5 Simple Habits to Chic Soft Glam Everyday Makeup

Let’s acknowledge: Some days, looking put together is a monumental challenge. When balancing work, life, and the occasional unexpected hurdle—like, evacuating due to wildfires—who actually has time for a fully-fledged beauty regimen? But the great news is that you don’t need spent hours or a beautifully organized vanity to appear chic. From bad bleach jobs to last minute getaways when I didn’t even have a brush, I’ve spent my teenage years and my entire life up to now playing with makeup and hair. And believe me, with a bit of effort, it’s perfectly possible to achieve that put-together look.

In this guide, you are apprised of five effortless steps aimed to assist you elevate your appearance, whether you are at home, on the move, or even during the reconstruction of a frantic week. These are practical suggestions that can easily be integrated into any lifestyle, ranging from budget-conscious moms to freelancers who travel a lot. A little guidance and fun approach is all you need. Let me ask you, are you ready to amp your confidence? Relax, we will figure it out together.

1. Build Upon Your Skin by Treating it as the Base

Skincare experts are often heard arguing whether it is makeup or skincare that holds more importance. Well, I personally used to think makeup was the key until I came across the truism: the best makeup you can have been flawless skin. Think of it this way, great skin makes a huge difference. Now, I don’t know about you, but I started realizing that as the fine lines started creeping in (hello, 30s) it hit me, moisture is everything. And every product needs to be carefully selected, yes, skincare is all about smart choices.

Begin with a lightweight sunscreen, such as SKIN1004 Sun Ampoule, which I’ve been obsessing over recently. It has a watery texture that is not oily, and it works wonderfully under makeup. To maintain hydration and plumpness, apply an eye cream or collagen mask a few times a week. I can already hear you: “This sounds expensive!” But the good news is you don’t need to spend a fortune; even drugstore brands like CeraVe or The Ordinary do wonders. The objective? Skin that is smooth and nourished, so you can glow inside or outside, makeup on or off.   

Did You Know? You can find skincare inspiration on Instagram. Creators like @skincarebyhyram make posts about affordable skincare routines that actually work. 

2. Nail a 5 Minute Makeup Routine 

A 20-step makeup routine is simply too much, especially when you need to be out the door in a few minutes. In my case, I am literally evacuating with half my vanity. My tried and tested technique for looking polished in a short time is a five-minute makeup routine. This approach prioritizes cheeks, eyes, and lips.

When it comes to blush, a nudes tix “dimdumb” cream blush (yes, this is the actual name) works wonders in adding the perfect blush to the cheeks in seconds. No brush? No problem, you can use your fingers, which is much easier for anyone without makeup skills. Moving on to the eyes, a neutral eyeshadow palette has been flower knows’ contour palette gets the job done. For the finishing touches, a fresh burst of color onto the lips with a lip stain or gloss followed aide by quick stroke of mascara works like magic. Personally, I love CLIO’s Super proof mascara since it curls the lashes. When I had to evacuate backfire in LA, this hack turned out to be a game changer with whatever products were handy.

Tackle the challenge: If looking too done up makes you anxious, pre-emptively stick to blending neutral shades. With regard to application, subtle blends is key for chic, not overdressed.

3. Take a step back from perfect eyelashes

For-me falsies became a nightmare composed off glue, tweezers, and my simple human fear of them dropping off halfway through the day. That was until I found out about the YesStyle glue-free lashes, which are a game changer. The fact they are press on makes it so much easier. When put on the right way, they can look so natural.

Here’s how I set the lashes: I put them on top of the lashes rather than beneath them. I press the lashes flat against my skin and then use a pair of tweezers to push the lashes downwards to achieve a curled, flared look. I did this with no tools in my parent’s guest room, yet somehow, it looked professional. For those who prefer less maintenance, invest in a quality mascara for your lower lashes (I recommend YSL’s thick formula if you want drama) as it will instantly open your eyes with no effort. 

4. Revive Your Hair with Easy Styling

A buddy of mine recently started using this lash hack for Zoom calls and she insists it helps her look refreshed even after only three hours of sleep. Does that sound familiar to anyone? 

Let’s shift our attention to hairstyles and easy ways to make them look effortless and fresh out of the salon. I learned that maintaining healthy hair is essential after bleaching it (which everyone advised me against). The look of dry and flat hair is not appealing—my solution: a curling routine that can be done in minutes but adds shine and volume.

Start from the back and work your way to the front when you create loose S curls with a flat iron on each of the subsections of your hair. Do the middle sections as C curls so your hair frames your face. This style highlights your layers thanks to the technique. Finish this look by taking one strand from one side to gently pull it over the top of your hair for added volume. I do this weekly, and it’s like my hair transforms in seconds. Bonus: Use a nourishing hair mask weekly if you’re struggling with dry hair, especially if you’ve colored your hair blonde like I did.

Social Media Inspo: Look for #HairHacks on Instagram for fast videos—@hairby_chrissy has useful information on how to cut layers.

5. Own Your Look with Confidence

Here’s the heart of the matter: confidence ties everything together, even the most elegant aesthetic. After going through a difficult personal issue last year, I found myself wanting to stay off social media due to “posting anxiety.” In doing so, I realized my mindset had a tremendous impact on the way I showcase myself to the rest of the world. Perfection in makeup and hair is not a necessity, but rather an attitude of “I’ve got this.”

Try small confidence boosters: sport a bold shade of lip tint one day, and add a fake mole for laughs the next (believe me, it’s chic!). When was the last time you looked in the mirror and thought to yourself, ‘what do I appreciate about myself’? For me, it’s my brows with UNLEASH IA’s brow gel. It feels like they are whispering, “we are here, and we are fabulous.” Absolutely anything goes that helps you embrace the real you, and in return, the world will embrace you too.

Client Story: A woman I was working with shared that she started using brighter blushes after years of neutral shades. She said it felt like unlocking a new version of herself. What’s your take? 

Captured in the moment–and even after everything in the world being turned upside down from wildfires to a missing makeup bag—looking effortlessly polished is not impossible. Start building one of these habits, maybe the lash hack or the hair curl. Make them your own. It’s not about perfection, it’s about creating a version of yourself that feels confident and ready for anything. What will your first step be? I’m cheering for you!