by Sadie Sakura

Created on: March 01, 2008

Here are 10 beauty shortcuts that will improve your overall look and lessen time spent getting ready.

1) Use Toner. Sometimes there's not enough time in the morning to do a complete routine of cleaning, exfoliating then moisturizing. Toner will lightly cleanse and tighten your skin.

2) Buy SPF Tinted Moisturizer. What could be better than a 3 in 1 product to minimize time? Tinted moisturizers are easy to blend, serve to protect your skin from harmful rays and keeps skin from being too dry.

3) Use Gel Blush. Great for staining cheeks a hint of rosy red and doesn't require touch-ups throughout the day like powdered blushes do.

4) Play Up Eyes. All you need is mascara, black eye liner and light colored eye shadow. We don't all have time to blend 4-5 different colors to get just the right color of eye palette. Use a light colored shadow to make your eyes pop (think contrast), add a thin line of black eye liner for definition and finish with a coat of mascara.

5) Try a Cream Mask. They can be just as effective as clay masks. The best part is that they are easier and quicker to remove than clays masks after treatment.

6) Accessorize Your Look. Nothing brings your look together better than putting on a pair or earrings and a necklace. It makes one look elegant, instantaneously.

7) Hair Clips and Side-Parts. They are quick solution for your morning bed head. Lightly apply hairspray. Make a deep side-part on your more favorable side. Pull back with a pony. Gather hair in a bun and accent part with a cute clip.

8) Quick Dry Nail Polish. You can give yourself a fresh coat of paint in a hurry by using Maybelline Express Finish Advanced Wear. It typically dries in 45 sec to 1 minute, perfect for feeling pretty in a hurry.

9) Lip Gloss is Awesome. Why? Because you don't have to look in a mirror to apply it.

10) Totable Purse Size. Mini bottles of lotion from Bath & Body Works or blotting papers from Sephora. Also, some companies make mini make up multi-compacts that have blush, lip gloss eye shadow, concealer, and a mini mascara all in one small palette.

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