Essential beauty products when you've woken up late...again

Every morning as I curse myself for staying up two hours later than I wanted to, watching You Tube clips of John McCain on The View; thinking about, but not buying, Rachel Comey dresses; and exploring the Deep Thoughts by Jack Handey website, I stagger to the shower, then pull out the same five makeup items:

  1. Stila Illuminating Tinted Moisturizer SPF15 (translucent, and slightly gleamy)

  2. Tarte Blushing Bride gel blush (I am kind of embarrassed by the cheesy name, but it's worth it)

  3. Cle de Peau concealer, patted on under my eyes with my finger

  4. Laura Mercier Eyeshadow in Black Plum, used as an eyeliner, applied with an unknown liner brush (the name rubbed off long ago)

  5. Benefit BadGal Blue mascara (again with the cheesy name--but the blue really does make the whites of your eyes look whiter)

Mind you, all this simplicity goes to heck in a handbasket once I get to the office--where I find myself testing green shadow, luminizer, lip stains, what have you--but these five are always the substructure, and they never let me down. Lazy makeup-wearers of America, give me your essentials.

Tailor your makeup routine with these bare-bones essentials that makeup artists say they can't live without.

--Cristina Mueller, senior beauty editor

More from Lucky: