Lazy Girl's Guide to Makeup on the Go

There are girls who spend an entire hour on their makeup every morning, perfecting a smoky eye, lining their lips, and using 15 brushes to get it all done. If you're one of those girls, this article isn't for you. It's for the lazy girls, like me, who don't have the time or desire to spend a large chunk of time piling on the powder (and would rather do my makeup on the go). How do you know if you're a lazy girl?

1. You hit the snooze button until you have five minutes left before you need to leave the house.
2. You instantly love any beauty product that can do 12 things at once.
3. You've put your makeup on in the car, a public restroom, or at your desk -- more times than you can count.

If any of those statements sounded a tad too familiar, you're officially a lazy girl. Congrats!

Don't get me wrong. Lazy girls still want to look their best every morning. They just have more important things to do, like sleep. This is where I come in. As a fellow lazy girl, I know the pressures that come with doing your makeup on the go, or in minimal time. The good news is I found a bunch of products that are meant to help those of us with only nanoseconds to slap some makeup on.

And if you want even more lazy girl guidance (after you finish this story), check out my lazy girl's guide to hair tomorrow. Before you know it, everyone will be envious of your look, not realizing it took you less time than it took them to do just their eyeliner.

Start off right

The first step to a gorgeous face? Creating a clear complexion. For the non-lazy girl that means primer, concealer, SPF, foundation, setting powder ... whew! (Just listing those made me tired.) Luckily, there's an easy way to turn those five steps into one: BB cream.

Originally from Southeast Asia, BB cream has finally made its way to the rest of the world, and every lazy girl should rejoice. It's a product that's meant to protect, moisturise, and even out your skin tone all at once -- something that makes both dermatologists and makeup artists very happy. But with tons of BB creams out there, how do you know which is the best? A good BB cream will include anti-aging moisturiser, SPF, and a tint to even out skin tone.  Slap one on in the morning and you're good to go.

I recommend Too Faced Beauty Balm Multi-Benefit Skin Care Makeup, £24.50, especially if you're going for that dewy look.

Double up

Just like the BB cream, every lazy girl should look for makeup products that do double duty. Not only will this save you time, but you'll also spend less money -- and who doesn't love that?

For example, choose a lip stain that you can also apply to your cheeks, like Benefit Benetint, £24.50.

You can also try using one product multiple ways. Celebrity makeup and hair pro Jeffrey Paul shares this trick online: Once you're done using your hairspray on your head, spritz some on your fingers, and then shape your brows. It'll keep those strays in place.

Last tip? If you don't want to break out a ton of different products, try a monochromatic look. Paul says to use a bronzer on your cheekbones and your eyelids.

Ultimate applicator

Makeup brushes can be a big time suck. (Besides, what's really the big difference between an eyebrow brush and an eyeliner brush?) My suggestion: Ditch 'em. Instead try this applicator -- your finger. You can use your fingers for any beauty product or part of your face.

Not only will this save you time, but you might just get a better look. Using your fingers is a great way to feel how much product you are applying on your skin; something that's harder to judge when using a brush. Another reason to use your digits: If you blend each item properly, your makeup will look more natural than if you used brushes.

Pencil it on

You could spend 20 minutes perfecting a cat eye and applying eyeshadow, or you could opt for an ultra fast, one-step, show-stopping look. If you're all about speed, you need a chunky eye pencil. An eye pencil can define your eye shape, create a sultry smoky eye, and intensify your eye color.

Another great thing about ultra-chunky liners? Because they are so thick, they naturally smudge, so no extra step to worry about. And that's not the only benefit to using an eye pencil on your lids. Unlike glittery eyeshadow that eventually ends up on your cheeks, many eye pencils don't flake. I loves NYX Cosmetics Jumbo Eye Pencil, £4.50.

Oil up

Want to streamline your beauty routine even more? Pair down your moisturisers and opt for a cure-all oil. Cure-all oils -- coconut, avocado, and almond are just three examples -- can keep your face and body hydrated with just one product. Just slather them on from head-to-toe and call it a day.

Smell good

Don't have time for a perfume spritz? Add it to a step you probably always make time for -- your deodorant. These days many high-end fragrances like Chloe and Stella McCartney make specially scented deodorants. They're a bit pricy, but when you think of your purchase as two products, I'm sure you'll see the light.

Nails without the polish

It can take hours to paint your nails, clean up the mistakes, and wait for them to dry. I have a better idea: Fake it. Yup, if you're looking for a cool design, but don't have the time (or patience) to do-it-yourself, try nail stickers. Sally Hansen Salon Effects Real Nail Polish Strips, £5.25, are cheap, fun, and come in a variety of patterns, prints, and textures.

And if you're looking for length, try press-on nails, like Impress Press-On Manicure by Broadway Nails, £7.99. Don't worry -- they are nothing like the press-on's of the '80s. These nails look as flawless as a shellac mani, and are way thinner than the fake nails of the past.

Wipe it off

This has to be the ultimate go-to item in the lazy girl beauty bag: Wipes. Not only can you take off your makeup, but you can apply sunscreen, and even fix your hair with these wet naps.

Where to start? Try Earth Therapeutics Tea Tree Oil Foot Wipes, £5.43, to sooth and clean toes, heels, and feet; Ted Gibson Hair Sheets, £12 to tame flyaways, and Supergoop Sunscreen Swipes with Zinc, £15, for UV protection.

If you're looking for a cleansing cloth that will also calm your skin, try looking for wipes with aloe vera, cucumber, and chamomile. I recommend Yes to Cucumbers Facial Towelettes, £4.99.

And while wipes are amazing, even lazy girls shouldn't skip face washing altogether. Cleansing wipes are great but I advise everyone to give their face a full wash at least every two to three days.



So I hope you enjoy these easy peasy ways of keeping up with the busy world out there.  I certainly will use anything in my arsenal to make life easier.

xoxo,
Angelique