I would like to say that I have always preferred quick-fire make-up; if a blush, bronzer and mascara couldn’t work its magic in under five minutes, I had lost interest almost as quickly.  But then, I had a baby.  I didn’t have five minutes, let alone time to exercise any bronzer preference.

But there is nothing a beauty editor loves more than a make-up challenge. Time, or lack thereof, wasn’t going to limit my make-up, and neither was my one-handed attempt, my dough-like baby almost always preferring my arms to his shiny new Moses basket. 

So, this reader is the ‘Quickest’ and ‘Easiest’ make-up look for busy (tired, very tired) Mamas.  This quicker-than-a-flash, easier than 1,2,3, routine comes without buffing, blending, thinking, or essentially stopping during those times when life seems to run at a pace that suits your baby, and your baby alone. Ready?

Go one shade lighter than your complexion (to fake a good night’s sleep), tilt your weary head towards the mirror to create shadow (sorry) and gently press colour into the darkness and lines that you don’t recognise (fear not they will fade).  I never think new mamas should bother with foundation – a good concealer does the trick and means less faffing or heavy-duty cleansing later (and potentially less transfer to baby). Next.

Adding brown or clear mascara to top lashes (to limit smudging if you catch 40 winks before 5).  Better still, go for a tube mascara which won’t smudge, ever. I love those by Trish McEvoy and Victoria Beckham.

Take a pot of cream blush – pots are easier than messy tubes, trust me. The shade? It Really. Doesn’t. Matter. If it’s bright and light it will do, but if in doubt choose a colour that says ‘happy’ to you.  (As a rule, a deep peach suits everyone and revives a sleepy face wonderfully; try Bobbi Brown Pot Rouge in Fresh Melon.) Apply with fingertips to the apples of the cheeks to add volume, or high up on the cheekbones to lift the face. 

Take the same pot of blusher, again – an investment, right?  Dab onto lips, layering colour in accordance with your time slot.  See? Pretty right.  Plus, this matchy-matchy duo has a wonderful way of pulling the look together, so that it almost looks planned – which of course, you didn’t have time for.

Take the same pot of blusher. For a third time.  Press onto the lids of the eyes. See? Even prettier still. 

If you’ve only time to skim read this, buy one concealer (go for a solid balm, try Glossier, or a liquid and wand combo, for which I love Shiseido and Charlotte Tilbury’s, for ease), one pot of cream blusher (Bobbi Brown, Tata Harper and Trinny do lovely versions), open eyes with a lash curler, and most of all have fun restoring your face to its former refreshed glory. If only for sixty seconds. Every minute to yourself counts.