Before I started this challenge, my boyfriend was way too excited to get this rolling — see the iMessage exchange at right. He's actually the most supportive partner I've ever had, and he has spent many mornings patiently entertaining himself on his laptop while I curl my hair or apply eyeliner.

But his reaction told me something important: If I was working overtime to look pretty for the guy, I was kidding myself. If I'm not getting gussied up for my boyfriend, then whom?

It's hard to find the line between what I do for my own gratification and what I do because I think it's expected of me. But expected by whom? Everyone? No one?

Today, I'm working from home. I'm also wearing a shirt that says "My Dog Is My Co-Pilot," which tells you everything you need to know about my plans for the rest of the day. In other words, having 15 minutes to get ready was just fine.

Image courtesy of Katie McCarthy

I've realized that 15 minutes is sufficient time to put on a little makeup and do a little something with my hair. Unless I try to do it all while I'm watching "Transparent" — then, I'm screwed. Check out my oily roots and try not to gag.

Something I also realized is that de-prioritizing beauty isn't just about spending 15 minutes or less in front of the mirror. I'll readily admit that I've put plenty of time and money into my appearance that doesn't get factored into my daily routine.

In the past six months, I've gotten IPL photofacials for the sun damage on my face and driven to Canada twice to get my pale blond brows microbladed. I get balayage highlights about every five or six months, but I'm at the salon for four to five hours every time.

After I snapped this photo, I went to get my eyelash extensions touched up, which takes about an hour every three to four weeks. And don't even get me started on how much time I spend masking every week.

In other words, spending less than 15 minutes at your vanity table every day doesn't exclude you from the High-Maintenance Club.

Image courtesy of Katie McCarthy

On average, I spend four out of every five of my Saturday nights at my place or my boyfriend's, playing video games and getting buzzed. But this Saturday night, I went downtown to grab some dinner with my boyfriend and celebrate a friend's birthday at a bar.

This meant I would be putting the 15-minute rule to the ultimate test: the GNO. No, not a girls' night out — a gay night out. Could the stakes be any higher?

In the end, I blew the time limit. I couldn't stomach the thought of hitting a gay bar without curling my hair and putting on some lipstick. Not surprisingly, it was the best I looked and felt all week.

A 15-minute beauty routine should be saving me some effort each day, but my race-against-the-clock mentality is starting to feel like a fucking lot of effort. It takes away all the fun.

Image courtesy of Katie McCarthy

You know what helps when you have 15 minutes to get ready? Beanies. This gave me a few extra minutes to stew about Zadie Smith, because duh, of course other people give a shit about how much time women spend in the mirror.

Studies have shown that women who don't take time for specific grooming habits have decreased financial status and aren't as well-liked. This study showed that women who wear makeup, nail polish, et cetera, earn about 20 percent more than those who don't. Another study concluded that women who wear makeup are perceived as more competent, likeable and trustworthy by others.

So is beauty a waste of time for women? Not if those women care about how much money you make, or what social and career opportunities you're afforded in life. Not if any of those women are interested in being the first female president of the United States. And not if those women enjoy putting on makeup or fixing their hair, unless you believe that women's pleasure has no value.

Image courtesy of Katie McCarthy

I hate first-person beauty stories that reach an obvious, "OMG-this-is-amazing-and-you-need-to-do-it-too" conclusion. And, at the beginning of this exercise, I was prepared to wrap up this article with a metaphorical middle finger. I felt I had a pretty good handle on how I like to style my makeup and hair,and how much time I'm willing to spend doing that.

That said, I'm glad I tried this 15-minute rule. Getting ready under that artificial constraint forced me to get creative with a couple new techniques that save time on a busy day. And what is doing makeup and styling your hair about, if not expressing creativity?

I learned that using fewer brushes and multitasking beauty products really do save a hot second. (Did you know that Cloud Paint makes a pretty good matte lip color?)

I learned that if your hair still looks pretty decent by the time you'd normally wash it, dry shampoo that shit and move on, baby. I also learned that Netflixing while applying makeup takes twice as long as applying makeup without Netflixing.

Don't misunderstand me, though. I'm not going to limit myself to 15 minutes of mirror time in the future.

There may be a part of me that spends time making myself pretty in order to please other people. And the system may be rigged against women who don't make that effort.

The point is, I like getting ready at a languid pace, in a detail-oriented manner. After 32 years of parents and men trying to exert control over my beauty routine, I'm done trying to please others by rushing through it.

So I'm spending as much time as I want on my beauty routine, and I would never judge another woman for doing the same thing.

Image courtesy of Katie McCarthy