Like most other girls at some point, I went through an obsession period with nail polish. I prided myself on having every conceivable shade and would routinely use multiple colors per hand/ foot. Yes, I even rainbow-polished my feet *cringe*. I was painting my nails bright blue one night, when my mom pointed out that my toes were still red. "So?" I asked. "You want to make sure your hands and toes are always painted the same color. You'll look more put together that way," she elaborated. My response was something sarcastic and angsty because I was 16. I painted my nails blue and went on with my night.
As I grew older, I became more aware of my appearance. The small details that once went unnoticed (except by my mother) became more apparent. I began using one shade of polish per manicure, I kept my nails neat and my hair brushed. And still, her comment persisted. "You'll look put together," I'd hear her saying as I painted my nails lazily, now taking the extra five minutes to match the color on my toes. Fast forward a few more years and my mom's advice is being followed religiously.
It blows my mind that people compliment me on anything nowadays. I'm usually so busy and so obsessed with trying to squeeze in as much relaxation and fun before and after work, that I feel like my appearance takes a backseat. In lieu of my crazy schedule and admitted laziness, I thought a "lazy/busy beauty guide" was in order, because looking "put together" doesn't have to be time consuming.
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Taking my first cue from my mom, let's talk about nails. I'm a short nails girl-- always have been. They're practical and stay neat. I'm not much of a salon-goer. I got shellac on my nails once, but I hate the idea of having to make a special trip for it. If salon nails are your thing, that's great! I, however, will stick to regular ol' nail polish. I have a list of favorite brands and shades, but for the purpose of this post, I'll be focusing on the Sally Hansen Insta-Dri polishes. My go-to shades are ASAP Apple and Buff and Tumble. Short red nails are my go-to, they're chic and always in season. The Insta-Dri formula dries in under a minute and getting a full manicure in a pinch isn't impossible.
A few of my favorite products are the Glossier Boy Brow in brown and my NYX That's the Point eyeliner in Hella Fine Paired with Tarte's Tarteist Lash Paint Mascara. My eyeshadow palette of the moment is the NYX Ulimate in Warm Neutrals. This palette lets me create all of my favorite looks completely, without having to reach for anything else. These products elevate my look, but take no time at all to apply.
My staple cleansers are the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser (available here) and Philosophy's Purity. The bottle I'm currently using is modified with a pump from the Glossier cleanser because who wants a squeeze bottle when a pump is available?
When it comes to hair, I use very few products and I let my hair air dry. My favorite product of all time is OGX's Penetrating Argan Oil available here (both the regular and extra-penetrating formulas work wonderfully). I work a small amount through towel-dried hair and let Mother Nature do the rest. I've used pricier, fancier, and higher-touted products, but I keep coming back to this little guy because he WORKS. I can dedicate an entire post to this product, but in the interest of saving time, I'll break it down: It works, it's widely available, it's inexpensive, a little goes a long way, and-- most importantly to me-- it's cruelty-free.
Do you have any shortcuts that you swear by? Let me know!
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| ASAP Apple | Clearly Quick | Buff and Tumble |
Lazy Girl Pro Tip: Keep travel size clippers and a file in your bag or your car for emergencies.I have my 5 minute makeup routine down to a science. Not only do I know what look I'm going for, I know what products and brushes I'll be using and in exactly what order. There's never any experimentation with a new product or look on days like these. I zero in on the looks I've mastered and go from there.
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| Eyeshadow | Eyeliner | Brow Gel | Mascara | Perfume |
Lazy Girl Pro Tip: Know your preferred color palette and tools and keep those products closer to the front of your vanity or makeup organizer.Lastly: skincare and haircare. I'm planning dedicated posts on both of these subjects for the future, for now, I'll stick to the fundamentals. There's nothing more liberating on a truly lazy day than being confident enough to go out sans makeup. I'm not saying anyone should be ashamed of their natural state, but I'm not going to pretend that I was confident back in my acne days. Quite the opposite. I did everything I could to camouflage my blemishes. Nowadays, I take the time to really care for my skin, which I unfortunately don't have a shortcut for.
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| Purity Made Simple |
My staple cleansers are the Glossier Milky Jelly Cleanser (available here) and Philosophy's Purity. The bottle I'm currently using is modified with a pump from the Glossier cleanser because who wants a squeeze bottle when a pump is available?
When it comes to hair, I use very few products and I let my hair air dry. My favorite product of all time is OGX's Penetrating Argan Oil available here (both the regular and extra-penetrating formulas work wonderfully). I work a small amount through towel-dried hair and let Mother Nature do the rest. I've used pricier, fancier, and higher-touted products, but I keep coming back to this little guy because he WORKS. I can dedicate an entire post to this product, but in the interest of saving time, I'll break it down: It works, it's widely available, it's inexpensive, a little goes a long way, and-- most importantly to me-- it's cruelty-free.
Do you have any shortcuts that you swear by? Let me know!
