Hit snooze! Here's the ultimate fast makeup routine for time-poor women.

Are you a repeat offender when it comes to hitting the snooze button? Do you want a quicker, more efficient way to get ready in the morning? You’re in good company.

In an ideal world, we’d have enough time to pluck, wax, cleanse, exfoliate, tone, moisturise and apply: serum, sunscreen, primer, concealer, foundation, blush, mascara, tan – the list goes on.

Except the reality is given our busy schedules we’d much rather watch Ja’mie: Private School Girl or you know, sleep, in our spare time than adhere to time-consuming beauty routines.

Just as an FYI, you should know that this post is sponsored by Garnier BB Cream. But all opinions expressed by the author are 100% authentic and written in their own words.

Read on for seven beauty tips and tricks that make up a fast makeup routine that will have you hitting the snooze button, and  looking good before heading out the door.

1. Bright lipstick.

One of the best ways to brighten your face is also, luckily, the easiest. Swiping on a bright red lipstick helps to distract away from a dull complexion. It also creates the illusion that your teeth are a few shades whiter.

If you have a red lipstick phobia or haven’t yet found the right shade of red for you, take note: cool reds (blue-based) work best on blondes redheads while warmer orangey-red shades are best for darker skin tones.

2. (Easy) Hair trickery.

If the idea of washing, blow-drying, straightening or styling your hair every day fatigues you or you’ve woken up with no time to shower, an easy up ‘do in your arsenal will you save you time and trick everyone into thinking you’ve put a lot more effort in.

Twist hair up into a topknot, a side-plaited messy bun or slick back hair into a ponytail and get creative with bobby pins. If you’re a hair novice check out YouTube or Pinterest for step-by-step tutorials.

3. Fake it ‘til you make it.

Had a late night? Fake eight hours sleep with one simple step: line the inside rim of your eye with a cream or nude pencil.

Some make-up artists swear by cream while other prefer nudes, either way this trick creates the illusion of brighter, whiter eyes and instantly reduces redness. What all-nighter?

4. Multi-tasking beauty products.

Imagine a product that reduces under-eye bags, brightens and smoothes fine lines while it conceals dark circles. Sounds like a dream, right? Well friends, it’s a reality. Garnier’s BB Cream Eye Roll-On is a five-in-one product that immediately decreases puffiness and best of all, after one week of use dark circles are visibly reduced. Win-win.

5. Dry shampoo.

What did we ever do without dry shampoo? Whether you’ve worked out this morning or just want to avoid a hair slick, a quick spritz of dry shampoo means you can go that one extra day without washing. If you have particularly oily hair, carry a small travel size bottle in your handbag to top up during the day.

6. Streamline your makeup routine.

Is your make up bag bulging with products you don’t use? Ditch the brown lipstick and products you’ve had for years in favour of a few products that make the biggest and quickest impact on your daily routine.

For me it’s the multitasking BB cream from Garnier (check out the oil-free and sensitive skin versions now available), a thickening, long-wearing mascara and a bright lipstick (your lippie can do double duty as a cream blush).

7. Sleeping beauty.

You’ve probably heard celebrities wax lyrical about sleeping on satin pillowcases and for good reason; they are a godsend for the curly haired among us.

If you regularly get a case of the morning-after frizzy’s apply a hair serum before hitting the (satin) pillow and wake up with beautiful fuss-free hair.

What time-saving tricks do you use as part of your fast makeup routine in the mornings? 

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