Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
When your day is packed with school runs, work calls, errands, meals, and bedtime routines, it’s not easy to find time to glam up. Far too many of us refuse invitations to fun nights out because we think we simply don’t have the time to get ready. Don’t do this. Don’t miss out on good times with your friends for lack of time – if you know a few simple secrets, it’s actually quick and easy to perfect your look in ten minutes or less before heading out. Here’s how:
The TLDR
The key is to prioritise focus on the aspects that make the biggest impact – and to deal with those aspects thoroughly rather than to rush through an entire, detailed routine. For example, rather than agonising over how everything in your outfit sits on your body, put on a smooth base layer, such as SKIMS shapewear, so that anything you chuck on has a great silhouette. Most issues with how skin looks are cleansing rather than makeup application problems, so focus on cleaning and prepping your skin more than on painting it. Use five products to quickly accentuate your best features, don’t overthink your hair (if it’s really bothering you, wear a hat!), and add a bold statement detail to draw the eye.
Start With a Two-Minute Skin Refresh
Fresh-looking skin is the fastest and very best way to appear awake and polished – no matter how old and wrinkled you are! If you are in a rush, a quick scrub with soap and water will be fine – you really don’t need to go all out! But do remember that cleansing really is the most important step in any makeup routine – anything that follows cleansing should be about accentuating your best features rather than covering up grubby skin.
Follow with a lightweight or tinted moisturiser to add hydration and even out your skin tone
If you have only seconds to spare, choose products that can do double duty. For example, a tinted sunscreen, BB cream, or moisturiser with a glow finish can replace several makeup steps. Dab a tiny blob of concealer under your eyes, around the nose, and on any blemishes. Blend with your fingers to save time and avoid hunting for brushes (don’t believe what the influencers tell you; while expensive brushes are fab if you’ve got the time and money, your fingers are really fine in a pinch). Plus, they’re a time-effective way to apply makeup, as the heat from your fingers helps to blend the product into your skin.
Use the Five-Product Makeup Rule
A full makeup routine is not always realistic when you’re short on time, but there are five products you can apply quickly to make a huge difference. Keep a small everyday glam bag ready with:
- Brow wax/pencil
- Mascara
- Cream blush
- Lip tint
- Setting spray
These essentials brighten your face, define your features, and add colour in minutes.
Your brows frame your face. Use your brow wax and pencil to tame and define your eyebrows for instant uplift and polish. You don’t need to spend a lot of time doing this – you just need to quickly smooth any unruly hairs and clarify the shape. That can take seconds.
Applying mascara is possibly the most impactful thing you can do to make your eyes bigger and brighter, and it takes seconds to do. Pick a high-quality mascara that you don’t need to cake on to get results – the better the mascara, the faster it will be to achieve the look you want.
Cream blush is a good choice for those short on time because it’s very quick and easy to apply and blend. You could even rub the excess into the contour of your eye socket to give your eyes a bit more definition.
Finish by tinting your lips. Use lipstick, lip balm, or whatever is quickest, easiest, and most practical for you.
Setting spray is a quick spritz that adds a dewy finish to the whole look and keeps it in place all evening.
Don’t worry about your hair
Hair can take a huge amount of time, so have two or three quick and reliable styles ready in your repertoire. A sleek low bun, high ponytail, or even a headband or hat can look polished on a night out if you’ve not got the time (or the hair type) to properly style.
For a quick, polished finish, smooth flyaways with a tiny amount of hair serum, hand cream, or styling stick. Add a headband, silk scrunchie, or simple barrette if you want the style to feel more dressed up. Accessories make a rushed hairstyle look a bit more planned and polished.
Add one statement detail
You do not need to over-accessorise to look glam. One strong detail can draw the eye and define your whole outfit. An addition like gold hoops, a bold necklace, a red lip, oversized sunglasses, or a structured handbag draws attention and makes your look feel very polished, even if the whole thing was chucked together in ten minutes.
If jewellery is not practical with little ones, focus on shoes or a bag instead. Glam pumps, pointed flats, or sophisticated ankle boots can make even a basic outfit look finished.
Focus on feeling good
Glam is not about perfection. It is about feeling confident enough to let loose and have fun. Some mornings, mascara and a ponytail will be enough. Other days, you may have time for a more sculpted face and outfit. The important thing is that you don’t miss out on any fun with your friends simply because you don’t think you have time to get ready.
Disclosure – this is a collaborative post.
