9 Beauty Hacks for When You’re Running Late

by Hana Hong / Wednesday, 11 April 2018

Scrambled for time? You can rush out the door and still look great thanks to these genius tips.

Spritz on dry shampoo

dry shampoo Matthew Cohen/rd.com

When you don’t have time to wash or blow-dry your hair, dry shampoo is your new best friend. One quick spritz is a shortcut to volume and oil-free hair. Simply spray the dry shampoo directly at the roots and massage in for a clean, tousled look. Jeanette Zinno, beauty expert and blogger, shares her special trick: “Use a dry shampoo at night to wake up with fresh textured hair. It has all night to work and absorb.” If you’re in a pinch and don’t have any dry shampoo on hand, run a dryer sheet across your hair, suggests Rochelle Maribojoc from Spa Pechanga. Though it sounds strange, it effectively picks up static, dirt, and oil; even if you plan on throwing your hair into a ponytail or messy bun, it’ll look leagues better. Find out the nine things you don’t know about dry shampoo.

Stock up on travel-size products

travel size Matthew Cohen/rd.com

If you’re constantly running late (hey—no judgments!), having a to-go makeup bag full of mini hair and makeup products at the ready is a lifesaver. On those harried mornings, simply grab this trusty tote and do your beauty routine on the fly (on the subway or when you get to your office). Sam & Nic Chapman, makeup artists from Real Techniques, share, “Travel-ready products are fantastic in a bind. If you haven’t had enough time to perfect your look in the morning, you’ll have the tools to freshen it up throughout the day.” (If you are planning to travel, this is the best way to pack makeup.)

Take advantage of multipurpose products

multipurpose Matthew Cohen/rd.com

Multi-purpose products help reduce the number of products you use and can be applied in less time. For example, the Mineral Fusion 3-in-1 Color Stick can be used for cheeks, eyes, and lips. “I love it because it’s also very small, so you can take it on-the-go too,” Zinno says.

Dry nail polish fast with ice water

ice water Matthew Cohen/rd.com

We’ve all been there—you’re going to an event or getting ready for a date, and you didn’t have time for a mani. Of course, there’s no such thing as speedily painting your nails, as polish requires ample drying time, except, that is, if you use this brilliant trick from Zinno. “Soak your freshly-painted nails in a bowl of ice water for a minute; the cold will dry them quickly. Make sure you have the bowl ready before you paint your nails so you don’t mess them up!” Follow these tips to make that mani last longer.

Skip the foundation

concealer Matthew Cohen/rd.com

Unless your skin has a lot of unevenness, you really don’t need foundation 24/7. When you’re in a hurry, you can get away with dabbing concealer under eyes, down the bridge of the nose, on your chin, and on any problem areas like dark spots or pimples. “Using your concealer for spot-concealing is the best time-saver as it provides evenness of tone, while giving your complexion a natural, not-fussy look,” says Sébastien Tardif, CEO of Veil Cosmetics, who adds that you want to pick a concealer that matches your skin tone for the most flattering finish. These are the 10 makeup mistakes pros wish you would stop making.

Apply eyeliner on the “negative space”

eyeliner Matthew Cohen/rd.com

While cat liner and smokey eyes require a time commitment, filling in the negative space (the area of skin on your eyelid between your lashes and eye) is extremely easy and gives instant definition and make your lashes look fuller without any mascara. Check out the eyeliner hacks every woman needs to know.

Smudge eyeliner for an instant smokey eye

smudge eyeliner Matthew Cohen/rd.com

For the quickest smokey eye, “Simply line your eyes using a creamy eyeliner and smudge with your ring finger (it’s the weakest, so it’s the best for blending without pulling your delicate eyelid skin),” shares beauty expert and professional makeup artist Sona Gasparian, “In just a few seconds, you’ll have a simple Parisian look!”

Blush is a must

blush Matthew Cohen/rd.com

Although contouring your full face will eat up too much time, blush is too important to skip, especially in the morning when most of us tend to roll out of bed looking pasty or sallow. If you’re super tight on time, dab a tinted lip balm on your cheeks and blend for a creamy blush alternative. “A little bit of color on our cheeks can go a long way—the color makes you look more alive without barely even trying,” says BH Cosmetics.

Swipe on a dark lip color

dark lip color Matthew Cohen/rd.com

A red, plum, or sophisticated brown lip hue can elevate your look and make others think you dedicated a whole lot of effort on your appearance, even when you didn’t. Choose a lip stain and you won’t even have to re-apply throughout the day, says Liz Fuller from Makeup Artistry Inc, “One quick pat on the lips in the morning as you’re running out the door, and you can forget about it for the remainder of the day. My favorite is Sephora Cream Lip Stain Liquid Lipstick.”

Read on for easy beauty tricks lazy girls will love.