I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year, it’s all a bit of a distant memory now for me but I had a great time skiing in France.

Sadly now it’s over and it’s back to the daily grind. If you’re anything like me, returning to work – or more specifically getting up in the morning so you can return to work – is a real struggle. During the Christmas break, it takes me no time at all to get used to long lie-ins and hours spent lounging around in my one-sie, scoffing Quality Streets and watching re-runs of Made In Chelsea on E4! But once the holidays are over, it takes me AGES to get back into the swing of early mornings and long working days.

So to help make things easier on my first day back, I’ve come up with a 5-minute make-up routine. It’s quick enough to allow me a few extra precious moments in bed, while still ensuring I look good when I head out of the door. This isn’t about miracle products, nor is it about going without cosmetics (on a dreary January morning? You must be joking!). It’s just a simple, pretty daytime face that is quick and easy to do, using a handful of tried-and-tested beauty favourites.

I’m going to give you a speedy how-to right here on my blog, but if you’d like to watch a step-by-step guide to my 5-minute face, then you’re in luck. Just check out the Binky’s Boutique video below, and you can see me putting the look together on camera. I’ll be filming more of these online beauty tutorials over the next few weeks, trying out the trends and ideas I chat about in my weekly blog. So if there’s a hair or make-up look you’d like a little help with, why not let me know at binky@escentual.com and I’ll try to include it in one of my vids. In the meantime, let’s get things started with my guide to looking spiffy in a jiffy!

How To Do Binky’s 5 Minute Makeup

STEP 1: BASE
Smooth BB cream across your cheeks, t-zone, under the eyes and across your lids and your lips. I adore BB creams as they give a light, flattering coverage that evens out your skintone but doesn’t look as heavy and “made-up” as the result you get with foundation. I’ve been using Dior Hydra Life BB Creme for the last six months and I can’t recommend it enough. It gives my skin a gorgeous dewy finish and also nourishes and protects my face, thanks to its moisturising SPF30 formula.

STEP 2: EYELINER
Draw a medium-thick band of eyeliner along your upper lash line. For this look I’ve used Too Faced Perfect Eyes Waterproof Eyeliner in Perfect Moss – it has a lovely soft, smooth texture and is very easy to apply, plus there’s a smudger at the end of the eye pencil which I use to soften the line and get a super-quick smokey-eye effect.

STEP 3: MASCARA
Brush on a couple of layers of black mascara. Here I’ve used Daniel Sandler Baby Jet Mascara, which is brilliant as it has a very small wand which allows you to reach and coat every single lash, both top and bottom, giving your eyes real emphasis without having done a complicated make-up look.

STEP 4: POWDER
Next, apply a light dusting of powder across your T-zone – I’m using Clarins Skin Illusion Loose Powder Foundation. You don’t need to coat powder over your entire face – just a quick flick of your powder brush across your forehead, nose and chin is all you need to banish shine and fix your look in place.

STEP 5: BLUSHER
I’m a firm believer in the power of blusher or bronzer. A hint of colour really brings your face to life, giving you that “natural” flush which doesn’t come that naturally at this time of year! I used to be a strictly bronzer girl but since I discovered Daniel Sandler Watercolour Blusher I’ve been converted and now I switch between the two. Squeeze a couple of drops of Watercolour Blusher onto the back of your hand, dip your brush in and lightly swipe across the apples of your cheeks. The result is a pretty pinky glow that makes me look fresh and healthy even when I feel like crawling back under the duvet!

STEP 6: BROWS
Grooming your eyebrows is a super-quick way to give your face that neat, chic look you want for work. This is the stylish result to go for is a natural but tidy finish. If you’ve got fairly full brows like mine, just give them a quick once-over with a brow brush or comb, such as the Dior Backstage Brow Brush; if your brows are a little sparse, then fill in sparingly with a brow pencil such as the Clarins Eyebrow pencil, which has a neat brush at the end.

STEP 7: LIP COLOUR
I find traditional lipstick looks a bit too much for a daytime look, so I tend to go for lip glosses or lip creams, which give you a less “done” finish. Use your finger or the applicator to dab on a coat of colour – here I’ve used Stila All Day Liquid Lipstick in Dolce, which is a gorgeous nude cream that is perfect for wearing nine-to-five. Smudging on colour with your fingertips gives the soft, natural result that you want in the workplace.

And that’s it – seven simple steps and five quick minutes to a groomed and pretty face. Remember, let me know what you would like me to blog about by emailing me at binky@escentual.com. Happy New Year everyone – wishing you all a beautiful 2013!