Life got a little overwhelming recently, so I decided to take on an intern. This is Danielle, my right hand gal. She’s as sweet as she is beautiful and I couldn’t wait to get her in my chair so I could highlight what makeup in your 20′s should look like.

Think about enhancing, and not covering. You’re looking for a little boost of color with evened out skin. It’s a look that’s youthful, casual, pretty, and really easy. I used some of my favs on Danielle and showed her how to pull off a 5 minute makeup routine that she can wear daily.

I started by evening out her skin using HD Invisible Cover Foundation from MAKE UP FOR EVER because it’s rich in pigment and easy to blend with a finish that has some luminosity to it so it doesn’t just sit flat on the skin. I also used some around her eyes to cover slight darkness but she didn’t need a separate concealer. If you do wear concealer, apply it on discolored areas before using this foundation so you don’t cover up its finish, a big reason why it looks so great on the skin.

Next I gave her eyes some definition. You’d be shocked at how much pigment and staying power is in Wet N Wild’s ColorIcon palettes. I used the top left shadow as a base shade all over her lids, then I mixed the middle left one with the lower right one for her lower lid only blending it into her natural crease. The result was a little contrast without looking too dark or heavy for a girl who doesn’t usually wear shadow.

It’s also a good lesson on not spending a lot on something you don’t use very often. You can have eye shadow on hand for special events or nights out, but you won’t feel guilty when you don’t wear it daily because they weren’t expensive. If you don’t wear it a lot, don’t spend a lot. Save the cash for something you use all the time.

I couldn’t be more obsessed with Tarte right now. Their EmphasEYES waterproof clay-based shadow/ liner has surpassed Bobbi Brown’s pot liner in my book for a few reasons. It’s a natural formula that’s without Parabens, Sulfates, Synthetic Fragrances, Synthetic Dyes, Petrochemicals, and Phthalates which isn’t easy to fine. But even more importantly, it’s a heck of a lot easier to apply. I think the clay-based formula gives the liner a firmer texture that lays down more precisely and doesn’t slip around as easily as the BB one does. It comes with a dual ended brush that has a liner brush on one side and a smudger one on the other so you can create both a precise line and a smokey eye.

I gave Danielle a precision look along her upper and lower lash line to define her eyes. I didn’t want a harsh look, so I used the liner in Brown instead of black. For a look that’s less intense for daily use, you can also use navy or plum.

On to the cheeks, more Tarte. Totally obsessed. I haven’t reviewed a lot of cheek stains because I think they’re notoriously hard to use. Most begin to dry the second you apply them and can stain in streaks before you get a chance to blend. Instead of packaging their stain in a tube or something small, Tarte opted for this small deodorant looking push up applicator that just happens to be the same width as the area on your cheeks that you’d want to be covered with color. Trust me, the packaging seems bulky but once you use the stain, you understand why it’s made that way. The color essentially applies itself exactly where it should go and you have plenty of time for blending.

I used this shade called Natural Beauty, a sheer berry on her cheeks. It gives one of the most natural looking flushes to the skin there is and the color lasts such a long time. I’ve always been a fan of non-powder cheek colors because they stay on the skin so well, but stains take the lasting power to the next level and this one does so using a natural formula that stands alone.

A little color on the lips and we’re all done. Philosophy’s popular Kiss Me is a hydrating lip balm that boasts a high SPF of 20 as well. Although it gives a somewhat glossy look, its purpose is to give some casual color to the lips that’s light weight and moisturizing.

I just popped the color straight onto her lips without using a liner or lipstick first. It looks bright in the tube, but it sheers out to a light berry glaze that’s just a shade deeper than her lips naturally are. It’s just what you want for casual daily color that feels great on your lips so you don’t forget to reapply.

When you’re 20-something, your routine should be easy and fun. It’s the perfect time to experiment with colors and to find a routine that brings out your best features.

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