your face an overall smooth and pulled together look. My favorite tinted moisturizer is Skin Tint by Cover FX. In addition to sunscreen, it adds the perfect amount of bronzer and the slightest hint of shimmer to make the skin just glow.  I also love Per-fekt skin perfection gel. The price may seem high, but what it does to your skin makes it worth every penny.

2.  The second step is BRONZER.
This is the pivotal ingredient to having the glow and radiance of healthy skin. With a fluffy brush add color to the high points of your face (all the areas the sun would touch):  forehead, cheekbones, bridge of the nose and chin. Then, with a smaller brush, dust the bronzer over your eyelids. This will supply just enough color to add a pop to the eyes. My favorite bronzers are by Three Custom Color Specialists. Available in warm and cool shades, they will complement your skin tone while giving you the perfect kiss of color with no shimmer or sparkle. 

3.  The third step is LIP AND CHEEK STAIN 
A dewy flush to the cheek will keep you looking healthy and sexy all day long. Buff it right into your cheek so it looks like the color is rolling up from underneath the skin. Using the same stain on your lips will give you the perfect kiss of color that will last all day long. Try Benetint by Benefit. 

4.  Last but not least, MASCARA.
This step will add depth to the eyes. By darkening, thickening and lengthing the lashes, you will accentuate and open the eyes. Tarte - Lights, Camera, Lashes! is AMAZING! It is full of vitamins and nutrients that treat, condition and protect your lashes, while adding length, curl and volume.…Try and find another brand that can do all of that!  Because of all it does, the Tarte is on its way to being my favorite. If your lashes are straight or point downward, a good curl would do you a lot of good; otherwise, curling is not a necessity. I know some of you ladies feel naked without a curled lash; if you are one of those, don’t let me stop you. 

Give this routine a try. The steps may seem simple but believe me; they do not compromise on the final outcome. I promise they will leave you looking (and feeling) beautiful. And, after a time or two, you will have this routine down to 3 minutes or less. Come on, was that easy or what? 

BONUS TIP:  Apply the tinted moisturizer (or any other foundation product you use) with a foundation brush.

This is very important for several reasons. First, your fingers will waste the product. Fingers are to makeup like cookies are to the cookie monster. Being dry and full of crevices, they will gobble every bit of it up, wasting product and money. Second, the application will be much smoother. Brushes lay the product where it is needed for a perfect even application. Choose a good synthetic brush and, with proper care, it will last you a lifetime.