If there is one thing that I have truly mastered since having Baby H, it’s having a sliding-scale of “I look presentable” beauty regimes.

There’s the “I just need to get out the door a find coffee” look.  And the other extreme is “I have been looking forward to this girls night for a month and have been primping for 2 hours straight” look.

My personal fave: the 3 minute face (aka: the “I can already hear Harrison awake on the baby monitor and I am still in my pyjamas” look). We’ve all heard of the 5 minute face, but I challenge you to make it 3!

Here are my go-to essentials for looking bright-eyed and bushy tailed any day of the week:

Moisturizer: Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Creme.  I cannot live without moisturizer.  Seriously, if I could only pick one thing from this must-have list, this would be it.  I switched to Kiehl’s two years ago and absolutely love it.  The $60 price tag hurt at first but I seriously can make the 125ml jar last close to a year.  It is hands-down the best moisturizer I have ever used.

Foundation: it’s not quite foundation, it’s CC creme and is lighter coverage.  Pictured here is Oil of Olay Pore Minimizing CC Creme. I haven’t tried many formulas and using an all-in-one was new to me post-baby (hello, we are on a 3-minute time line here). So far so good.  I have a hard time paying $35 when all you’re getting is a standard “grocery store” brand product, so I will continue my search, but for now, this works.

Highlighter: Hi-Beam Liquid Face Highlighter by Benefit.  This would be #2 on my “can’t live without list”, just behind my moisturizer.  I have used this product for years and have tried many highlighters.  At over $30, it’s not cheap, but this bottle lasts me close to a year and it truly makes your skin glow.  I apply it on my cheeks and brow bone just about every day.

MAC eye-shadow: I love MAC eye shadow.  This particular color is Jest, but Woodwinked is my top choice for every day. $19 each.  The bonus?  Their “Back to MAC” program, where 6 empties gets you a FREE eye shadow or lipstick.  Everyone wins.

Blush: Mary Kay “Shy Blush”.  It’s a beautiful shimmery pink.  I always said I didn’t wear pink and then I was encouraged to try this at a Mary Kay party and I was sold.  That was 4 years ago and here we are. $13.00

Concealer: “Fake Up” by Benefit. Yes, they win two awards from me.  I literally went to Sephora in my last week of pregnancy and said “I need time savers that make me look awake”.  Voila.  Concealer and moisturizer in one with good coverage: $33.00

Mascara: Cover Girl Volum’ Express.  Again, I think I have used this mascara for 5+ years.  I try others intermittently but this one is my fave.  $10 @ Shoppers/ Wal-Mart etc.

Lip Gloss: Mary Kay in “Fancy Nancy” – it’s a nice light shimmery colour.  Perfect for those “oh I just threw this on” every day outings.  $18.00

So there you have it: my new and improved 3-minute face!  Do you have 3 minutes?  I bet you do 🙂

Melissa.