Let me paint the scenario for you. You have had 4 hours sleep. You feel like a wreck. You can’t call in sick because the job you signed up for has absolutely no sick day entitlements. Yes, you are a mother.
Do you cave in to the feeling, don your best tracksuit and ugg boots and have an ‘ugly’ day? No – no you do not! I promise you, if you spend just a few minutes – mere seconds, putting a little bit of tinted moisturiser on and a slick of lipgloss you will feel a hundred times better. Trust me.

Tinted moisturisers and BB creams are fantastic for a quick fix. You don’t need to use any makeup brushes, just your bare hands and a few seconds of your time.

So what is the difference? A tinted moisturiser does what it says – it is a basic moisturiser with a touch of foundation in it. A BB cream is a ‘beauty balm’ which is an all-in-one product which replaces the needs for multiple serums, primer, foundation, sunscreen and moisturiser. It is usually thicker in consistency than a tinted moisturiser.

There are so many on the market that it can be overwhelming to know which products are best. Like all makeup and skincare products, you need to try out a few to find which works best on your skin. If you are keen to invest in a luxury product, I recommend heading to a makeup counter and asking for a sample. You can take it home and try in natural light over a few days to really get a good feel for whether you like the product. I have made many mistakes by buying products I have not researched at duty-free counters only to find about a week into wearing it that it is not right for me.

Don’t be scared to ask for samples! The sales staff are paid to assist and are there to help. Trust me, it took me a long time to work up the courage to ask for advice after many years of trying to help myself and ending up with the wrong products.

As far as application goes, I prefer to apply them with my fingers rather than with a foundation brush as I feel it sinks into the skin easier giving you a more natural look. Prep your skin by applying SPF and your moisturiser. I always treat tinted moisturizer or BB cream as makeup, so I apply my regular skin care products first then add on from there. Start applying the product at the centre of your face, around your nose where most of the redness occurs and blend outwards to the hairline. Most products are buildable which means you can add more coverage to the places you need it, and keep the coverage nice and sheer along the jawline to keep it a natural look.

Here are some of my favourites:

Cheap thrill: Garnier BB Cream

Luxurious treat: Chantecaille Just Skin Tinted Moisturiser

If you have the energy to go one step further, patting a creamy concealer around the eye area can give you the look of several extra hours of sleep. I press the product in the corner of my eye socket and add a little bit underneath the eye on the outer corner using my ring finger. The idea is to press not drag. Less is more here as well. Too much product can accumulate in any fines lines and draw unwanted attention to the area. Here are some of my favourites:

Cheap thrill: Garnier BB Eye roll-on

Luxurious treat: Bobbi Brown Tinted Eye Brightener

Finish with a quick coat of something on your lips, there are lots of lip crayons on the market right now which are simple and quick to apply.

Cheap thrill: Revlon Just Bitten Kissable Balm Stain in Honey

Luxurious Treat: Clinique Chubby Sticks in Super Strawberry

Do you have a favourite tinted moisturizer or BB Cream that you just can’t live without? Does a little bit of makeup application change your mood and the way you approach the day?