Wednesday, February 5, 2014

So You're Running Late...

... like every morning.

I can't be the only person who doesn't bound out of bed with the strength of Samson, excitedly heralding the incoming e-mails and stress of yet another workday. Some mornings, yes, but those are rare. Most mornings, I hit the snooze button for about 30 minutes and find myself rushing out the door, promising that I'll never, ever do this again if I can just get to work on time and in one piece.

Which is always a lie.

So sometimes I need steps that can be taken care of while I'm at the various red lights on my way to work. I don't have time to dig through a massive bag filled with blue eyeliner and shimmery shadows when I'm in a rush - I need products that work fast.


Last-Minute Beauty


First things first. TOUCH UP greasy roots with a dry shampoo. While I like powders like Bumble & Bumble's Prêt-à-Powder for sprinkling in my hair and leaving it in overnight for fresh hair in the morning sometimes only an aerosol spray like Drybar's Detox gives me the immediacy I need at 9 a.m. To use: section hair and spray into roots. Let sit while you brush your teeth, brew coffee, etc. Rub into scalp, taking care to disperse any white residue. Blast with cool air from hair dryer to finish.

Next up, CONCEAL dark circles, blemishes and redness with this heavenly concealer from NARS. I haven't met a better do-it-all, stay-all-day formula, and I've tried a lot of concealers. This in Vanilla is a staple in my makeup bag. Dot onto blemishes and blend with brush or fingertips, pat into under-eye circles and in any area where you're concerned about discoloration or blemishes.

Then, PERFECT your complexion with a BB creme like Diorskin Nude. I've used and loved the Dr. Jart products for over a year, but this Diorskin Nude BB Creme may have made me a convert. I feel like I've got the glowy perfection of foundation, without the weight. Applied with a buffing brush, I can get full coverage out of this without trying too hard.

Once you've got the perfect canvas, you need to add a GLOW with dewy color to your cheeks so you don't look like a zombie. These Stila Convertible Color products are amazing - I keep one in my purse at all times. Just apply with your fingers to the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out toward the temples. Be sure to pick a shade that gives you a good flush - nothing too statement-looking for daytime.

When you're in a rush, the last thing you might be thinking about are your brows, but taking a minute to DEFINE your brows goes a long way. Benefit's Gimme Brow tool helps me apply color to my thin, nonexistent eyebrows while also whisking down the wonky strands that were smushed against my pillow. The mini brush delivers a fiber/gel formula that helps me create brows where there were none.

The final step? WAKE UP your lashes with a mascara that doesn't give you the spider-lash effect. I'm a mascara junkie and have tired just about every formula on the market, but this impulse purchase of Maybelline Full & Soft, Thick & Healthy mascara has changed my life. No more clumped lashes or spidered-out fringe. This mascara contains Vitamin E for soft, plump lashes, and the best part is that it washes off easily. Swipe horizontally to the right and left, then finish with a standard sweep up the lash, wiggling a little at the base of your upper lashline for more volume.

What are your go-to products when you're rushing out the door? Any tips for the rest of us late risers?