STYLE

Beauty

These beauty habits will save you so much time in the morning

The beauty mantra for 2024? Work smarter, not harder. Invest your time in hacks that save you precious morning routine minutes where it counts (aka when the school bus is t-minus two minutes away).

High maintenance now to be low maintenance later is the girl math of the beauty world: Put in the work ahead of schedule, and watch it pay off during prep time. Gorgeous *and* chill mornings? Yes, please...

Tint your brows
Time saved: 3 minutes a day

@olivia_dejonge by @gitabass

The easiest way to accent your arches? Tint them. Start by tweezing any stray hairs and washing your face, says celebrity brow artist Joey Healy. Mix up your dye (he likes Refectocil, $35) and apply it only to the areas you would normally fill in with a brow pencil or gel.

"When you're choosing a color, go one shade lighter than your hair so your brows don't look too dark," he advises. The dye will hit all those invisible baby hairs to make your brows look fuller. Leave it on for about five minutes before carefully wiping it away.

"You can always do more," shares Healy. "Better to do several rounds than leave it on for too long and have it look too dark." The color will last six to eight weeks.

Deep clean your skin
Time saved: An hour a week

@havanaroseliu

Dermatologist and CeraVe brand partner Dr. Evan Rieder recommends deep cleaning your complexion one evening a month to keep it clear and healthy. Start by double cleansing to completely wash away dirt and makeup. "Use an oil cleanser to remove impurities and oil, then follow up with a salicylic acid-based cleanser to help gently exfoliate."

Thoroughly massage the cleanser into your skin, taking the time to get into the areas around your nose and your hairline. The exfoliation will help smooth out your skin tone and control breakouts. Rinse thoroughly, then layer a hyaluronic acid serum and a hydrating face mask while your skin is still damp to lock in moisture.

Color strategically
Time saved: An afternoon a month

@sofiarichiegrainge

Ombré is one of the best ways to get multi-dimensional color without root touch-ups, says Chaz Dean, founder of Wen hair products. Your stylist will keep your roots closer to your natural shade, gradually going lighter as you get closer to the ends so it can grow out without looking weird. "Tell your stylist how. much time and money you can spend at the salon. It helps them recommend what will work best for you," Dean says.

DIY a gel mani
Time saved: An hour a week

@haileybieber

To create a salon-worthy mani, "gently use a buffer to create a slightly rough surface for the gel to grip onto," suggests nail artist Alena Monson. Clean your nails with a cotton pad and isopropyl alcohol or acetone to remove dust and natural oils before applying a thin coat of gel polish and curing it under a UV lamp. Paint two coats of color and a top coat, curing between each layer (psst: gel pedis are totally a thing, too).

Try tantouring
Time saved: 5 minutes a day

@ashleyparklady

Makeup girlies, we see you, but who has time for a full contour on school mornings? Instead, go for this zero-makeup method, recommended by St. Tropez skin finishing expert Sophie Evans. Start with your usual foundation and, instead of contour, use a foundation brush to apply a self-tan mousse that's slightly darker than your base in the areas you would apply your bronzer. Blend like you would normally. Golden, girl!

Wake up with amazing hair

HairTok is full of overnight hair fails, so we asked celebrity hairstylist Ona Diaz-Santin to share which styles *actually* leave you with luxurious locks in the a.m.

@thelaurennorris

Headband curls: After showering, let hair air-dry until it's slightly damp. Place a stretchy headband around your head like a halo. Take small sections of your hair and wrap them over and around the headband, tucking the ends underneath. Wrap all your hair *over* The headband to get optimal fullness and wake up to natural-looking curls.

@_harrisjanae_

Twist or braid out: If you have naturally curly or coily texture, divide your hair into two- or three-strand sections and twist or braid each one. Secure the ends with a hair tie or bobby pin. In the morning, gently unravel to reveal beautiful waves or curls.

@hairinel

Pineapple updo: Don't spend your morning restyling your hair. Before bed, gather your hair into a high ponytail on top of your head with a satin scrunchie, leaving the ends loose. Securing your hair away from your face preserves your style and avoids messy tangles (and the dreaded flat spots, natch).

Hey, girl! Just wanted to let you know that this story originally ran in our December/January 2024 issue. Want more? Read the print mag for free *today* when you click HERE.