But seriously.
We all know your A.M. is crazy enough as is, and you don't have all morning to perfectly contour your face like Kim K. (Honestly, who does?) To take back a few extra minutes in the morning so you can you know, actually eat your breakfast, we've rounded up the best expert-approved hacks that will keep you looking fresh-faced all day long. Yeah, we weren't kidding when we said "give you your life back."
1. Make your own eyeliner stencil.
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| Kathryn Wirsing, Dana Tepper |
You could spend 10 minutes
every morning drawing, erasing, and cursing 20 times over...or you
could put a little extra effort into making (or printing out) an
eyeliner stencil that you can use for the rest of time. All it takes is
a ruler to measure out how steep you want your winged eyeliner to look,
then just cut along the lines and follow the guide with your
eyeliner (for the step-by-step instructions, here's one of the best tutorials we've found). Once you're done, flip the stencil over and do the other eye. Problem forever solved.
2. Transform your broken eye shadows into lip gloss.
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| Kathryn Wirsing, Dana Tepper |
There's nothing worse than dropping your eyeshadow
when you're in a rush and discovering that your favorite palette has
been reduced to a pile of crumbs. Before you throw that $15 worth of
product away, consider changing it into a fun lip gloss with a dab of
petroleum jelly. "The jelly will help the product apply smoothly, while
also adding a protective hydrating barrier," says celebrity makeup
artist Tomy Rivero.
3. Opt for coconut oil instead of makeup wipes.
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| Kathryn Wirsing, Dana Tepper |
Not only will you never have to deal with raccoon eyes from yesterday's mascara ever again, but when you use coconut oil,
you'll also be fighting the clock without even realizing it. "Many
remover wipes and cleansers use detergent-like ingredients that can
strip the skin of natural moisture," explains Tomy. "Coconut oil
is chock-full of lauric acid, which prevents impurities from building
in your pores. It also has powerful natural antioxidants that delay fine lines and wrinkles." Plus, you can't argue with the price difference: a long-lasting jar of coconut oil goes for about $10, while stinging makeup removers can run anywhere between $15-30 for just 25 wipes in a pack.
4. Fix up those brows with a bit of hairspray.
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| Kathryn Wirsing, Dana Tepper |
When your eyebrows are
looking a little, err, hairy, keep them looking full and in-place by
combing them upwards with an unused mascara brush and a bit of
hairspray, says Tomy. It may not be a permanent solution to your brow
issues, but it'll definitely help them keep their shape while you wait
to squeeze in a salon visit.
5. Get rid of dark circles with red lipstick.
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| Kathryn Wirsing, Dana Tepper |
It sounds bizarre, we know, but it definitely works. Start by gently applying the lipstick
in a triangular shape directly beneath your eye. Then, layer over the
lipstick with your concealer and—voila!—dark circles be gone. Tomy
recommends using a true red lipstick (we like NARS lipstick in Red Lizard) for medium and darker skin tones, while women with light skin should opt for something with a ruddy orange hue (like CoverGirl Colorlicious lipstick in Decadent Peach).
6. Defy lip wrinkles with translucent powder on your lips.
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Chapped and faded lipstick
are huge no-nos and can emphasize the age lines on your lips. Tomy says
the best way to keep much-needed moisture locked in all day is to blot a
thin layer of translucent powder (runway makeup artist Lavonne suggests Make Up For Ever HD Microfinish powder) on both lips with a lip brush. You won't even need to touch-up at noon.
7. Create your own mascara.
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| Kathryn Wirsing, Dana Tepper |
Forgot to swing by the store and pick up another mascara tube? Happens to the best of us. DIY your own version
for a few days by swiping an unused brush into petroleum jelly and
applying on your lashes like normal. Just remember that less is always
more."This is a fantastic trick for a great bump up if you need a little
more drama fast," says Tomy. "It's also great if you're trying to go
for a smoky look and want a glossy finish." And as you can see, it
totally works.
8. Use a white eyeliner before applying eyeshadow.
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"To look more awake and
make the colors in your eyeshadow pop, use a chunky white eyeliner all
over your lid before applying the rest of your eye makeup," says
Lavonne. "The colors will stand out, not smudge, and last much longer."
Lavonne used Urban Decay Glide-On Eye Pencil in Yeyo, but she says any white eyeliner pencil with a round tip will work.
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