# How much time do you spend putting on make up?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [June 4, 2004, 1:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612 "2004-06-04T13:30:55Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@Graycat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Graycat)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/21 "2004-06-04T16:57:27Z")
Haven’t worn makeup in about twenty years. When I did, it took me about half an hour (up to an hour with full paint) because I just couldn’t get the hang of it. Couldn’t do the makeup with my glasses on, couldn’t see what I was doing with them off. Lots of wiping off and starting over. Now I just put on moisturizer with sunscreen and I’m done.
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### Author:  [@GingerOfTheNorth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GingerOfTheNorth)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 5:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/22 "2004-06-04T17:04:27Z")
> [@Eve](#):
>
> Under five minutes, certainly: wash face, put on sunscreen/moisturizer; powder, lipstick & mascara.
>
> My hair takes longer, if it’s in a Mood and refuses to cooperate.
Ditto, but for the hair. It takes me about four minutes to comb it.
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### Author:  [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 5:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/23 "2004-06-04T17:21:02Z")
“Getting ready to go out of the house” ready…one hour (leisurely). This includes: shower, shampoo, conditioner, leg shaving, applying makeup (brows, foundation, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick), blow drying hair, and dressing.
If I am in a rush I can do the above in 30 minutes.
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### Author:  [@BiblioCat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BiblioCat)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/24 "2004-06-04T17:45:03Z")
Five minutes max on a day that I actually bother with makeup. A couple dabs of foundation, a quick swipe of blush, a bit of eye shadow, mascara, and a light lip gloss. Maybe two or three minutes more for a night out or something fancy.
A shower takes just under 10 minutes on shave-the-legs days. I rub some anti-frizz stuff in my hair, blow-dry my bangs, brush my teeth, and I’m ready to go. Very low-maintenance.
I used to work with a girl that claimed it took her **two hours** to get ready for work, and that wasn’t including the shower. I have no idea what took so freaking long, but she looked the type, if you know what I mean. She was in the bathroom constantly, primping and fixing her hair and touching up her makeup.
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### Author:  [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/25 "2004-06-04T17:54:18Z")
> [@Angua](#):
>
> 5 minutes. Wash face, put on moisturiser, a little bit of powder, lipliner, and lipstick. Hardly rocket science.
Yeah? Well it is if your “au naturele” look is akin to Albert Einstein’s!!
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### Author:  [@Phedre\_no\_Delaunay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phedre_no_Delaunay)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/26 "2004-06-04T18:34:28Z")
It takes me 15-20 minutes, but I’m really fussy with it. I can’t imagine how I could stretch that out for an hour!
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### Author:  [@jeevwoman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jeevwoman)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/27 "2004-06-04T20:07:10Z")
In the mornings, I shower, exfoliate my face, dry off, dress, dry my hair and brush it, put on makeup, drink a Slim Fast and oj, brush my teeth, make the bed, read the comics AND spend 30 or so minutes at the dog park with Tino and Willow; all total, I get up at 6:30 and leave by 7:45. So in that whole process, makeup is \*maybe \* 3 minutes. Hair is 7. (Nothing I can do with it so that’s easy enough.)
An _hour_? On _makeup_? No thanks; I’d rather sleep.
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### Author:  [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/28 "2004-06-04T20:31:45Z")
10 minutes for everyday.
However, for an event an hour doesn’t seem that unreasonable to me - individual falsh eyelashes probably take 15 minutes to put on properly.
I suppose it depends on how glam you go for “events”.
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### Author:  [@Cosmopolitan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cosmopolitan)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/29 "2004-06-04T20:57:40Z")
“Basic” makeup (i.e. for school & work): Maybe 5 minutes - face powder, a sweep of neutral eyeshadow, some lip gloss.
More involved makeup (i.e. for going out to a party/club/maybe on a date): 10-15 minutes - foundation, powder, blush, slightly more involved eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, lipstick.
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### Author:  [@DeVena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeVena)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/30 "2004-06-04T21:37:49Z")
Astringent, powder, blush, eyeliner, mascara - 5-10 mins
Add in brushing teeth, drying hair, getting dressed - 30-45 mins
depending on how awake I am.
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### Author:  [@TVeblen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TVeblen)
#### Post date: [June 4, 2004, 11:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/31 "2004-06-04T23:34:22Z")
Just makeup? Three minutes, max. I don’t wear any unless I’m going to work or for some special thing.
The whole routine: apply moisturizer to clean face, swipe on a little natural eyeshadow, then a quick line of soft taupe eyeliner; swipe on a little mascara. Done.
I _hate_ the feel of gunk on my face, so for really whoopdedo occassions I might actually dab on a very little, very sheer foundation, but I don’t usually bother with it. I’m blessed with excellent skin so the least I can get away with, the better.
I can’t imagine an hour for makeup.
Veb
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### Author:  [@look\_ninjas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/look_ninjas)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/32 "2004-06-05T03:10:21Z")
5-10 minutes for base, blush, eyeliner, powder, and mascara. 15 minutes depending on how many of the above items I knock over or misplace. I might spend a minute or two drying my hair and rubbing gunk in it, but it’s pretty short, so it’s not hard to do. With a shower and clothes, that’s maybe forty-five minutes out of the morning, usually less. More time for me to spend drinking coffee and reading the boards!
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### Author:  [@Tamarin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamarin)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/33 "2004-06-05T03:21:28Z")
Add me to the list of women who don’t wear makeup. On the rare occasions that I do decide I need some…15 minutes tops.
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### Author:  [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/34 "2004-06-05T03:44:08Z")
I’m another ‘none’. Although I’m starting to think about moisturizer and sun block for this summer.
Who knows where it might go from there. But no more than five minutes on a work day, just because mornings are a drag as it is.
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### Author:  [@Rhiannon8404](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhiannon8404)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/35 "2004-06-05T03:58:30Z")
Yeah, 5 mins max, if that’s all I’m doing. I really don’t understand what takes other women so long. I use foundation, blush, eye shadow, eye liner, mascara, lip liner and lipstick.
It can take me as little as 25 mins to get up, shower (including shave), get dressed, dry and style hair and put on make up. So bed to door ½ hr. If I have more time I might linger, but usually I just get it done with.
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### Author:  [@raz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/raz)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 4:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/36 "2004-06-05T04:22:29Z")
Just makeup? About a minute and a half. All I use is moisturizer, foundation, and powder. No eyeshadow or lipstick or nothing.
My entire morning routine takes about 20 or 25 minutes. This inclused a shower (shampoo and conditioner, exfoliating, body wash), drying off, getting dressed, and makeup. I usually just leave my hair to air dry, but sometimes I’ll blow dry and straighten it which takes about 10 extra minutes.
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### Author:  [@AzRaek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AzRaek)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 7:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/37 "2004-06-05T07:48:36Z")
I have pale skin. No makeup looks really decent on my, so when I do wear any, its just some tinted lipgloss and mascara. I work in a liquor store, hefting cases of wine around a warehouse and running back for more white zin, so theres no point in getting painted up. My new manager is constantly reapplying powder and lipstick. But then, Ive yet to see her stock a shelf.
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### Author:  [@irishgirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/irishgirl)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/38 "2004-06-05T12:15:05Z")
It varies.
Most days: just Carmex or some other kind of lip balm.
Casual daytime: Benefit’s Dr Feelgood face balm, lipgloss, mascara
Fancy daytime: I add in concealer and blush
Nightime: add in foundation and eye shadow
Anything from 10 seconds to 20 minutes.
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### Author:  [@Winterwren](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Winterwren)
#### Post date: [June 5, 2004, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-much-time-do-you-spend-putting-on-make-up/248612/39 "2004-06-05T15:05:50Z")
> [@Zebra](#):
>
> How long does it take to put on your make-up?
Usually? Two minutes. I don’t count moisturizer as makeup, and my daily makeup (when I do it) is eyeliner and lipstick.
Elaborate makeup? Ten, fifteen minutes: Powder, two coats of mascara, eyeshadow, eyeliner, lip pencil, lipstick, blush, perhaps a dusting of glitter powder over the entire head.
Stage makeup? Fifteen, for securing it with powder.
On the other hand, I am lucky, and have pretty good skin and features, and full dark lashes. If I were pale pale pale, and wanted not to look that way, it might take longer for eyebrow pencils and the like.
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