How Long Does It Take To Do Makeup, Typically?

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Perfecting your makeup look can be time-consuming. You need to make sure that it looks just right. But how long does it take to do makeup? And is a full routine taking up far too much of your time?

While there are no rules for how long your makeup routine should take you, a few things can influence the amount of time you spend doing your makeup. They are:

The occasion
The look you want to create
The condition of your skin

It’s not uncommon to spend 30min or more applying makeup for a big event like a wedding or gala. For everyday makeup, you can often apply it in under 5 minutes once you’re good at it.

This depends on if your skin care regime is on point, though.

Let’s break it down.

Contents

What’s The Occasion?

If you are going to a special event that requires a glam look, your makeup can take up to thirty minutes, if not more, to complete. From the first moisturizer to your foundation and concealer to winged eyeliner and fake lashes, there are several steps you will need to take to achieve a glamorous look for a special occasion.

If you are going to a special event that requires a glam look, your makeup can take up to thirty minutes, if not more, to complete.

Then you get the other side of the scale, where your day-to-day makeup can take you as little as five minutes to complete. Tinted moisturizer, eyeliner, mascara, and a lick of gloss are all you need for a daytime look that will keep you looking fresh.

The time it takes you to do your makeup depends on the occasion and should always be factored into the time you set aside to get ready, and the level of makeup you aim to wear.

No one wants to be late for an event because they are still doing their makeup!

Creating a Special Look

If you’re trying to copy a specific makeup look you have seen in a tutorial, there will be lots of trial and error. Getting a specific look just right takes time and includes doing and redoing parts of your face a few times to get it perfect.

If you’re trying to copy a specific makeup look you have seen in a tutorial, there will be lots of trial and error.

Makeup tutorials are a great way to learn some new makeup tips and tricks, they are such a huge advantage to what was available years ago.

But remember that the person in the video doing the tutorial is most likely trained and has been doing makeup for many years.

Choosing a special look for an event is great but should include a trial to prevent you from wasting hours trying to copy a look and running late for the event. Do a test run at least a week before the crunch time of your event to perfect your skills.

Skin Care and Your Makeup Routine

It’s no secret that we use makeup to hide our flaws. The more skin issues you have, the more makeup you will need to hide them.

The more skin issues you have, the more makeup you will need to hide them.

Acne scarring, pimples, blemishes, and wrinkles are common skin issues we tend to cover up or hide. The fact that apps with magical filters promote blemish-free, clear skin only adds to our woes as we rely on foundations, concealers, and serums to hide these imperfections.

If you are blessed enough to have good skin, you do not need the full coverage of foundation and concealer. You can easily get away with a tinted moisturizer to lightly color your face and give you a healthy glow without being heavy.

This makeup routine can take you mere minutes to complete.

Full coverage is a must for those with more serious skin issues and will take you considerably longer due to the number of products you need to apply.

While masking the problem can make you feel better about the condition of your skin, it is important to treat the underlying cause, starting with a good skincare routine.

Here are our top tips for clear, healthy skin:

Always wash off or remove your makeup before going to bed.
Use a good-quality exfoliating scrub once a week to remove dead skin cells.
Hydrate and moisturize your skin at least twice a day, in the morning and at night, to keep your skin healthy.
Skip the coffee and drink water to help flush out the toxins that can lead to bad skin.
Have a makeup-free day at least once a week to give your skin a break from heavy makeup.
Swap out your foundation, concealer, and powder for a tinted moisturizer, and look out for other dual-purpose makeup products that can reduce the amount of time you spend doing your makeup.

Conclusion

The amount of time spent doing your makeup depends on the occasion, the look you want to create, your skill level, and the products you use to mask flaws and imperfections.

While there is no rule of thumb about how long your makeup should take you, there are a few small yet impactful changes you can make to your makeup routine to significantly reduce the time it takes you to apply your makeup before you leave the house.