One thing about me is that I am always running out the door. No matter how much time I try to give myself in the mornings, it never seems to cut it—I end up snoozing my alarm or spending too much time in the shower, or my hair won’t cooperate. No matter what it is, it’s a pretty usual occurrence for me to realize that I need to leave my house in five minutes, but I have not even begun to think about my makeup.
Because of my propensity for lateness, I’ve gotten pretty damn good at doing my makeup in the 11th hour. There are certain products I reach for that I can confidently rely on to work their magic in under five minutes. I figured that the other beauty editors on my team might have some tricks up their sleeves as well. (Trust me when I say beauty editors are always running from event to event.) Keep reading for our favorite products that make us look alive in no time.
When I’m running late in the morning, my priority will always be my skin. Having hydrated and glowy skin works wonders for making you look put-together. As someone with naturally dry skin, I cannot forgo a moisturizer in the morning, but particularly when I’m rushing out the door, I want one that sinks in instantly. This new lightweight cream from Le Domaine is everything I want in a daytime moisturizer and more. It sinks in instantly, it’s soothing thanks to grape water, and niacinamide and an Ayurvedic plant extract help you look more awake. It also plays nicely under makeup.
Say what you will about eye cream, but I can’t go without it! This one is incredibly hydrating, sinks in easily, and helps de-puff and brighten my eyes. It’s been my go-to for years.
I love a glowy sunscreen instead of base makeup on days when I’m running out the door quickly, and this one packs on just the right amount of illumination. It doesn’t make me look too sparkly, but it still makes my skin luminous, which I appreciate.
I’m never really someone who fills in my eyebrows anyway, but I’m especially not going to do it when I’m running late. I like this brow gel because it’s incredibly easy to use, doesn’t require too much fuss to get just right, and doesn’t go on heavily at all.
This will always be my favorite product for days when I’m running behind. It can be used pretty much everywhere on your face, and the color is universally flattering and not too pigmented (but definitely buildable!), so it’s great for using in a pinch. Plus, it imparts just the right amount of sparkle, so it instantly makes you look fresh.
If you haven’t tried this mascara yet, you are truly missing out. It’s infused with something called Aquaflex Technology that uses memory hold to keep your lashes curled.
Not only is this concealer infused with nourishing ingredients to brighten under-eyes, but it also has just the right amount of coverage to cover any blemishes or dark circles in a flash.
“The day simply hasn’t begun until I’ve applied my go-to C and ferulic formula from SkinCeuticals. (BTW, this is the one to get if you’re oily or acne-prone!) In addition to all of its long-term benefits, it gives my skin an immediate boost of brightness and glow.”
“I’m not a huge tinted-moisturizer or skin-tint girl, so if I don’t have time to do a full base, I’m just going to enhance what I’ve got naturally—i.e., negate redness and pack in some extra glow. This color-correcting gel is my next step after vitamin C—it acts like a vanishing salve, instantly deleting signs of redness or sensitivity on my fair skin.”
“The name doesn’t lie! Mixing a little bit of this stuff in with my daily moisturizer adds a much-needed ‘she’s alive!’ gleam to my face. It’s formulated with great ingredients and also helps to subtly even out my skin tone. It’s like a non-detectable filter for any ills.”
“I hoard eye creams, but this is one of my all-time favorites. It’s silky-smooth and instantly helps perk and brighten up my under-eyes. It adds a soft blur of luminosity (but not too much), which I love too.”
“I don’t have lots of real estate when it comes to my brows, but it is a pet peeve of mine if they’re not perfectly brushed and in place. I don’t like tinted brow gels—especially if I’m not wearing a full face of makeup—so it’s always clear for me. I love this one from Benefit, which has a flexible wax so you have plenty of time to adjust and shape until it dries down. Personally, I hate the feeling of stiff, crunchy brows, so this has been a godsend.”
“I literally don’t know what it feels like to go a day without curling my lashes. It’s one of the first things I do when I roll out of bed—whether I’m wearing mascara that day or not! I instantly look more awake and put together. I’ve tried so many models of curlers, and I swear this one is the absolute best. I’ve been using it for years and years.”
“I naturally have darker lips (which I love), so I’ll typically add a dash of gloss or balm and call it a day. When I want to add a little extra oomph, I’ll use this tinted balm from Olio e Osso in Tea Rose—it’s almost the exact color of my lips, just slightly deeper. Then, if I want some shine, I’ll top it off with Gisou’s Honey-Infused Lip Oil, which has the perfect amount of slip and gloss without feeling heavy.”
“Whew! This foundation is a real winner for anyone who lives an on-the-go lifestyle. The smallest bit goes such a long way. The texture is so creamy and soft and leaves this beautiful, natural finish on the skin. It’s also hydrating enough that my normally dehydrated skin doesn’t look or feel parched by the end of the day.”
“My obsession with this brow pencil will never end. I love that it creates such a gorgeous natural finish but is forgiving enough to work well for anyone who struggles to shape their brows (aka, me). It works so well when I’m in a hurry that I can’t believe my brows look that good for how little time I spent on them.”
“This is a new item for me, and color me impressed. It gives your skin such a gorgeous flush on top of foundation. It gives me a quick, sun-kissed glow in record time due to how pigmented and creamy the formula is.”
“I tried this sunscreen earlier last year, and ever since, I haven’t stopped using it. Actually, it’s more like I can’t stop using it. It’s lightweight, it doesn’t pill, it hydrates my skin, and it doesn’t leave any kind of residue or white cast. I’m not kidding… It basically melts into my skin and is undetectable under makeup. I no longer have to sit in front of the mirror for 10 minutes every morning trying to rub in a stubborn sunscreen that leaves my skin looking gray. “
“I’ve been using this dual-ended brow pencil every day lately. First, I brush my brows up with the spoolie. Second, I use the fine-tipped pencil to fill in any sparse areas and extend my naturally short brows out towards my temple. It makes my brows look natural yet polished.”
“This is my favorite foundation of all time. It’s lightweight and silky, so it looks incredibly natural on my skin, yet it still covers up my redness. I don’t understand how it does what it does. Maybe it’s magic. Whenever I’m short on time, I automatically reach for this formula. I can apply it and blend it out within seconds.”
“My skin tends to look quite shiny after the sunscreen and foundation application, so I pare it back with this super-silky and lightweight translucent powder. It makes my skin look radiant, not greasy.”
“I’m such a big fan of this serum foundation that I honestly can’t imagine myself using another. It’s lightweight with sheer coverage (meaning you don’t have to worry about clogged pores or irritated skin) and gives the nicest wash of color thanks to its formula’s pigment spheres.”
“This lip balm is honestly a godsend for anyone like me who deals with dry lips during the colder months. When I’m on-the-go, and I’m not really bothered about my makeup look, I reach for this balm to bring on the moisture and the shine. You’ll have to pry this one out of my hands.”
“Growing up, I never truly learned how to get my big, bold eyebrows in check and often wished I could partake in the thin brow trend that dominated the 2000s. I’m so glad I didn’t participate, as I wouldn’t have discovered how amazing they look with Merit’s pomade gel’s soft, fluffy finish.”
