Time saving beauty tips and routines for time-poor women...

Yummy mummies and working women alike find it difficult to find time to think, let alone dedicate valuable minutes to hairstyling and makeup application - especially in the morning.

Yes, we women are supposed to be fabulous at multi-tasking - but somehow I don't think that extends to concealing undereye bags while dressing a toddler for kindy, or lining your eyes while driving to work AND talking on the phone.

It should not be a choice between putting on your makeup and eating breakfast - with the tips we have come up with, and the double-duty products we have found you'll be eating your muesli and berries with a full face of makeup AND have time for a cup of tea!







Makeup must have items: Most of these can be purchased very inexpensivly

• Primer (so your makeup will last all day) - this is your investment item, and a must have for the modern woman.
  

• Foundation/tinted moisturiser with SPF - there are great options at your supermarket
  

• Concealer (if you don't have a concealer, you can use foundation)

• Bronzer

• Highligher (you can use a natural coloured shimmery eyeshadow as a substitute)

• Blendable eye pencils in natural colours
  

• Mascara

• Neutral lip-gloss/lipstick

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1, 2, 3 minute makeup routines: ladies start your stopwatches

Editors note: I have tried all of these methods and they are very achievable in the time frames. If you are not experienced with makeup, I suggest having a practice in the weekend when you are not quite to busy, and printing this page out to keep in the bathroom.

If you have literally ONE minute to make something of yourself:

Apply foundation all over the face, bronze the apples of the cheeks and add mascara - BAM! - oh and gloss your lips in the car on the way - at the lights, NOT while you are driving.

If you have another 22 seconds to spare, use a natural brown pencil to define the brows, and your primer, lipgloss, or whatever you have handy to groom them. Brows are KEY

If you have TWO, sneaky little minutes:

Apply foundation all over face, conceal around the eyes, and then add a line right down the centre of your face and blend outward, to create the illusion of perfect skin. Bronze the apples of the cheeks. Sweep highlighter with a large brush over eyes, cheekbones and nose. Add mascara and pencil in the brows. Yes, you can do all of this in 2 minutes, and yes, you'll look hot.

If you have THREE, luxurious minutes to spare, you can really got to town on yourself.

Apply foundation all over the face. Conceal around the eyes and any imperfections you may have, and then add a line right down the centre of your face and blend outward, to create the illusion of perfect skin.

Take a natural coloured, blendable eye pencil (chocolate brown, deep navy, black, or grey) and roughly line your upper lash line. Don't worry at all about getting it perfect as you will be blending it.

Using a cotton bud, eyeshadow brush, or your finger, blend the line upwards towards your eye socket roughly. Continue to re apply the pencil line and blend upwards until you get the desired dept of colour.

Line your bottom rim and add mascara. Pencil in and groom the brows.

Apply bronzer to the cheeks and use your finger to smudge highlighter over the very top of your cheekbones and brow bones. Gloss your kissers and ka-pow - you are one hot mama/working girl.

Other time saving tips:

• Tinting lashes and brows will save time on a daily basis
• If you have very unruly hair and straighten it daily, consider a chemical straightening process - can be life changing for some people.
• Permanent makeup looks amazing, and means you can jump out of bed and go without doing a thing!
• Tightly pulled back, imperfectly shaped buns are very trendy right now – a great option for those days when you don't have time to wash, or do your hair
  
• A great cut will save time in the mornings. Make sure you ask your hairdresser that is easy to work with – not that just looks good in a magazine. Magazine hair has been styled A LOT so ask for something that will suit your face shape and be easy to style instead.
  

Been up all night with baby?

• White eyeliner on the lower rim of the eyes makes the eyes look wider and more awake
• A sweep of highlighter all over the face makes a big difference if you need a pick me up[ ( hint: also great for hangovers)
• For days when you don’t have time to wash your hair, dry-shampoo is great as it soaks up grease and helps you get another day out of your wash.
  
  
  
  

Article by Gracie Stewart and Kate McGahan