The 10 Best Beauty Shortcuts

Ever have a morning where you're so late you wish you could go to work in your PJs? Shave time off your beauty routine and still get out the door looking presentable.

  • Take a three-minute shower, and only wash areas where you may have perspired. Skip washing your hair, and brush your teeth while you're rinsing off the soap. Faster showers are much better for your skin. Plus, don't try to shave in a hurry—there's not enough time for shaving cream to sink in and you're more likely to nick yourself.
  • Skip the shower entirely, and simply mist your skin with water. Pat it dry and add moisturizer to rough areas.
  • Try a dry shampoo powder instead of washing your hair. Just apply it near the scalp and it will soak up excess oil that makes your hair look greasy.
  • Refresh your face by applying a moisturizer to rinsed (not washed) skin. Add a day moisturizer with SPF and you're ready to go.
  • Minimize a blemish by holding an ice cube over it for a minute. You can further camouflage it with a yellow-toned concealer.
  • Soothe puffy eyes with bags of frozen peas. Pressing the frozen bags gently against your eyes for two minutes will help swelling recede. (Other veggies work too)
  • Simplify makeup by concentrating on the essentials: concealer and/or powder, some blush or bronzer, mascara, and lipstick or gloss will give you a pulled together look.
  • Fake a manicure by removing chipped polish, rubbing cream into cuticles, cleaning under your nails, and buffing them to give them a natural glow.
  • Create a tamed or tousled hairstyle. Try rubbing a dollop of styling gel or mousse into short hair and ruffling it into a messy look, or slicking back longer hair into an elegant ponytail. A travel straightening iron can control bangs quickly, or even bobby pins can be your best friend. Be sure to keep a few hair accessories that match your hair color on hand so you don't waste more minutes digging for them.
  • Keep a go-to outfit ready at all times. While some very organized people plan their clothes the night before, many of us prefer to wait to see what we're in the mood for the next morning. An emergency outfit can be a life-saver when time is in short supply. Make sure this ensemble fits you on "skinny" or "fat" days, doesn't require you to be freshly-shaven or pedicure perfect, and is ironed and ready to go. Be sure to choose accessories that pair with it as well.

However late you may be, resist the urge to groom on the go. It's dangerous to stick things in your face in a moving car. And if you take public transportation, it's unhygienic and irritating to your fellow passengers. Stash a grooming kit with back-up makeup and hair products, moisturizer, and a toothbrush in your desk or purse. It's great for emergencies and afternoon touchups.