SHAVE 10 MINUTES OFF YOUR MORNING ROUTINE

Prepare to hit the snooze button – your pre-work beauty agenda just got a whole lot simpler

there are times – namely Netflix-loaded Sundays – when nothing beats a slow beauty session powered by intensive masks, five-step manicures and all the skin-buffing scrubs we can get our hands on. A weekday morning at 6.57am isn’t one of them. But research suggests we’re struggling to differentiate between the two, with the average Grazia reader spending 40 minutes on their morning beauty routine. Pair this with the fact that women are averaging just six and a half hours sleep a night (according to 2019 research by Yourgoodskin), and you have a case for some serious streamlining. But is it really possible to crack a slimline beauty regime? One that takes mere moments to execute but that truly delivers? Absolutely, according to the industry experts we quizzed – and a new frontier of time-slicing formulas…

FIND A TURBO HAIR FIXER

‘This idea of a huge 20-step hair regime is just nonsense. People are being sold hair products that over-promise and underdeliver.’ That’s not something you’d expect to hear from Luke Hersheson – a man who makes his living from the hair industry. But on seeing disillusioned clients with ‘a shelf in their bathroom where unused hair products go to die’, he’s an advocate for stripping things back… right back. ‘All you really need is a great haircut and a handful of products to help you out,’ continues Luke, the creative director of his eponymous London salon.

It’s this sentiment that sparked the idea behind the new Hershesons Almost Everything Cream (1), £10 – a multi-job elixir that banishes frizz, defines curls, tames flyaways, boosts shine, adds texture and even acts as a nourishing mask when used more liberally. ‘No one has any time. They can’t be bothered. They just want good hair now without all the fuss,’ Luke explains.

And it’s not just Hershesons’ do-nearlyall formula that’s helping us claw back that precious snooze. Tresemmé Botanique Air Dry is a five-piece collection of sprays, mousses, creams and gels, £5.49 each, aimed at those who don’t even have time to grab the hairdryer, let alone get busy with a blow-dry. Aquis Lisse Luxe Hair Towel, £30, worn as a turban while you apply your make-up, will help see off any excess water first.

On days when even a hair wash isn’t an option? Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Dry Shampoo, £18, goes beyond your usual

dry cleaner, using patented technology to actively remove oil, sweat and odour instead of simply masking it.

You can even get some of the hard slog done while you slumber. A-list stylist Jen Atkin (Kim K’s go-to) champions Slip Silk Pillowcases, £85 each, which reduce friction against your strands, leaving them softer and more manageable come morning.

LOOK TO A ONE-SHOT SKIN SOLUTION

‘The concept of skincare layering, inspired by South Korea’s popular 10-step regimes, has really taken off here but there’s an element of misunderstanding,’ explains expert facialist Michaella Bolder. ‘Sandwiching weightless waters and essences can work, particularly if you’re dry or dehydrated. But for many, an overload of products results in congestion, sensitivity and unhappy pores. Many of the problems I see are caused by overstimulated skin.’

So, what’s in her capsule kit? ‘Rosehip oil repairs damage, rehydrates, plumps fine lines, balances oil production and boasts antioxidant properties. Apply it before bed and you’ll find yourself needing less make-up when you wake,’ she says, citing Pai Rosehip Bioregenerate Oil (8), £24, as a favourite.

Michaella’s also a devotee of Bioderma Sensibio H2O Make-up Removing Micelle Solution (4), £10.80, and Garnier Skin Active Micellar Cleansing Water (3), £5.99. ‘We often hear about having a cleansing “wardrobe” for different times of the day but these are simple all-rounder products that won’t strip skin.’

Saying all this, sun protection is clearly a non-negotiable, and Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Great 8 Daily Defense Moisturiser SPF35 (2), £36, also ticks off your pollution, blue light and infrared ray shield while controlling oil, hydrating and brightening. In place of many active serums, try VENN Age-reversing All-in-one Concentrate (6), £155. It’s masterminded by two Korean cosmetic scientists who promise to ‘challenge the skincare industry’s status quo’ with streamlined products that replace multiple steps.

Still find yourself sweating as you fly out the door? A power shower will fast-track things – and we’re not talking a state-ofthe-art plumbing system. The glowbestowing Pixi In-shower Steam Facial (7), £18, boasts a self-heating action to help it penetrate sharpish. Finish with the no-rinse Sanctuary Spa Wet Skin Radiance Jelly (5), £10, that can be slapped on to wet limbs quicker than you can say ‘no time for moisturiser’.

ADOPT NO-MIRROR MAKE-UP

When it comes to supersonic make-up, pro artists are the masters. ‘Time is of the essence when I’m on a shoot or backstage at fashion week so I love multitasking products that save me scrabbling through my kit,’ says make-up artist and presenter Lisa Potter-dixon.

‘On myself, anything that doesn’t require a mirror is a saviour when I’m in a rush. I chuck Milk Make-up Glow Oil (9), £12, on the apples of my cheeks for a flush of colour and radiance. It comes in a stick so you don’t need to worry about spillages and it also looks amazing on lips. It’s one of those products you could apply in the dark and it would still look great.

‘For eyes, cream shadows actually look best swiped on with your finger. Dash Charlotte Tilbury Eyes To Mesmerise (12), £22, across your lids while you’re waiting for the kettle to boil and you’ll fool everyone into thinking you’ve put in a lot more effort,’ Lisa adds.

‘Foundation sticks even out skin tone in a matter of moments. Just draw on where needed and blend with your fingertips,’ says make-up artist Hannah Martin, who rates Bobbi Brown Skin Foundation Stick (10), £32, and Hourglass Vanish Seamless Finish Foundation Stick, £42. They’re also buildable, negating the need for bases with differing coverage. ‘I’ll often do a little eye liner with a brow pencil like Beauty Pie Superbrow Fine Precision Pencil, £17 – it works just as efficiently,’ Hannah adds.

If the idea of scribble-on sticks appeals, check out Nudestix – a brand built on that very premise. The Nudies Matte Blush & Bronze (11), £28, can bronze or sculpt, with a brush at one end for those fastidious about blending.

And never underestimate the power of a good organisation system. Real Techniques’ range of brush holders, from £7.99 – that can be stuck on to your mirror – come into their own when a toaster, train or two-year-old is calling.