Beauty in a hurry
Stuck for time? Beauty editor Tracey Strange makes short
work of the list of products you need to keep your skin and hair
healthy and looking beautiful.
I once counted the number of different types of products
the beauty industry prescribed for my skin. I started at
pre-cleansers and ended with a special spritzer designed to protect
me from electromagnetic waves. After 20 categories, I gave up. It
wasn't that I resented the advice - products such as sunblock and
moisturiser are absolutely essential if you want to keep your skin
healthy. I just couldn't believe that anyone has the time (let
alone the budget) for a 20-stage daily routine. And if you're
currently juggling the often-conflicting demands of family, work
and a relationship, I bet you can't either.
The pressure on us to keep ourselves
looking good - and looking young - is immense, particularly when
it's difficult enough to find the time for the standard
cleanse/tone/moisturise three-step, let alone apply makeup or slap
on some fake tan.
There are, however, all sorts
of good reasons for keeping up with a regular beauty regime, no
matter how limited. Self-esteem, for one. In 2007, Nivea undertook
a major study into the interests of New Zealand women. Designed to
back up its "Beauty Is" advertising campaign, the research focused
on women's attitudes towards the way we look. It concluded that our
experience of beauty is multi-faceted and incorporates how we feel,
who we are on the inside and the way we interact with those around
us.
But perhaps one of the most specific - and
poignant - examples of the psychological effects of cosmetics comes
from the results of an experiment at Tours Medical School, France.
A group of senile dementia sufferers, who had lost control of their
sphincter muscles, were encouraged to apply makeup every day. Three
months into the experiment, a third of them no longer needed
nappies. The researchers concluded that applying cosmetics
attentively had enabled them to recover their human dignity.
Views vary drastically when it comes to
what we consider to be "making an effort". Some of us are content
with moisturiser and sunblock, others won't leave the house without
lipstick. When you're strapped for time, beauty seems to naturally
split itself into three categories: the fundamentals; the basics;
and the nice-if-you-have-the-time. But within each group there are
time-saving products specifically designed to speed up the process
so that you don't have to feel guilty about allotting precious time
to looking good.
The fundamentals
According to Auckland skin specialist Dr Ian McKerrow, there are
only four essential steps to good-looking skin. The first is
cleanser, the second is an AHA product (to dissolve the substances
that bind dead skin cells), the third is moisturiser (preferably
containing the antioxidants vitamin C or A), and the fourth is
sunblock.
But within this lineup are plenty of
different options. For example, Clinique's famed three-step
programme involves a cleanser, toner and moisturiser. Do you need
the toner? In the Clinique example you do, since the toner
also acts as an exfoliant, sloughing off dead cells to reveal the
newer, brighter cells underneath. If you really are out of time,
Clarins' Water Purify One-Step Cleanser ($50) is a combination
facial wash and toner that removes makeup and refreshes, soothes
and protects the skin all in one step.
Moisturisers also come in many variants.
Without a doubt, the best contain antioxidants, especially those
that have been clinically proven to have a beneficial effect on the
skin. Give yourself a mental tick if your moisturiser includes any
of the following: Vitamins C, E and A, amino acids such as
L-cysteine and L-carnitine, and enzymes and co-enzymes such as
alpha ipoic acid and co-enzyme Q10 - just some of the antioxidants
scientists say really do make a difference.
When it comes to sunscreens, many
come with moisturiser included. They may even also pack a good
antioxidant punch. But the experts tend to be united: You probably
do need to apply both sunblock and moisturiser, even if your
sunscreen does contain hydrating ingredients. If you do want to cut
a step in the mornings, stick with the SPF moisturiser first thing,
but be diligent about applying a non-SPF night cream.
The basics
Once the skincare is sorted, it comes down to how much time you
have to spend applying cosmetics. One of the best time-saving
colour products is tinted moisturiser. The right one will provide
even coverage (you will still need to use concealer to hide the odd
blemish or pigmentation spot) while it hydrates.
Eyeshadow is one of those cosmetics that
many women feel they can do without. But just a sweep of shadow can
make all the difference, especially if you're tired. Choose a
neutral colour such as taupe, beige, coral, sand or bronze (avoid
white or silver - both are too much of a statement) and brush (or
smear in the case of cream shadow) across the lid from the lash to
the crease. Mascara is something you can do without, especially if
you have your lashes tinted. Or you can try lash extensions. But,
at approximately $200 per set (they should last four weeks or so),
they aren't within everyone's budget.
Getting your lipstick shade right is
something you do want to spend time on. A well-chosen "nude" will
set you up for the entire summer. The best advice is to choose one
that resembles the colour of the inside of your lip. But if
applying lipstick is beyond you, a sweep of gloss or tinted balm is
a perfect summer beauty accessory.
Last are brows and blush. Get your brows
professionally shaped and, if the therapist recommends it, dyed.
Strong brows are fashionable but they also frame the face,
providing definition and structure when you don't have time for
makeup. Blusher, too, adds that much-needed definition.
Choose a neutral pinky coral for best effect. It will add life
and warmth to your complexion on those days when you need it
most.
The nice-if-you-have-the-time
We now come to the range of products that fall outside the
essentials but still provide great value for effort. Foundation
primers can help correct "flaws" such as redness, broken
capillaries, and pigmentation spots, while also extending the life
of your foundation. They can also be used under tinted
moisturisers. Products such as Smashbox's Photo Finish Color
Correcting Foundation Primer ($69) will also fill in fine lines and
pores so that skin looks smoother and firmer.
Gradual tanners and creams such as
Johnson's Holiday Skin ($8.99) and Lancôme's Sensuelle Summer Body
Lotion ($55) are also a huge bonus over summer. They combine
moisturisers with reduced amounts of conventional tanning
ingredients and develop over a few days for natural-looking colour.
They aren't quite as high-maintenance as standard fake tans and are
therefore much less likely to streak.
Deep-conditioning treatments, while on the
face of it not an obvious time-saver, are also well worth the
effort. If you can manage to treat your hair to a three-minute
"soak" (chose conditioners that come in a tub rather than the
standard bottles), you will reap the benefits in good-hair days all
week, and probably save at the salon too. Looked-after hair doesn't
require nearly as much maintenance.
Nails are another much-neglected accessory
when time is short. But there are plenty of quick-dry enamels
available, as well as sprays and serums to harden polish within
minutes. These, such as Leighton Denny's Miracle Drops ($35), are
fantastic but don't expect to keep your toes or fingernails
completely streak-free if you don't have the time to rest up for a
good 20 minutes or so after applying. When in doubt, stick to a
buffer and polish nails to a high natural shine that can't be
smudged.
Last but not least are treatment products.
If you're under 35, the chances are you might not need an intensive
anti-ageing treatment. But if you do, applying an antioxidant-rich
serum, or one that's speciically related to a problem area such as
pigmentation, under your night moisturiser will pay dividends in a
time-strapped regime for years to come.
Beauty editor Tracey Strange has worked in the fashion
and beauty industry for 15 years, and says her favourite
time-saving beauty product is a great cleanser: "Something that
removes all traces of makeup, such as Dr Teresa Cattin's Faceworks
Herbal Face Wash ($28). I'm essentially lazy, so not having to
bother about makeup remover suits me fine. Another thing that saves
me time is a good hairdresser. Having hair that's easy to maintain
is a huge bonus. If it's a good hair day, I never feel the need for
much makeup!"
As seen in OHbaby!
magazine Issue 4: 2009
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