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Top 11 Ways to Get Gorgeous in Minutes

July 18, 2010 Beauty Tips

Who honestly wants to spend an hour getting ready each morning? Or should we say, who has an hour to spend primping? Between jobs, kids, pets, workout routines, Facebook updates and significant others, there’s never enough time to fit everything in. Here, we share expert tips for saving time on your hair and makeup routine — now you won’t have to sacrifice looking great for that daunting to-do list.

Skip the Shampoo

The ultimate way to save time on styling your hair — don’t wash it. If you have greasy and or flat roots, spritz them with dry shampoo. Part and spritz until your whole root area is coated and then brush the dry shampoo through your strands for even distribution. — Taylor Babaian, Los Angeles-based hair and makeup artist

Don’t Skip Blush

If you have time to apply only one makeup item, choose blush. It “instantly enlivens the complexion and a great blush literally makes you look alive,” says Petra Strand, creator and founder of Pixi cosmetics.

Pre-Dry Your Hair

To cut down on blow drying time, follow these steps courtesy of Patrick Jagaille, hairstylist from the Serge Normant Los Angeles Salon:

Step 1: Squeeze excess water out of your hair after showering.
Step 2: Apply the styling products you normally use.
Step 3: Part your hair the way you want to wear it then comb through your strands.
Step 4: Let hair air dry while you do your makeup, drink coffee, dress the kids, etc.
Step 5: Now blow dry — it should take about half the time.

Option for Multi-Use Products

Save a step by using foundation that contains sunscreen or other skin-benefiting ingredients. Apply it with your fingers (make sure they’re clean) to blend it in quickly. Bonus tip: “If you can’t blend [foundation or concealer] into your skin quickly, it’s not the right color,” Babaian says.

Choose the Right Tools

Blow dryer:
“If you need speed, you should have a professional dryer. It doesn’t matter what brand it is or the size,” Jagaille says. He also recommends using the nozzle to focus the heat and power of the dryer.

Flat iron and curling iron:
“More money spent will save time,” says Babaian about the importance of buying professional-grade irons. She claims that higher end tools are better made and get hotter, which equals less time spent styling.

Spend Your Time Wisely

Think about the things that concern you most — do you have blonde lashes that look non-existent without mascara? Or do your barely-there brows make you look unpolished? When you’re tight on time, pick one issue to address and spend time on that. You’ll be good to go in 30 seconds or less. — Babaian

Try a Two-for-One Style

When your hair is freshly washed and damp, twist it into a bun and secure with chopsticks, pencils or a couple of very large hairpins. Wear this style for a few hours or all day and then let out the bun for a gorgeous wavy style (great for a night out or for the next day). The key to making sure your waves look uniform is to twist your hair really well before securing it into the bun. — Jagaille

Keep a Palette Handy

Instead of using a variety of separate products when you’re in a rush, have a go-to palette that contains eye, lip and cheek products. It takes the thought out of which products to apply and it will likely fit into your purse or even your back pocket for easy on-the-go touch ups. — Strand

Give Hot Rollers a Try

“Hot rollers are amazing, they make you look like you spent hours on your hair in five minutes,” Babaian says. She recommends using large rollers and only using four to six of them for a more modern look. Apply mousse or styling spray onto each section before rolling hair up for long-lasting hold.

Choose Easy-to-Apply Makeup

If doing your makeup in the car or subway in seconds is your only option, go for a simple glowing look. First dust bronzer sparingly all over your face for an instant pick me up. Focus a bit more of the color on your cheeks and eyes “for extra definition,” Strand says. Then slick on lipgloss, which “is forgiving and can be applied without looking,” Babaian says.

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