Did you know that women spend an average of three years of their life getting ready in the morning? Since the back-to-school season is upon us, most of us busy, budgeted ladies will be frantically worrying about applying enough makeup to not look like the undead in the morning, or finding ways to comb our hair while we coast through the carpool lane.
Instead of wasting more hours and time with the morning routine, try using these simple tips and tricks for streamlining your schedule (while still looking good)...
Use Your Baby's Products
If you're a new mom or have young children, you can multitask in the morning by using their products to cleanse and tone your face. For example, a baby wipe makes a fabulous cleanser in the morning (apply in a circular motion for an exfoliating effect), and all natural (and affordable) witch hazel pads make a wonderful toner and pimple treatment. If there isn't any lotion in sight, a small amount of diaper ointment can soothe dry skin and treat under-eye wrinkles in no time. (I recommend the soothing, multitasking My Mama's Love Complete Skincare Curative).
Fake Clean Hair
Don't have time to wash your hair in the morning? It might sound cliche, but massaging a handful of baby powder into your roots (in a "shampoo" motion), leaving it for a few minutes and then gently restyling or flipping your hair, can create the illusion of freshly cleaned locks. Lesser-known trick: If you're worried about your hair looking slightly grey, try mixing the baby powder (like natural Sweet P's No Talc Baby Powder) with a small dab of mineral eye shadow, foundation or facial powder in a shade that corresponds shade to your hair color. (It's a fast and easy, inexpensive alternative to dry shampoo.)
Play Up One Feature
If you don't have time to makeover your entire face using eye shadow, bronzer, blush, eyeliner and so on... try choosing one feature and accentuating it. My favorite trick is using Talika Lipocils Eyelash Extender to create long, thick eyelashes, which will help you look more awake and lets you get away with wearing less makeup on the rest of your face. Just apply a few coats of your normal mascara, a few coats of the Eyelash Extender (which looks almost like black cotton candy), and then another coat of mascara. The tiny fibers will stick to your eyelashes and literally create the illusion of eyelash extensions, without the time or cost.
Fit In Toning
If you usually have zero time for both beauty and fitness during the day, try combining the two in the early morning hours. Vow to do squats while you’re washing your face, calf raises while brushing your teeth, or jumping jacks between each activity. You'll fit in a 10 minute, fat burning routine...before you've even poured that first cup of coffee. Or, use another favorite trick—add Smart Soles Exercise Insoles to any pair of shoes and instantly turn them into fitness shoes. (You can tone your legs and burn more calories, just by running around after your kids.)
Multitask Your Minutes
When all else fails, choose products that do more than one thing. Use a shine serum (or gentle hydrating cream like Three Seeds Naturals) not only on your hair or face, but to groom your eyebrows, soothe your cuticles and moisturize your elbows, too. Don't use bronzer just on your cheeks, but mix with lip balm or lotion for a simple lip color (or eye shadow). You can even apply teeth whitening strips to your teeth while fixing your hair or applying your makeup and use the remaining pieces on your fingernails for an impromptu whitening manicure too. Voila!
Bailey Vincent Clark is the founder of Makeover Momma and the proud mother of two little girls. Her website helps budgeted mothers feel fit, fashionable and fabulous after kids, through videos, posts, Makeover Momma TV, and the continually evolving Makeover Momma shop with OpenSky. For more information, please email bailey@makeovermomma.com.
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