When I was in high school, I knew absolutely NOTHING about makeup – contouring, winged eyeliner or even the basics like mascara. Why? It was a different time. Not knowing about makeup made me part of the majority in high school, but standards have changed and now most high school girls can out-school me applying eyeliner.
It can be hard balancing a healthy school life (or work life) and trying to look flawless all of the time, especially when you’re always on-the-go. So, to help you out, here are 5 beauty tips that’ll help you look great even when you’re rushing out of the door with your coffee in one hand and shoes in the other hand.
1. Moisturize Twice a Day
Your skin is the largest organ in your body and it takes a lot of beatings from the weather, makeup and cleansing routines. Finding the right moisturizer for your skin is essential to having your skin look and feel great. First you need to determine what is your skin type – dry, oily, sensitive, normal or a combination. Here’s a great YouTube tutorial that’ll help you to determine what you skin type is if you’re not too sure. From there, you’ll have to find a moisturizer that’ll help your skin. I have oily skin and I find that Neutrogena Visibly Clear Pink Grapefruit Oil-Free works for me. I apply it twice a day and it leaves my skin looking beautifully clear and healthy. It's action triad includes hydration (fast-absorbing and soft to touch), cleansing (prevents spots by cleaning pores) and refreshment (uplifts your senses giving you that fresh feeling). Once your skin is looking and feeling great, you’ll feel more comfortable with applying less makeup on when you’re in a rush. Moisturizer
2. A Little Lipstick Goes a Long Way
Adding a pop of colour to your face with some lipstick instantly changes your face. Because you’re in a rush, and your face seems pretty bare, you can keep the neutral tones going with a nude lipstick or gloss, or go all out with a vibrant red or purple for an prompt drama effect. The Tarte Tarteist Lip Paint is available in 10 colours – from your everyday neutrals to a lavender and dark purple. Because it's a liquefied and concentrated version of a traditional lipstick, the pigments are intense and saturated, not to mention completely mineral-based. It’ll stay on all day and not dry the crap out of your lips like other matte lipsticks. It’s a win-win for me.
3. Coloured Mascara Adds a Pop of Colour
Blue mascara was cool in the 80’s and it’s making a comeback (like many other things from the 80’s). At first, you’ll be against the idea of putting bright blue on your eyelashes but you should give it a try next time you’re at Sephora or Shoppers Drug Mart. The blue gives you a pop of colour around the eyes, especially if you already have coloured eyes, which works well when you have no eye makeup on. CoverGirl’s Katy Kat Eye Mascara in Perry Blue will get you hooked.
4. Blotting Paper Should be Your new BFF
This is a must-have in my on-the-go makeup bag. We sweat, we get oily and that leads to shiny skin. Pureness Oil-Control Blotting Paper by Shiseido. These blotting papers have a powerful oil-absorbing ingredient that instantly freshens skin and eliminates shine with a light powder finish. What I like about them the those, though, is that it dispenses easily so I’m not struggling to rip out just one piece of paper. It’s a small thing that makes a huge difference.
5. Dry Shampoo + Bun Day = A Good Hair Day
We don’t like to admit this too often, but sometimes we’re just too tired to wash our hair and we know we’re going to be throwing it up in a bun or braiding it the next day because it’s going to be an oily mess. I’m all about braids and buns but sprits a bit of dry shampoo the night before and then comb it out before you’re about to style your hair – it’ll help with the oil and if you use COLAB’s Extreme Volume dry shampoo, it’ll add extra oompf to make your bun extra puffy and the little stray hairs stay in place.
What are your on-the-go lifesaving beauty tips? Comment below!
