Back to [Grad] School with Meijer

If there’s anything I’m good at, it’s getting ready in a pinch. My old coworkers were always astonished when I would say things like “today I woke up at 7:40, got ready in 7 minutes, stopped to get a redbull and I was STILL in the office before 8 a.m.” I had a really short commute, but mostly I could wake up so late because I have my morning routine down. Especially now, in my second year of grad school, I have even less free time. Below are a few time-saving tips that have worked for me!

Step 1: If you’re a curly haired girl, wash your hair the night before and let it air dry. Embrace the natural curl, which is healthier for your hair and saves you a million hours from flat ironing, blow drying, etc. I wake up and mostly just tousle it so it’s not stuck to my head from sleeping on it.

Step 2: I always wash my face before bed, but in the morning, I still manage to find leftover mascara smeared across my face. I use Almay Oil-Free Gentle Eye Makeup Remover pads to clean up the mascara. They work so well! If it’s a super long day, I’ll pack them in my bag with me, so I can wipe underneath my eyes.

Step 3: I thought once I was done with high school, my acne days would be a thing of the past. Nope. I’m 28 and deal with it still. It’s easy to think it’s better to cake more stuff on top of your face to conceal it, but it really just highlights the blemishes. I found that a tinted moisturizer or BB cream does the trick, especially paired with a sheer powder or bronzer like Almay Smart Shade or Maybelline’s Master Hi-Light. On a typical day, I skip all the extras like primer. Just too many steps and not worth it to me.

Step 4: Sweep on that mascara. If there’s one product I won’t leave home without using, it’s mascara. I use Almay One Coat Lengthening Mascara for a typical day and may add a waterproof version over top of this it’s hot and humid out. Don’t let the name fool you though, you need more than on coat, but it’s super easy to layer and I pack it in my purse to reapply later.

Step 5: Lip balm or lipstick! Depending on my mood, I reach for either lip balm or lipstick. I’m not much of an eyeshadow person. My face is too oily and it melts off in an hour and it’s just too high maintenance for me. And it takes so much of my time to get it right, but lipstick is easier. I love choosing between a neutral tone like Revlon’s Super Lustrous in Blushing Nude or something bright and bold like Revlon’s Moon Drops creme lipstick Hot Coral.

Step 6: If you like to paint your nails, pick your favorite color and add Sally Hansen’s Insta Dry Top Coat. It dries instantly relieving the ADD people of the world including me and you can go about your day with no downtime waiting for nails to dry. Essie colors above: For the Twill of It and She’s Pampered.

Step 7: Voila! Minimal is key for me. I find if I wear less, as the day drags on, it requires less touch up, saving even more time.

*A gift card was provided by Meijer to pick out my favorite products

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