The Glow team wearing multi-purpose makeup. 

When did makeup become so… complicated? I’m all for getting glammed up, but sometimes I feel like I’ll just die if I have to blend three different shades of eyeshadow before I’ve even had my breakfast.

That’s why multipurpose makeup products — colour cosmetics that can be used simultaneously on the lips, cheeks and eyelids — have been my best friend lately. Have you ever been in a rush and used the same lipstick on your lips and cheeks? That’s what a multipurpose product does, only it’s specifically designed for multiple areas of the face.

Related: Need a skin pick-me-up? Look no further than The Glow’s mega face masks review. 

These Swiss army knives of beauty are especially handy when you don’t want to carry heaps of makeup around with you, like on an overseas trip. Also, if you want your makeup to be low-maintenance and fast, then a multipurpose makeup product is for you.

So, we’ve done all the hard work for you, in reviewing the best multipurpose products. My biggest tip? Choose a colour and texture which best suits your lips, rather than your cheeks, and it’s best to go for a brighter colour, rather than pale.

e.l.f. Essentials All Over Color Stick, $3.00 for 4g

e.l.f. (which stands for “eyes, lips and face”) is the cult US beauty brand which has recently arrived on our shores, and in Kmart, no less. Beauty bloggers love this brand, because it’s super cheap, but also super effective.

Carla wears e.l.f. Essentials All Over Color Stick in “Pink Lemonade”. Source: Supplied.

"The e.l.f. Essentials All Over Color Stick does not disappoint. It’s a solid, small stick of shimmery pink, in a cream formula, which blends beautifully to create a natural flush, capturing the light just so. It smells like a delightful tropical holiday, and coincidentally, I also bring this little baby with me on beach vacations. The solid cream formula really adheres to the cheeks, even in hot, sultry weather. But, you don’t need to go anywhere exotic – it’s so quick and easy to use that I also smear it on for my lazy days at home. The colour is a little too light to use on my lips, however, it can add a pretty, punky colour to my eyelids."- Carla. (Post continues after gallery.)

Purple makeup & celebrities

Rita Ora at the Grammys

Jennifer Hudson at the Grammys

Lorde, wearing her signature purple lipstick.

Katy Perry at the Arias

Lupita Nyong'o at the Golden Globes

Rihanna rocks ultra violet lips.

Eleanor Pendleton from beauty website, Gritty Pretty.

Backstage at the Derek Lam fashion show, SS15, #1

Backstage at the Derek Lam fashion show, SS15, #2

Backstage at the Derek Lam fashion show, SS15, #3

Matthew Williamson fashion show, SS15, #1

Matthew Williamson fashion show, SS15, #2

Backstage at the Vera Wang fashion show, SS15, #1

Backstage at the Vera Wang fashion show, SS15, #2

NARS The Multiple, $56 for 14g.

This is the ultimate multi-tasking product, because it can be used not just on the face, but the body too. Fancy a glistening clavicle, or toned arms on an evening out? Look no further than this iconic, high-end product.

Brittany wears NARS The Multiple in “Copacabana”. Source: Supplied.

"Is it possible to fall instantly in love with a beauty product? After using this, I think so. It's a beautiful, slightly sheer pearlescent texture that is perfect for pale skin. I'd steer clear of using it on my lips (unless I wanted to rock a frosted/sparkly 90’s look) but it works wonders on my cupids bow, eyelids for some shimmer and as a cheek highlighter. I found myself trying to angle my face to catch the light just so I could watch it sparkle. A real winner." - Brittany.

Edwina wears NARS The Multiple in “Orgasm”. Source: Supplied.

"I’m one of those people who likes to cart around a few various beauty products with me at any one time. In my bag right now is one bottle of perfume, a powder compact, a tube of mascara and about three lip balms.

"The only new product welcome into this mess is one that’s hardworking. Enter cult beauty product NARS The Multiple, in Orgasm. There’s a reason it’s loved by beauty diehards everywhere, it’s a shade of blush that looks extremely natural and has a glow to it - and not one that makes you look shiny. I applied it by swiping my brush over the top, then onto the apples of my cheeks.

RELATED: How to make your cream blush last the day.

"To see if it could go the distance, I decided to give it a try it on my lips and eyelids. Lips didn’t go so well. Naturally I have very dark lips, so a light colour really clashes. But a swipe of this finished off with a sheer lipgloss could give your lips a nice subtle colour.

"Eyelids were a little more achievable, but I could only use a teeny, tiny, minuscule amount - just enough to give them a little glow. While I think my cheekbones will be hogging all of this product in future, it’s definitely earned a spot in my bag. Right next to my dozens of lip balms." - Eddie.

Models Prefer Colour Infusion Lip and Cheek Gel Tint, $12.99 for 7ml, and Cream Blush Stick, $10.99 for 10.7g.

Priceline’s house brand, Models Prefer, has been one of my favourite cheap finds this year. The two products I’ve tried from them – the Infinite Colour Eye Pencil and the Colour Infusion Lip and Cheek Gel Tint – can rival the big brands in terms of quality.

Lizzie wears Models Prefer Cream Blush Stick in "Love". Image: Supplied.

"This product is quite thick but it has a shine to it, and looks fresh once you have blended it. You only need a dab, because the colour is quite vibrant. It stayed on most of the day. I would really recommend it for a cheek stain, but it is a little thick for my liking on the lips (but I do prefer lighter, glossy lips)