How to Get Beauty Ready for Valentine's Day in a Flash!

Beyond the Beauty Pages, SELF Magazine

ByPia Bhattacharya,SELF magazine

So Valentine's Day falls on a Monday this year...womp, womp. If you've got a date after you're 6 PM workday, you know what this means - rushing to get home, get dressed and look fab before Mr. Wonderful shows up. If there's a tiny part of you (like me) that's always wanted to pull a Katherine Heigl in The Ugly Truth, "Oh this? I just threw this together" thing when a date shows up at my doorstep, here are a few tips to get you extra-special-Valentine's-Day-ready in a flash.

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Hair: Prepping your hair in the morning can seriously cut down on time. After you wash it, dry it to the point that it's slightly damp, twist it up into a bun and leave it up for the rest of the day. When you're almost ready, shake it out and spritz it with a curl spray or lotion for soft waves that literally take minutes.

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Makeup: What better day to rock a red or pink lip than on Valentine's Day? The benefit: a bold lip calls for more subtle eyes and cheeks - certainly a time saver! Be sure to use a lip primer so your color stays in place longer. For flirty eyes that pop, line just your top lids, winging out the edges a bit and finish with two coats of mascara.

Skin: Use a body lotion with shimmer for an all over glow. It instantly give you a fresh, just-showered, dewy look.

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Nails: If you haven't had time for a mani and your polish isn't presentable, just take it off - it's OK! Bare nails are better than chipped polish (which is a pet peeve of many guys). Oh, and they match with any outfit. If you have a minute, swipe on a clear topcoat. It dries super fast and a little bit of shine will help you feel pulled together.

Workday, shmerkday...go for it! Put on a smile, give your hair a flirty flip and swing open that door with confidence!

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Photo Credit: WWD