beauty addict

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The latest trends, techniques, and insider secrets—revealed.

Beat-the-Clock Beauty
Need to shave time off your routine? These tried-and-tested techniques will get you on the fast track.
By Erika Villani

Let’s face it: Most of us can’t live without beauty products. We know we could sleep 20 more minutes, eat a better breakfast, or get to that party on time if we just skipped the foundation and the flatiron. But day after day, we set the alarm, skip the cereal, and show up late for the sake of beauty. And many of us have devised crazy ways to cut corners—unlikely tricks we’ve concocted in our never-ending quest to stay on schedule, make it through our to-do lists, and look perfect all in the same day.

Julie, an account executive, often attends formal events after work and doesn’t have time to go home and style her hair. So en route to her engagements, she slips into department-store dressing rooms, which have better lighting and bigger mirrors than her crummy office bathroom. (So far, only one savvy salesgirl has busted her mid-chignon.) An administrative assistant, who prefers to remain nameless, arrives at the office bare-faced but on time—then slips out to do her makeup with samples from the Sephora next door. And when Lisa, an aspiring fashion stylist, has to change outfits between interviews, she sneaks past restaurant managers and into customer-only bathrooms, using covert tactics that could dupe even the most seasoned CIA operative.

Mach-Two Makeup
Fortunately, it doesn’t always have to be so hard. Even if you’re not lucky enough to work next door to a beauty superstore, you can save time at home. Makeup artist Michelle Coursey recommends cutting back to just three essential products: mascara, concealer, and blush: “They’re all you need to look pulled together, and they’re best applied at home, where you have your brushes and decent lighting.”

It also pays to invest in multitasking products, which will save you the madness of digging through your makeup bag every morning. Makeup artist Diane Chambers of New York City’s Pretty Palette likes to use a combination moisturizer/sunscreen, followed by an all-in-one product for eyes, cheeks, and lips; her favorite is Nars Multiple Stick. And Cara Alwill, a makeup artist for Scott J Aveda Salon & Spa, loves Aveda’s SPF 15 Inner Light Tinted Moisturizer: “You’ll get a fresh, clean look in half the time you’d spend applying a foundation plus a moisturizer plus sunscreen.” But if you’re really in a rush, there are ways to cheat with your standbys. For example, after applying blush, Coursey likes to sweep what’s left on the brush across her eyelids. “It adds just a touch of color to the eyelids,” she says; “it’s a good way to get around putting on eye shadow.” She also recommends using lipstick, “the creamier the better,” as makeshift blush—just dab it on with your fingertips, and blend it in for an instant flush.

If you’ve applied the essentials and still don’t feel “done,” you can always take the rest of your routine with you. The Nars Multiple Stick is great on the go, says Chambers, because “it’s compact enough for your purse or pocket and doesn’t require a mirror to apply.” And when Coursey needs more than her three essentials, “I’ll do those before leaving the house, then apply lipstick or gloss on the train.” (Of course, if you’re planning to beautify during your commute, beware the dangers of applying eye makeup in a moving vehicle—after all, if you blind yourself with a mascara wand, you won’t be able to see how good you look.)

High-Speed Hair
What’s more, you don’t have to sneak into a dressing room to do your hair in a hurry. According to hairstylist and makeup artist Vicki Morgenstern, it all comes down to your cut. “Getting a good haircut will eliminate the need for major styling every morning,” she says. And a good cut is one that enhances your hair’s natural texture and volume so it looks great on its own. This isn’t to say, however, that you should swear off products completely. For curly hair, Morgenstern recommends a curl enhancer that also eliminates frizz and flyaways, like John Frieda’s Frizz Ease line. To care for long straight hair, “use a lightweight shine spray, not a serum, and choose a time-saving style,” she says. This spring’s hairstyles are all about femininity, so Morgenstern suggests investing in a ladylike hair accessory, such as a ribbon headband or jeweled pin, which will give you pretty tresses in a flash. Or, for maximum impact with minimum effort, buy a colorful barrette—just clip it on in the back of a cab, and suddenly look styled.

You can also clip on a whole new style. Hairstylist Lisa Jones, who’s worked on music videos and BET’s 106 & Park, loves clip-on ponytails and clip-in hair extensions, which can add length and fullness without a lot of fuss. And for evening, “Wigs come in handy and are good for changing up your look without putting much stress on your hair,” she says. Plus they’re fun—brunettes can be blonde for a night, and pixie-cut cuties can instantly indulge their inner Rapunzels.

Of course, saving time also means being prepared in advance for any event. Because even the most flawless face and hair won’t fix the predicament of wearing the wrong outfit, Chambers recommends keeping “a versatile black top at the office to take you into the evening.” In addition, she likes to keep a small makeup pouch on hand that can double as a nighttime bag, packed with after-hours essentials like eye drops, a toothbrush and toothpaste, and a multiproduct palette, such as Trish McEvoy’s Little Black Card or Laura Mercier’s Custom Portfolio.

Or you could just follow Lisa’s lead and sprint past a maître d’. Good luck!

Photo credit: Kateryna Govorushchenko

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