“Waaaah! Waaaah! Waaaah!” is the usual sound we’re waking up to these days, the familiar electric “Beep! Beep! Beep!” of the alarm clock but a distant memory. And from that moment where we rocket out of our beds to placate a distressed child, another day has begun.

Between getting the kids up, fed and dressed, making sure homework is done, lunches are made, missing items are located, before madly dashing out the door to wherever we’re headed, the Mama of the house is fighting to find the time to get ready herself.

The Keys! Where are The Keys?!”

Our statistics show that since we’ve become mothers, the time we’ve got to get ready in the morning diminishes dramatically. Before kids, 90% of us were spending over half an hour getting ready, and after the babies arrive, about 60% are getting showered, dressed and made up in less than 15 minutes.

Here, special Fox-Contributor Kim-Marie share’s her speedy make-up plan that’ll get us looking groomed and glowing in less than 4 minutes.

Set your stopwatch ladies, the make-up sprint starts… now!

By Kim-Marie.

TIME: 00:00 - 00:13

Firstly, pop a couple of drops of rosehip oil onto your palms and massage it into your face. Pat it in gently around your eye contour area.  This will give your skin a lovely radiant glow and plump out those fine lines.  My favourite is Trilogy Rosehip Oil.

TIME: 00:13 - 01:19

Next, maintain your speedy momentum by applying a combination tinted moisturiser/sunblock product.  You simply cannot leave the house without a sunblock – it really is the best thing you can do for your skin. SPF15 at a minimum.  My favourites are Garnier Miracle Skin Perfector BB Cream and BECCA Luminous Skin Colour.

Alternatively, apply an SPF30+ moisturiser and after a minute or so, a mineral powder foundation.  I find this takes a little more time than a tinted moisturiser, but does achieve more coverage.  My favourite day cream is Ultraceuticals Protective Daily Moisturiser SPF30+.  My favourite mineral powder is MAC Mineralize Foundation Loose Powder, applied with my BECCA Boudoir kabuki brush.

TIME: 01:19 - 02:02

If you’ve got fab skin, you could save 30 seconds and skip the foundation, but I won’t leave the house without my concealer!  When I’m in a hurry, I just apply concealer under my eyes.  My favourite concealer for the under-eye area is Covergirl & Olay Simply Ageless Eye Concealer, and my favourite blemish concealer is BECCA Compact Concealer.

TIME: 02:02 - 02:23

Next up, grab another hardworking, time-saving, two-for-the-price-of-one product: a lip & cheek creme.  Pat a little onto the apples of your cheeks, blending gently upwards.  Pat a little bit more onto your lips.  You can also apply a lipstick to your lips, and then pat a little onto your cheeks for guaranteed colour coordination!  My favourite is Australis Creme Colour for Cheeks & Lips and BECCA Lip & Cheek Creme.

TIME: 02:23 - 03:04

A bright lipstick will act as a focus on your face.  With a bold lip, you won’t need to spend time fiddling with your eye makeup.  A tantalising tangerine, ravishing red or psychedelic pink will do the trick!  I’m a lipstick tart, and wear everything from the champagne-budget Chanel to the beer-budget Rimmel.

TIME: 03:04 - 03:12

Quickly brush your eyebrows into shape using a spooly brush, a washed mascara wand or a clean kids’ toothbrush.  Your eyebrows really define your face so it’s important to keep them in a great shape.  I love my Tweezerman for Benefit Spooly.

TIME: 03:12 - 03:24

Curl your lashes with a lash curler – it really opens up your eyes.  If you get them regularly tinted, all the better on the morning time-saving front.  My favourite is my Shu Uemura lash curler.

TIME: 03:24 - 03:41

Swipe your eyelid with a beige eye shadow.

TIME: 03:41 - 03:55

Finish with a lick of mascara. Keep the q-tips handy to wipe up any messes!

TOTAL TIME: Under 4 minutes.

Shop Kim-Marie’s favourites:

These quick tricks will get you out the door looking pretty and polished, with protected skin to boot! Just be sure to double check your face in natural light outside – the rear vision in the car window is great for this – as you’re heading off to your destination.

And keep a kit of beauty essentials stored in your car console or glove compartment for fix ups. This handy list of 31 things to stash in your car for style on the go covers just about everything you’d need.

Go speed racers!

Can anyone beat the top time of Kim-Marie’s makeup in under 4 minutes?

And what’s your best time-saving makeup tip? 

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