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Beauty shortcutsThe other day, stuck in bad weather at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, I couldn’t help but indulge in one of my favorite vices: people watching. Why call it a vice? Well, stylefiling would be a more accurate description and, trust me, women everywhere are doing it. That’s right, we’ve noticed your bad hair day or your mismatched foundation. The good news is we’re also giving silent kudos to your sleek knee-high boots and your perfect skin. My own husband often tries to curtail my grooming routine by reminding me that, wherever we may be headed “there’s no fashion show.” Actually, darling, there always is. So for those times when getting ready for your spotlight moment, be it at the grocery store or the office, requires a stack of ingenuity and a shard of time. I’ve rounded up some of my favorite beauty shortcuts. Down with dirty hair Unless you’re my younger sister (born with perfectly thick, shiny locks with just a hint of wave) having a good hair day is a skill that requires precision. Hair must be clean, but not too clean, with just the right amount of product, but not too much product or it turns greasy. Oh, and Jupiter must align with Mars. So, less-than-perfect hair is the modern woman’s far too constant companion. We’re all in the same boat, dolls, but in style as in life what sets winners apart is how they deal with such adversity. Pulling hair into a messy ponytail, ends sticking out like soiled spikes, is not the answer. Whoever first called this undone look “chic” clearly did not imagine the minions sporting disheveled ‘dos instead of actually shampooing. When time constraints leave you with a dirty ‘do or an attempt at great hair turns greasy, Oscar Blandi’s Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray comes to the rescue. No water needed, Pronto Dry Shampoo Spray absorbs excess oil and product while increasing volume at the roots ($21 at Sephora), serving up a quick fix that is considerably more appealing than unkempt locks. Nailing well-manicured hands Chipped nail polish is an absolute style No-No. You may love this season’s darkest hues on your hands but if you aren’t committed to maintaining the look, skip the polish and ask your favorite nail salon for a Hot Cream Manicure instead. After a traditional manicure and the application of a deeply nourishing moisturizer, nails are buffed to a high shine that looks classic and lasts. Don’t waste your hard earned dough on French Manicure kits that claim to be easy. It’s only easy for the professionals. I recently tried a not-to-be named French Manicure Pen. After perfectly applying polish to my left hand (I’m right handed) I thought I’d hit the grooming jackpot. Needless to say, using my other hand to apply French tips was a grooming disaster. 30 minutes and eight wasted dollars later, I wished I’d gone to a professional. Do invest top dollar in an effective topcoat to keep professionally applied polish from chipping and apply it daily. One to try is Seche Vite’s patented Dry Fast Top Coat, $10 at BeautySak.com. Makeup on the go In five minutes or less, this final beauty shortcut can take you from gloomy to glowing. Everyone from multi-tasking mommas to career mavens will benefit from a splash of color. After all, expertly applied makeup is the reason celebrities so often look picture perfect. Grab an all-in-one makeup stick such as Nars The Multiple, and add all-over color in a matter of seconds. The Multiple is a multi-purpose makeup stick for eyes, cheeks and lips ($36.50 at Narscosmetics.com). The cream to powder formula blends easily adding highlights and contour from lips to lids. Nars’ newest shade, Orgasm, satisfies most skin tones with its peachy pink shimmer. Finish up with a quick application of mascara and in less time than it takes to change a diaper or catch a cab, you too can look gorgeous on the go.
Beauty
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