5 Shortcuts to Speed Up Your Morning Beauty Routine
I have a dirty little secret: I don't brush my teeth on days when I don't have plans.
Gross? Maybe a little. But here's the thing: I spend so much time getting ready for work on weekdays, that when a Saturday or Sunday rolls around and I'm not headed out with friends, I skip my usual beauty to-dos in protest.
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Maybe the real solution to fixing my (borderline unhygienic) habits on mellow weekends is to not spend so much time getting ready for work during the week. My co-worker is a master at this. She talks about hitting the snooze button three times and getting out of her apartment in 15 minutes flat. And she always looks pulled together and really pretty. How does she do it?
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She filled me in on her secrets. May these surprising ways to get ready faster help you, too.
Spritzing on perfume is one grooming step that often falls by the wayside when we're rushing out the door. The solution? Add it to a step you'd never skip: applying deodorant. We're not talking sickeningly sweet vanilla or musky wood notes; these days you can even find your favorite high-end fragrance offered in deodorants, including Stella McCartney and Chloé. Sure, they're a tad pricey but remember that you're scoring a two-for-one and you'll likely justify the expenditure.
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There's a towelette for everything these days. You can apply your sunscreen, remove makeup, and even fix your hair with these mess-free tools that only require a quick swipe. A few of our favorites? Ted Gibson Hair Sheets, $25, which smooth pesky flyaways; Supergoop Sunscreen Swipes with Zinc, $34, which provide UV protection; and Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Foot Wipes, $5.99, which clean and cool toes and feet. Celebrity makeup artist Tina Turnbow (clients include Olivia Wilde and Claire Danes) recommends cleansing cloths that contain calming ingredients such as aloe vera, cucumber, and chamomile to prevent irritation. We suggest Yes To Cucumbers Facial Towelettes, $5.99. Washington D.C.-based dermatologist Elazabeth Tanzi, MD, says despite the convenience these towelettes provide, hitting the sink is still essential to avoid breakouts. "Cleansing wipes are great but I advise my patients to give their face a full wash at least every two to three days."
Who really knows which makeup brush works best with which product? Don't sweat it, just skip that step entirely. "Using your fingers is a great way to feel how much product you are applying on your skin," says Turnbow. From blush to tinted moisturizer, Turnbow says, "you can use your fingers for any beauty product or part of your face." The key is to blend. "If you diffuse each item properly your makeup will look more natural than if you used brushes."
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Many products can be used on multiple features. Investing in these multi-purpose tools will help you save time (and money) and keep your makeup regimen simple. For bushy eyebrows, Paul suggests taming your arches by misting hairspray onto fingers and dabbing hairs into place. Brighten your lips and your complexion by blending a clear balm over your mouth and your cheekbones as a makeshift highlighter, or add color by using a lip tint instead. And finally, when you're cutting corners while primping, always opt for a monochromatic look, which will simplify the process. To get the look, Paul suggests applying bronzer to your cheekbones and your eyelids.
Primer, SPF, concealer, color-correcting powder, and foundation -- creating a clear complexion requires more layers than a wedding cake! Unfortunately, skipping any of these steps can be detrimental to your beauty -- or your health. Luckily, there is one easy alternative that both dermatologists and makeup artists recommend: BB cream. "A good BB cream will include anti-aging moisturizer, SPF, and a tint to even out skin tone," says Tanzi. "Slap one on in the morning and you're good to go." Turnbow adds, "The sheen provides a dewy glow too." We recommend Garnier Skin Renew BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector, $12.99.
For more grooming tips on how to be lazy and look pretty, click here.
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