It can be hard to find the time for a full-on beauty routine everyday, but there are a couple of multi-tasing, hardworking products which should save you time, and keep you looking sassy, on-the-go. I’ve picked just a few of my favourites here…
Ace of Base If you’re not a foundation fan, primer is a quick way to get smooth. Murad Invisiblur Perfecting Shield SPF 30 (£69.50, John Lewis) treats, blurs and protects. Improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles this magic product gives you an airbrushed look, and thanks to SPF 30 you’re protected from the elements too. Wear alone, or under make-up. If you want more coverage, the tools you use to apply your foundation will be your time saver here. The new Real Techniques MultiTech Collection (from £15.99, Superdrug) of brushes all feature an innovative point cut, with varying sizes allowing quick and precise application of anything from powder to eyeshadow – but if you only go for one item, make it a sponge. The Real Techniques MultiTech 360 Point Makeup Sponge (£9.99, Superdrug) is great for dabbing your make-up on as slapdash as you like thanks to the design buffing the product into every crease. For more precision opt for the beautyblender Classic Sponge (£16, Boots). And for some speedy make-up, try Milani Conceal + Perfect 2-in-1 (£12.99, beautybase.com), a foundation and concealer combined offering natural but full coverage.
All-in-one palettes
Laura Mercier’s Master Class Colour Essentials Collection 2nd Edition (£90, John Lewis) is a limited-edition palette offering 12 eyeshadows, as well as blush, highlighter, bronzer and two eye pencils, along with two brushes. Packaged in a sturdy box with mirror, this is a godsend for commuters with little room to pack cosmetics. Similarly, the Charlotte Tilbury Instant Look in a Palette (£49, charlottetilbury.com) promises to help give you a natural look in five minutes! Three neutral eye shades, a facial bronzer, a highlighter along with two blush colours in a mirrored compact. For smaller budgets grab the Sleek A Midsummer’s Dream Eye & Cheek Palette (£9.99, Boots) featuring four creamy eyeshadows, and two blushers, with mini brushes too.
Express eyes
When you don’t have time for the artistry required for the cat flick, there’s still a way to make your eyes pop in under five minutes. Take a Kohl eyeliner pencil and draw a rough line close to your lashes; before it dries, take your finger and smudge away, keeping close to the lash line. To avoid any unwanted transferring in your eye crease, swatch some powder to set. Try Kiko Intense Colour Long Lasting Eyeliner (£5.20, Grand Arcade) available in 15 shades, this easy-blend formula features a sponge buffer at the end for smudging. New from Benefit, They’re Real! Duo Eyeshadow Blender (£19.50, Boots) is an innovative kit for applying two shades of shadow with one tool, in one stroke. In eight duos, try Easy Smokin’ for a sassy shimmer.
Now, if you’re keen to lay on the eyeliner and take it to the next level, there are tools to help you out. The beautyblender Liner Designer (£14 beautyblender.co.uk) with its plectrum-like design helps you sculpt the perfect flick and can even be used to perfect mascara and lipstick. For even more creative choice, try the KISS Wing it Eyeliner Kit (£7.99, Asda), a gel eyeliner with brush, and stencil featuring six different designs.
Speedy savers
PeRA|357’s Triple Impact Pre-Shampoo Treatment (£30, pera357.com) is genius in giving your hair a faster drying time, more volume and beautiful shine – so you don’t have to leave the house pretending you’ve spent ages on your ’do! Another gem of a product which does the thinking for you is the Oral-B Genius 9000 Rose Gold (£280, Boots) which uses Bluetooth to show you areas you may be missing, with customisable features it has a built-in timer, giving you the ideal brush, and in rose gold, it’s set to be the prettiest, most intelligent item in your bathroom. Another clever tool is the W7 Shade & Swap Make Up Swapper Sponge Pad (£2.99, beautybase.com) which seems to use magic to instantly clean off eyeshadow brushes without wetting them, meaning you can save time, space and blunders! Hands down the best way to give your look a boost is with a quick slick of lippy, and the Rimmel Colour Rush Balm (£5.99, Boots) in Drive me Nude is my favourite handbag essential. This colour suits everyone and is so forgiving to apply that you can do it without looking in a mirror, promise! For a bolder lip, Milani Amore Matte Lip Creme (£9.95, beautybase.com) in Gorgeous will last all day, so no need for touch-ups.