Recently Almay Canada hosted a picnic in the city for bloggers and media attendees. National Product Trainer Jacquie Hutchinson taught guests all about her favourite Almay products plus how to use them to put together a quick and polished everyday face. Sohnee checked out the event and she used her favourite products for her own version of the Almay 5 minute face.

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{Almay 5 Minute Face}

I don’t usually wear much makeup in the mornings, but not because I don’t want to – I just don’t have the time! Sleep is super important to me, so I’ll usually sacrifice those few extra minutes to snooze a bit longer. Plus, I work in a hospital during the day, so I don’t need to be putting on my face like I’m on my way to a runway show. (Let’s not scare the children!)  Recently, I had the privilege of attending an Almay event where I got to try out some of their newer products and learn some tricks to perfect my 10-minute face…err…make that a 5-minute face.

Moisturizer + Primer + Foundation: 1 minute 30 seconds

This is a step that I usually skip in the mornings – putting on a primer. After I wash my face, I’ll put on a moisturizer with SPF, but I won’t always use a primer? Why? I have no idea. Using a primer helps you with foundation application, as it will create a smoother surface for application and will also help keep your makeup on your face. In the warm summer months, this is especially crucial. Almay has a CC Luminous Primer that does a great job of providing that base for your foundation while also creating a nice glow on your face (and no, you don’t look sweaty!).

Almay has a Smart Shade mousse foundation that will adjust 2-3 shades from your skin tone. It’s really easy to apply with your fingers for a light, buildable base of colour. The colour adjusting is nice too, because you don’t need to get a new foundation during the summer after you’ve tanned. I can put it all over my face with even coverage in a few seconds. What’s even better is that since it’s buildable, I don’t have to put on any concealer – I just put on a little extra over those trouble spots. One less product to use in the morning = fast

Contouring: 15 seconds

This might seem like an extra step to a lot of people, but it’s one of the most important for me. I have a round, wide face. Without contouring, I look like a child. With contouring, I stand a chance at getting into a bar 😉 You don’t need to map out your entire face with stark lines like a Kardashian to do a bit of contouring in the morning. Use a matte bronzer or blush like Almay’s Smart Shade Powder Blush Bronzer and put a bit into the hollows of your cheeks and temples. You’ll instantly create the illusion of more prominent cheekbones and a slimmer face and it will only take a few seconds. Note: If you’re using a shade that’s a lot darker than your natural skin tone and you want to look tanned, put this all over your face and neck. Otherwise, it’ll look like you’ve got a few different skintones going on.

Eyes: 3 minutes (minimum)

We all have that one part of our face that we want to show off the most. For me, it’s my eyes. They’re big and brown with long lashes, so I can have fun playing around with different colours. Almay offers eyeshadow palettes that can complement your eye colour, making your eyes pop. If you use their Intense i-Color Smoky Shadow Kit, there’s no guesswork with figuring out which colours will look good on your lids. Here’s a trick: put the darkest colour above the crease of your lid to create a smoky intense look. You always hear about people saying that you should put shadow into the crease, but for most of us, that will prevent others from actually seeing that colour. If you put it on the bone just above the crease, you can create some great depth and create an illusion of another eye shape, if you choose. I use an angled brush to deposit colour on my crease/brow bone; I don’t normally use the sponge provided only because it can deposit a lot of colour. If you want to use the sponge, be sure to press the excess off on your hand before applying it onto your lid, using a sweeping motion from the middle to the outer edges. If you’re using your finger, apply the shadow with the same technique and don’t lift your finger off your lid. As soon as you lift your finger, the delicate skin around your eye can wrinkle and create creasing in the shadow.

Putting on all  three colours (lid,  crease, under my brow for highlighting), it will usually take me a couple of minutes and will make my face look much more put together. I try to finish off the eyes with eyeliner and mascara.

Most of us probably like to stick to black or brown eyeliner on a daily basis. Try out a coloured liquid liner and see what a difference it can make! By using the matching Intense i-Color Liquid Liner, my brown eyes will look even more brown and it’s a subtle twist from the usual. The key to applying liquid liner is this: hold the skin on your lid taut with your non-dominant hand. That way, there won’t be any gaps in the line you draw. And take your time! With practice, this step can be done fairly quickly.  If you want to look more awake first thing in the morning, try putting some white eyeliner (pencil, not liquid) across your lower lash line by tightlining. Then, use a lash curler to make your eyes look more open and awake.

Finally, finish off your eyes with a couple of coats of mascara. Depending on what you’re going for, you may want a lengthening mascara that day or a volumizing one. The difference will be in the brush. Almay’s Intense i-Color Volumizing Mascara is an example of a volumizing mascara based on the thick bristles on the brush, allowing for a higher deposition amount per swipe; that’s what gives your lashes a volumized appearance. The more dense the bristles, the thicker your lashes will appear.

Lips: 15 seconds

This step can be overlooked, especially if you haven’t yet had your morning coffee and don’t want to get lipstick all over your mug. Start out with clean, smooth lips. If you don’t already, consider using a lip exfoliator once a week to help keep your lips smooth and soft. For a daytime look, I usually pick a nude or neutral shade, but depending on the outfit, a bold lip may look just as good! There are a lot of shades to choose from in Almay’s  Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm collection. If you have thinner lips, use a lip liner before applying any colour. This is a great way to get creative and adventurous without take a lot of time in the morning – just a quick swipe of your favourite colour can brighten up your whole day!

Total time taken: 5 minutes

So, there you have it. My Almay 5 minute face! If you’re interested in trying out any of the Almay products in this post, click here for a coupon for $3 off any Almay product. There is also an Almay Freebate in stores until October on Almay Smart Shade Skintone Matching Makeup or Almay Anti-Aging Skintone Matching Makeup. This means that you can purchase this product and mail in the receipt for a full cash rebate. It’s nice to be able to try out makeup risk-free!

Would you like to win all of the products described in this post?

All you have to do is fill out the rafflecoper form below ( you MUST be a Canadian resident to enter) but here is what you can win:

A customized Almay package valued at $115 CAD with the following products:

• Smart Shade Skintone Matching Makeup / Smart Shade Anti-Aging Skintone Matching Makeup
• Smart Shade CC Luminous Primer
• Smart Shade Powder Blush Bronzer in Sunkissed
• Intense i-Color Volumizing Mascara
• Intense i-Color Liquid Liner
• Intense i-Color Smoky Shadow Kit
• Oil-Free Makeup Remover Pads
• Makeup Remover Towelettes
• Color + Care Liquid Lip Balm
• Shadow Softies by Intense i-Color

 Good Luck!

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****Disclosure: products were sent to Toronto Beauty Reviews for review/editorial consideration***

Sohnee is a genetic counsellor by day, a product reviewer by night, and a cat whisperer on weekends. She loves to try out all things beauty related, but will always be curious about the science underneath. Follow her on Twitter @SohneeAhmed.

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