Back-to-school makeup routines may feel frivolous. Whether it’s a chaotic dash out the door, coffee in one hand and backpack in the other, or you’ve somehow mastered the elusive art of actually having time for a full routine – school mornings still have a way of feeling like a total blur. Some days you’re working with a precious five minutes, and other days you might get a luxurious thirty.

The truth is, your morning makeup doesn’t have to feel like an uphill battle, and it can actually be one of the easiest parts of your day – that’s if you have your routines down pat.

Five minutes and go? We can make it work. And if you have ten minutes, or even thirty? Easy! There are truly back-to-school makeup routines for everyone and every timeframe! Here are your back-to-school beauty routines by the experts broken down by how much time you have, so take notes.

The Two-Minute Morning Skin Care Routine

Before you start applying makeup, remember to take care of your skin first. Skin care can actually be the focal point of your getting-ready routine.

“We’re all about skin-first confidence, and your routine should work with you and your skin, not against it,” says Gaia Carminati, Head of Product Development at Indu Beauty. “Start with clean, calm skin and a few easy steps that let your natural skin be its best. Think cleanser, SPF, a multi-use tinted glow, brushed-up brows, and you are good to go.”

The Five-Minute Morning Routine

Rise and shine! When you’re running on “zero sleep” and only have five minutes, the goal is to look awake and put together without trying too hard. Most MUAs agree on one key strategy: focusing on high-impact, multi-use products. Celebrity makeup artist, Janice Daoud, who works with the likes of Miley Cyrus and Isabela Merced, calls it the “skin, lash, [and] lip trifecta.”

1. Prep your skin. Even with only five minutes to spare, it is best to wake up your skin with a quick mist first. According to makeup artist Kelly Zhang, a glazing or setting mist instantly makes your skin look “plump and alive.”
2. Add some tint. Opting for a moisturizer or a tinted primer with SPF is best for a time-sensitive makeup routine. Makeup artist Samia Mohsein, who regularly works on high fashion editorials and luxury brands, says, “A tinted moisturizer or concealer quickly evens out skin tone and hides any tiredness.” Similarly, you can use tinted brow gel to shape, fill in sparse areas, and add definition in seconds. After all, “brows frame the entire face,” says Zhang.
3. Take advantage of multi-use products for cheeks and lips. They can be a quick trick to add some color to your face, and they can be super on trend. For example, we know orange blush is having a moment right now. Zhang loves a multi-use cream product because it “adds color, warmth, and that healthy, just-got-back-from-a-walk glow.” And you can easily blend it with your fingers for an effortless, natural flush.
4. Brighten the eyes. Last, but not least, lock in for a quick trick to brighten your eyes. According to celebrity makeup artist Avia Solomon, who regularly works with Selena Gomez, using a nude or peach-toned eyeliner in the waterline and tapping a bit of highlighter into the inner corners of your eyes “gives that ‘I slept 8 hours’ illusion – even if you didn’t.” Makeup artist Sean Harris swears by color correctors. “It will change your life. It will instantly brighten and correct any dull tones around the eye.” Top it off with a few swipes of mascara and you’re set.

The 10 Minutes-to-Glow-Up Routine

With a little more time, you can elevate your look from fresh and minimal to effortlessly polished. In other words, this is the perfect time to add more definition and warmth.