Sometimes it’s your skin’s having a bad day, sometimes it’s the product, and yep—sometimes we just applied it a little wrong (no judgment!). Let’s break down why your base might be misbehaving and how to fix it without tossing your whole makeup bag.

For busy women, there often simply isn’t time for a full face of makeup. For days where there just isn’t time—or I can’t be bothered—I stick with a few simple steps to make myself feel awake and put-together. Here is my 5-minute makeup routine that will send you out the door looking and feeling bright and fresh, with minimal effort required.

If the thought of sitting down for a makeup lesson gives you a nervous flutter—don’t worry, I’ve got you.

Here, we keep it real. Because we are real life women doing all the real life things. Makeup should fit in our lives, not the other way around.

You don’t need a massive makeup collection or tons of time. You just need a few solid basics, a bit of practice, and a safe, supportive space to learn.

We can talk luxury another time, but today, here are five products I recommend frequently that are beginner friendly, look beautiful, and won’t empty your wallet.