We’ve all been there before. In a mad rush to get to work on time, we end up applying powder thickly, sweeping on too much blush or smudging eye makeup all over the place.

These makeup mishaps can cause any girl to panic, and might even lead to more boo-boos while trying to quickly solve the problem. When you only have a few minutes left to spare, what do you do?

Before you say, “remove everything and start over,” know that there are ways to effectively tone down and fix your makeup—and it takes only a minute or less. Makeup artists are experts at this, as they can easily erase mistakes and change the color of your eye shadow or lipstick in a flash. I’ve seen them work their magic and learned that the best way to handle these things is to relax, grab a cotton bud and gently remove the smudge.

Most of us forget that building or intensifying makeup is easier than correcting it, which is why we should always practice restraint when it comes to applying makeup. Don’t pile on too much, especially when we’re excited about a look we want to try or a product we’ve just purchased.

Problem: Cakey foundation, or makeup that looks thick and crinkly. This usually happens when you’ve applied too much foundation, powder or both. It makes skin look old and dry.

Solution: When this happens, mist your face with a water atomizer and smoothen out your makeup with a sponge. Do this by lightly tapping makeup into place and blending well.

Problem: Splotches of mascara or eyeliner that seem to appear out of nowhere. These are most likely to happen when you’re in a hurry.

Solution: Grab a cotton bud and dip one end in moisturizer or makeup remover, making sure to put only a little. Then, gently mop up the smudge and use the dry end to blend out the area.

Problem: Wearing too much blusher, making you resemble a clown. Applying makeup in a badly lit room can result in unsightly layers of blush.

Solution: If you used powder blush, use a clean fluffy brush to remove the excess product. Then lightly apply loose powder on the area to tone down the color. Cream or cheek tint may be a little trickier as you’ll need to dab moisturizer on your cheeks and blend until it’s the right color.

Problem: Too much of everything, or product overload. What seemed like a good idea when you were applying makeup in your room is just too much out in the daylight.

Solution: Use a big, clean makeup brush to gently remove excess product. Then, pat with a tissue and brush again. This will tone down your makeup and soften your look without having to start all over again or pile more makeup. If you don’t have a makeup brush available, use a clean sponge to pick up excess makeup.

Problem: Thickly drawn eyebrows, making them appear dark and heavy. Filling in the inner brows using a pencil creates a stronger brow that can border on angry-looking.

Solution: Using a combination of pencil and powder will give you softer, more natural-looking eyebrows. Try using a shade lighter for filling in your inner brows, or use a brow tint or gel to lighten your eyebrows. If you don’t have a brow tint with you, use matte powder in a dark shade on your eyebrows (alternatives are brown eye shadow, bronzer or your loose powder). Using an eyebrow brush, blend the matte powder into your brows until they’re a shade or two lighter.

Got a beauty question? Email the author at [email protected].