Tricks of the beauty trade: The 5-minute face

Beautifying yourself doesn't have to involve over-priced, expensive cosmetics or complicated makeup regimens. If you have just a few minutes, you can look fantastic. In her new book “The Five-Minute Face: The Quick & Easy Makeup Guide for Every Woman," Carmindy, the makeup artist from TLC's hit show "What Not to Wear" shares her simple and smart beauty secrets. Here's an excerpt:

Most women are intimidated by makeup. They don't have the time or the desire to take on a multistep routine, or they get scared by pushy makeup-counter salespeople who have their own commissions in mind, not a customer's best beauty interests. Women tell me all the time that they feel left out by beauty magazines whose focus has become celebrity beauty ideals and red carpet looks that don't relate to everyday life. In the end, many women adopt a "Forget it!" attitude. They throw on mascara and lip balm and run out the door, not feeling their best. But by following the steps of my 5-minute face, you can create a complete, polished makeup look without a hassle. It's what I use every day; it's fast—and easy!

The 5-minute plan
00:00-1:00     Smooth on foundation or tinted moisturizer

01:00-01:20   Pat concealer under your eyes with your ring finger

01:20-01:55 Spot conceal any redness from tiny veins or breakouts

01:55-02:15  Use powder to set your makeup

02:15-02:45  Sweep on highlighter

02:45-03:05  Apply blush

03:05-04:05  Line your lash line

04:05-04:50  Brush on mascara

04:50-05:00  Slick on Lip color

The step-by-step breakdown

STEP 1: FOUNDATION  
Application smarts: Tinted moisturizer and foundation go on the same way: I prefer using a makeup sponge for blending—it makes the job go faster. Dip the sponge into a bit of foundation and blend over the face including eyelids and under the eyes. Lightly buff down the neck for a seamless finish. If some areas need more coverage, stipple on a second layer by using a light patting motion to push the foundation into the skin. This is a great technique to hide redness from rosacea without resorting to thick cover-up. Expect to use about a nickel-size amount for the entire face.

STEP 2: UNDER-EYE CONCEALER  
Application smarts: Since you've already applied your tinted moisturizer or foundation under your eyes, you'll need less concealer and will have a more natural finish. The most important thing to remember about concealer is less is more. If you load concealer on to obliterate a problem area, it takes on a dry, cakey look as the day goes on, and it will actually draw attention to what you're trying to hide! For under eyes, sweep concealer next to your eyes' inner corners (where dark color is most concentrated) and blend downward with a ring finger. Make sure to target only the dark areas of your skin; if you start spreading it up and down and all around you end up with that "I never took my sunglasses off on vacation" look.

Fast fix: If you're bothered by your dark circles, shift the focus by playing up another feature, like your mouth. Wear bright gloss to draw attention from your under eyes.

STEP 3: SPOT CONCEALING  
Application smarts: For redness and blemishes, spot-apply concealer with a thin concealer brush. The bristles will be compact and tapered, and the thin tip allows you to "paint" concealer precisely where you need it. Afterward, use a finger to gently pat any edges, blending them seamlessly into skin.

STEP 4: POWDER  
Application smarts: Apply face powder with a clean blush brush. Yes, a blush brush: the smaller size makes it easier for you to target the few places where you need powder. In contrast, a classic puffy powder brush dusts powder all over, leaving skin looking overly matted. Less powder is modern and leaves skin dewier; dust it down your nose, across your chin, and over your cheeks and eyelids. That's all you need. A little can be applied under the eyes, but use only enough to set the makeup without causing it to cake together. I like to leave the tops of the cheekbones powder-free. Even if you have oily skin, having a bit of shine in this area gives you a youthful dewy look. If your skin is too matted down, you'll look dry and tired.

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