Some days, I enjoy doing my skincare routine and the careful application of my makeup. And some days, it makes me want to throw a temper tantrum. Can anyone else relate? If your beauty routine starts feeling like a chore, here are the best time-saving beauty hacks that every girl should know!

Dry Shampoo

Let’s face it: sometimes, there just is no time for the rigmarole of washing, conditioning, drying, and styling hair. Plus, too much washing can leave you with dried out locks, which is a problem all of its own. As someone who highlights but has an oilier scalp, dry shampoo has been a time-saving beauty hack that I can’t live without.

On mornings that I *just can’t*, I throw on a shower cap, do a quick scrub of my body, then let dry shampoo handle my hair. Just be sure not to overuse it because it can cause other problems like itching, flaking, and irritation.

Protect Your Hair Overnight

Curly and wavy girls are no strangers to sleeping caps and buffs, but even girls with straight hair can benefit from sleep protection to preserve a blowout. If you prefer to be unrestricted, a loose braid or pineapple can work well, too.

Simplify Your Skincare

At one point, I was using a cleanser, toner, serum, eye cream, and moisturizer in the mornings. What can I say? I’m a product junkie. However, one visit to my trusty aesthetician later, and I had simplified my morning routine down to just cleanser and sunscreen. I did add in a serum to my nighttime regimen, but that wasn’t too much of a bother.

We are inundated with product recommendations from everywhere these days: TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, ads, magazines, and on and on. Make sure that you’re not just using a product because your fave beauty guru swears by it.

This is one of my favorite time-saving beauty hacks, simply because it gave me a ton of time back in my mornings. I would, however, recommend talking to your dermatologist or aesthetician (if you have one) before making any major changes to your routine.

Do a Quick Smoky Eye

No time for applying and blending and applying and blending until you’ve got the perfect smoky eye? No problem. For a quick smoky eye, apply eyeliner, then use an eyeliner brush or your finger to smudge the liner upwards (concentrating on the outer corner).

Keep Makeup Wipes by Your Bed

Listen, I highly recommend that everyone wash their face before bed. As someone who has always struggled with my skin, sleeping in makeup was never an option. Plus, it gets your bedsheets all gross and, more seriously, can cause eye infections.

So if you’re someone who finds yourself frequently waking up in last night’s makeup, try keeping wipes by your bed. Even if you’re super exhausted, it doesn’t take too much effort to give everything a good wipe down. While this shouldn’t be substituted for actually washing your face, it’ll do in a pinch.

Let Your Lipstick Do Double Duty

When you’re trying to get out the door, your lipstick can serve two (or even three purposes). Swipe a little bit on your cheeks as a blush, and even dot a little bit on your eyelids for a bit of subtle color. Be sure to blend well!

Only Use What You Need

As in, only apply makeup where you really need it. For me, this is usually concealer and mascara, but do what works for you!

Use Concealer As an Eyeshadow Primer

Are primers magical? Yes. Do I always have time to put on under eye primer, face primer, and eyeshadow primer? Hell, no. Another of my time-saving beauty hacks is to use concealer as an eyeshadow primer. Or if I don’t feel like putting on a full shadow, I’ll use the concealer to just brighten up the skin on my eyelids. As I’ve aged and my skin has thinned, everything around my eyes has become darker, so this little lift can make a huge difference.

Use Your Sunscreen as Moisturizer

There are plenty of great sunscreens out there, like Coola’s Classic Face Sunscreen, does a great job of hydrating while providing an SPF of 50. My combination skin loves this oil-free formula, especially in the summer, but it works in the winter as well.

Moisturize in the Shower

Finding a great body oil can be a huge time-saving beauty hack, especially if it can be used in the shower. The Shea Shower Oil by L’Occitane is a favorite of mine. There are in-shower lotions that will also do the trick! They also smell amazing.

Apply Masks in the Bath

If you’re partial to baths, why not make your soaking time productive? Apply a good hair mask like Moroccanoil’s Intense Hydrating Mask and a face mask (I like the Peter Thomas Roth Pumpkin Enzyme Mask) and make your relaxing soak into a spa treatment.

Don’t Wait on Your Conditioner

As someone who doesn’t like to linger in the shower, I find that waiting the requisite three to five minutes on some conditioners feels like an eternity. However, I’ve also found that those three to five minutes aren’t always necessary, especially if I’m using a weekly hair mask.

Unline While You Dine

Okay, “unline” isn’t a word. What I’m talking about here is using eye gel patches while you have breakfast. You’ll get in the most important meal of the day, while prepping your eyes to look great (whether you’re using makeup or not).

Set Your Nails in Ice Water

If you enjoy home manicures but hate waiting for your nails to dry, try dipping your hands in ice water. I was skeptical about this one, and while it doesn’t fully “set” your nails, it does speed up the process. Use this trick after you apply your top coat. Don’t have time for a soak? Some people swear by spraying aerosol hairspray on their fresh manis for a quicker alternative.

What are your favorite time-saving beauty hacks? Leave a comment or drop me a note and let me know!