"Sure you look bright and fresh-faced when you roll your chair up to your desk first thing in the morning,� say Wade, �but before you know it, your mascara has flaked off, your blush faded away, and you haven't even had a moment to think about reapplying that lip gloss."
So in order to go from run-down to ready, you need to be prepared with a few essentials. First, get a medium-sized see through case with a zipper and a handle to carry all your necessary items. The clear plastic will allow you to see things fast, the zipper will allow it to be thrown about without spills or mess and the handle makes for easy toting. Try Ulta Clear Train Case Cosmetic Bag, $14.
Next: See the necessary beauty items to stash in your tote and how to use them.
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Makeup remover
Carry makeup remover wipes to clean up any mascara smudges or eyeliner that's moved. Try Sephora Face Makeup Removing Wipes, $9. Also, throw in a couple of Q-tips to clean up sensitive areas around the eyes and to use as a blender later when applying eyeshadow.
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Face mist, makeup sponge, oil blotters
Throw in a face mist to refresh and even out any clumpy makeup buildup around your eyes, mouth or frown lines (try Lather Cucumber & Ginseng Facial Mist, $19). Mist the spray over caked-on areas and use a rounded sponge like the Beautyblender Sponge, $17.95 to gently roll over any settled makeup.
Also pack blotting papers to soak up any oil on your face "in case of excess shine," says Wade.
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Concealer
Now that your old makeup is cleaned up and your face is refreshed, you can dab on extra cover-up. Wade says there is "no need to carry around an entire bottle of foundation, instead opt for an easy-to-tote emollient concealer and spot place it in the needed touch-up areas: around your nose, under your eyes, your chin and between your brows." This will create an even, overall look "without all the fuss of foundation," she says.
Wade says your next quick step is to "apply a bright cream blush like Revlon Cream Blush in Berry Flirtatious, $6 directly to the apples of your cheeks and blend up and out. This is another space and time saver as "your fingers are your tools," she says, so there is "no need to have to tote a blush brush."
Scenario: You're at work. It's 4:55pm and you've had a long, perhaps sweat-inducing day thanks to accounting department Susie giving you lip in front of the big boss. While you're fantasizing about your favorite sweatpants your husband calls saying you need to meet him and his coworkers for drinks at a chi chi restaurant straight from the office. You take one look in your compact mirror and panic.
While some of the above details in this mock scenario are subjective in nature (we don't all have a hubby or a Susie), we have all had to get ready in a hot second when our makeup was eight hours old; Our face is shiny and a second application of deodorant is more necessary than not. Whether it's happy hour you're rushing to get to, or an event or dinner, you definitely don't want the stress of the day all over your face or under your eyes. With that said, let us introduce you to Raychel Wade, NYC makeup artist, La Prairie Colour Ambassador and founder of Cheek to Chic. She shares expert makeup tips for women like you who are off the clock and on the go.
With her help, you'll learn which key makeup and beauty items you should keep with you at all times as well as some handy tricks to transform you from a desk-side mess to ready-for-drinks chic in five minutes or less. See her makeup tips for happy hour now.
