The Five-Minute Polished Face

Use tinted moisturiser, light foundation, concealer, or a combination of very small amounts. Apply to redness, under-eye shadows, around the nose or individual areas, and blend outward.

Leave clear skin uncovered where possible.

Brush the brows upward or into their natural direction. Use pencil, powder, tinted gel, or clear gel, filling only where needed.

The aim is structure, not a completely redesigned brow.

Choose one: mascara, eyelash curler and mascara, soft pencil along the lash line, or cream shadow blended with a finger.

Focus on opening and defining the eye. Do not begin a complex eye look when the routine is limited to five minutes.

Apply one colour product - possible options include cream blush, powder blush, bronzer used lightly, or a lip-and-cheek tint.

Place it where the face naturally gains warmth, and blend before adding more.

Choose tinted balm, neutral lipstick, soft gloss, muted berry, or warm rose. Blot or blend the edges where a softer finish is desired.

Then stop.

The three-product version (concealer or tinted base, cream blush that can also be used on lips, and mascara or brow gel) is useful for travel, low-energy days or a very small work bag.

The no-mascara version evens the complexion, brushes and defines the brows, uses cream blush, adds lip colour, and curls the lashes where desired - the result can still feel finished. The glasses version focuses on brows, under-eye brightness, a soft lash-line definition, blush and lip colour, avoiding excessive eye product since the frame already provides visual structure.

Include only one base product, one concealer, one brow product, one eye product, one blush, and two lip options. Store the rest elsewhere.