Between dealing with your hair, just figuring out what it’s doing on a given day, and then makeup (if you wear it), and all of those random upkeep things you forget about until they’re suddenly urgent again (eyebrows? nails? The weird patch of dry skin on your elbow?), getting ready in the a.m. can seriously feel like a part-time job. And it’s not like you can skip it either. Because we live in a world where dressing like you slept in the back of your car DOES have consequences.
And don’t even get me started about beauty stuff being expensive. Like, weirdly expensive. You go into a store to buy concealer and suddenly you’re left debating whether covering your dark circles is worth the cost of a nice dinner. And keeping up with trends? Forget about it. One week it’s this new serum or lip stain or method that people claim is “game-changing” and by the time you get to try it, it’s some new, shinier thing everyone is doing now.
But, okay, luckily the internet (and just, like… people in general) have introduced us to all of these little tricks and life hacks that actually help make mornings manageable. Not, like, life transformation or anything, but small beauty hacks you can do half-awake that actually work. Hacks that save you a bit of time, a bit of money, and ideally keeps you from spiraling into the slow burn of a little existential crisis: when your mascara has dried out, and you’re late.
1. Rosewater Spray
When your complexion is looking tired and dull, rosewater spray is the solution. A few spritzes will help to freshen up your skin, leave your skin tone looking more even, and give it that dewy glow.
2. DIY Teeth Whitener
You don’t need me to tell you that teeth whitening products are extremely expensive. Simply mix together one teaspoon of shaved strawberries with one teaspoon of baking soda, then use in place of toothpaste a few times a month.
3. Natural, Beachy Waves
Want hair that looks like you’ve just been to the beach, without actually having to go there? Just mix together a few teaspoons of salt with water in a spray bottle and spritz on your roots, crunching and fluffing your hair as you go along.
4. Amazing-Smelling Hair
All right, so if your hair is feeling a little… past its prime? Not dirty but kind of not-fresh there is a very simple fix that is borderline brilliant. You basically take your favorite fragrance (the one that makes you feel like you have all your shit together even if you don’t), and you take your hairbrush and spray a small amount onto the hairbrush. Not soaking wet, just a couple of sprays. Then you let it be for a little while (like give it a minute or two to dry so you are not brushing wet perfume into your scalp) and then run your brush through your hair. It is truly that easy. For some crazy reason, it almost distributes the scent in like a low-maintenance, low-key way and suddenly, your hair smells amazing. Not necessarily “I just washed this” amazing, more like “I woke up in a fancy hotel and didn’t have to do any work” amazing.
5. Make Your Products Work Double-Duty
Run out of eyeliner and don’t have time to go buy more? No problem. Just dip a small angled brush into your mascara for instant liquid eyeliner.
6. Get Rid Of Stretch Marks
Although coconut oil is a great preventer of stretch marks, this natural substance also helps to eliminate the appearance of them. Just rub the coconut oil onto your stretch marks before you go to bed each night and you will start to notice a difference.
7. Firmer Breasts
Okay, this one feels like it might be a bit of a throwback, or something your aunt might use and swear by – and to be fair? It works. So if you want your skin on your chest to be a little more firmer or soft (and who hasn’t wanted that, at some point?) the answer is simply Vaseline. Yes, just plain Vaseline. You just take a dollop of it and rub it onto your boobs before you sleep – just to cover the skin, nothing too extravagant – and that’s it. Doing this with frequency over time, your skin is supposed to feel more supple, more hydrated, just… better. I mean, it won’t really change your cup size or anything major, obviously, but if you’re looking for just a little lift in the tabletop department this is strangely effective and oddly comforting in its simplicity. No fancy serums, no thirty-dollar creams, just Vaseline.
8. Cover Those Roots
If you have gray roots coming in but have to wait to go to the salon, just use mascara to cover them in a pinch! This is also a good trick for making your hair appear fuller and more voluminous.
9. Curl Your Lashes
For eyelashes that really hold their curl, heat up your eyelash curler in your bra for a minute before using it. The little bit of heat will help your lashes curl and hold it throughout the day.
10. Eliminate Dark Circles
If you have dark, puffy under-eyes, just soak a few green tea bags in water, then hold them under your eyes. Leave them there for 10-15 minutes, then remove.
11. Set Your Lipstick
If you don’t want to worry about your lipstick smudging, just hold a tissue over your lips after applying lipstick. Dab the tissue with some translucent face powder and your lipstick will be instantly set in place.
12. Thicker, Longer Lashes
You don’t need eyelash extensions to have thicker, longer lashes. Personally I never NEVER in my life used those extensions. After applying your first coat of mascara, use a cotton ball or Q-tip to carefully dust your lashes in baby powder. Then, apply another coat of mascara. Your lashes will look extra long and voluminous. I taught this trick to my older sister. You should have seen her face. Life-saver. That was her reaction.
