The phrase “quick luxury” was coined by the beauty editors covering the SS26 runways, and it describes something that was happening simultaneously at multiple shows: the makeup wasn\’t trying to be invisible, and it wasn\’t trying to be a statement. It was trying to look like someone who has good skin, good taste, and approximately five minutes.
At Proenza Schouler: glowing skin, a wash of warm color on the cheeks, and nothing else. At Ulla Johnson: the same, with a single coat of mascara. At Chanel: Mathieu Blazy went even quieter — the makeup was so minimal that the faces read as bare, but there was a luminosity that only exists when someone has applied things very thoughtfully.
What connects all of them is an economy of product. Not six steps. Not a ten-minute routine. The minimal-product look that takes five minutes to apply — and looks like it took none.
Here\’s the exact routine.
Step 1: SPF Moisturizer (90 seconds)
This replaces both moisturizer and primer. Apply a sunscreen that doubles as a moisturizer while your skin is still slightly damp from washing. The dampness helps the product spread more evenly and creates a better base for the tinted step.
The product: La Roche-Posay Anthelios UV Correct SPF 70 — $40
Apply to the full face and neck, blending quickly and efficiently. Wait 60 seconds before moving on.
Shop La Roche-Posay
Or: Supergoop! Unseen Sunscreen SPF 40 — $38
The more makeup-primer-like option. Slightly tacky finish that helps the tinted product adhere better.
Shop Supergoop
Step 2: Tinted Moisturizer (60 seconds)
Not foundation. The tinted moisturizer is the step that separates this routine from a standard full-coverage look. It provides enough coverage to even the skin tone and create luminosity without creating the mask-like effect that foundation can.
Apply with your fingers — not a brush, not a sponge. Warm the product slightly in your palms first, then press and blend quickly. Focus on areas where redness or unevenness is most visible. Leave the rest of the face slightly sheerer.
The product: Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer Natural Skin Perfector SPF 30 — $52
The gold standard, still. The formula balances coverage with dewiness perfectly.
Shop Laura Mercier
Or: Ilia Super Serum Skin Tint SPF 40 — $68
The serum-like formula is the most skincare-forward option and works especially well if your skin tends toward dryness.
Shop Ilia
Budget option: e.l.f. Halo Glow Liquid Filter — $14
The affordable version that punches genuinely above its price point. The illuminating finish captures the runway luminosity without the Laura Mercier price.
Shop e.l.f.
Step 3: Cream Blush (60 seconds)
One product, one placement, thirty seconds of blending. Dot a tiny amount of cream blush on the apple of the cheek and blend outward and upward with a damp fingertip. The cream formula melts into the tinted moisturizer seamlessly.
The product: Rare Beauty Soft Pinch Liquid Blush — $22
Use the smallest amount imaginable — the pigmentation is intense. Shade “Encourage” (soft dusty rose) or “Joy” (warm peach) work across the widest range of skin tones.
Shop Rare Beauty
Or: e.l.f. Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand — $14
The wand applicator makes precise placement easy and the formula blends flawlessly.
Shop e.l.f.
Step 4: One Coat of Mascara (45 seconds)
One coat, upper lashes only. The goal is visible lashes, not dramatic lashes. Wiggle the wand at the root and pull upward once. That\’s it.
The product: Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High — $12
The best drugstore mascara that consistently performs. Lengthening without clumping, and the formula doesn\’t flake.
Shop Maybelline at ASOS
Or: Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Push Up Lashes — $32
The more elevated option. The curling effect and lengthening formula make lashes look significantly more defined with a single coat.
Shop Charlotte Tilbury
Step 5: Tinted Lip Balm (30 seconds)
The final step. Not lipstick — a tinted lip balm that adds color while keeping the lips comfortable and hydrated. Apply directly from the tube or with a fingertip.
The product: Dior Lip Glow Oil — $42
The most popular product in this category for good reason. The translucent color adapts to your lip pigment and the formula is genuinely comfortable.
Shop Dior at Sephora
Or: Fresh Sugar Lip Balm — $26
The most practical option. SPF 15, excellent hydration, and a range of tints that work across all skin tones.
Shop Fresh
Budget option: e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil — $12
Achieves nearly the same effect as the Dior at a fraction of the price. Worth the test before investing.
Shop e.l.f.
Optional: Brow Gel (30 seconds)
If your brows need help. A clear or tinted brow gel applied in upward strokes frames the face in a way that makes everything else look more finished. It\’s the step that ties the look together — and it takes thirty seconds.
The product: Glossier Boy Brow — $18
The original clear-to-tinted brow gel. Available in a range of shades. One swipe and you\’re done.
Shop Glossier
The Complete Routine: 5 Minutes Total
1. SPF moisturizer — 90 seconds
2. Tinted moisturizer — 60 seconds
3. Cream blush — 60 seconds
4. One coat of mascara — 45 seconds
5. Tinted lip balm — 30 seconds
6. (Optional) Brow gel — 30 seconds
Total product investment: $60–$130 depending on price point choices. Total time investment: five minutes. The result: the runway look that every beauty editor described as “effortless.”
*Jade Park is Jebae\’s Beauty & Skincare Editor, based in New York.*
