Short on time and money? Double-duty
products help you in more ways than one. They shorten the time you spend
searching for products every day, and they save you space in an area of your
home that never has enough storage. Best of all, double-duty products save your
wallet, since you spend (and waste!) less by using each item in every way that
you can.
Moisturize and protect
No matter how rushed you are in the
morning, you simply can't skip your moisturizer. Why not protect yourself from
the sun's damaging rays while you're at it? Use a moisturizer with added SPF to
keep your face soft, fresh and glowing while staying safe outside. Most
moisturizers with added sunscreen wear well under makeup, and are great for
day-to-day activities like short jaunts outdoors and trips in the car. If
you're going to be spending long hours under the sun, especially midday, be
sure to add a stronger sunscreen before you step outdoors.
Multi-tasking makeup
A quick way to shorten your makeup
routine is to minimize the amount of product you use. Invest in a brightly
colored cream blush, and use it to add color to your eyes and lips, as well as
your cheeks, whenever you're in a rush. This triple-use product also goes a
long way toward lightening your load, since one small tub of the stuff replaces
three items in your purse or pocket.
Soften and sun
No one wants to be pasty and pale when
shorts season arrives. Replace your morning body moisturizer with one that
contains a gradual bronzer for a beautiful glow in no time. Self-tanners are
available in several forms, but there's no need to make this beauty booster add
time to your beauty routine. Instead, find one that moisturizes and tans all at
once. You'll end up looking sun-kissed without the time it takes to sunbathe or
the damaging effects of the sun.
Brighten up
Replace your daily facial moisturizer
with one that's tinted. It'll help you skip right over the self-tanner step,
and likely help you skip some of your makeup routine as well. If your lotion
makes you glow and look like you've spent a few days lounging in the sun, you
certainly don't need to cover it up with foundation or powder, right?
Second life
What do you do with your mascara wand
when you buy a new tube? If you throw it away, you're trashing a great beauty
tool. The next time you buy a new tube of mascara, wash the old wand with soap
and water and let it air dry. Use it as brush to help separate your lashes after
you apply mascara. It works just as well – if not better – than most
store-bought brushes.
Send puffy eyes packing
Some beauty products have surprising
second uses. If you have a tube of hemorrhoid cream tucked away somewhere in
your bathroom, you also have a solution for puffy eyes. Dab some on under your
eyes and let it stay there for at least 15 minutes, and then wash it away with
soap and water. It'll reduce the puff that comes from tiredness, allergies,
water retention and even crying bouts, leaving you looking refreshed.
Treat and hide zits
Waking up to a new pimple is a horrible
way to start your day. It also adds a ton of time to your morning routine. Not
only do you have to treat the problem area, you also have to work to cover it
up. Find a product that does both steps at once to help save you precious time.
Many products designed to treat blemishes are tinted with concealer, so they
hide the zit while working to send it packing.