Did you know that the average woman spends two years of her life applying makeup? Now, I’m just as obsessed with beauty products as the next girl (okay, probably even more so) but even I have to admit that’s a little ridiculous. Think of all the other things you could be doing with that time and money. You could start your own business or travel around the world – several times! Luckily, it’s not too late to get the time back. Don’t worry, it doesn’t involve going completely bare-faced. With a few beauty shortcuts, you can cut your makeup routine in half and still look amazing. It’s all about investing in longer term beauty solutions that will replace steps in your makeup routine. Here are some of our top hard-working treatments that will give you more bang for your buck:
Lash lift
There’s something about having long, curled lashes that instantly makes you feel more glam (even when you’ve got no other makeup on!) For this very reason, I used to be completely addicted to eyelash extensions. I’ve always had long eyelashes but they were very straight, so mascara didn’t quite give me the effect I was after. But after a few months of using extensions, I developed an allergic reaction and my natural lashes fell out. Sadly, I had to give them up and I vowed never to mess with my eyelashes again. That is, until the lash lift (otherwise known as lash perming) came along!
A lash lift is a treatment for natural eyelashes that adds lift, curl, and definition for 8+ weeks! Unlike extensions, lash lifts aren’t adding anything to your natural lashes. Instead, they simply define what you have naturally by giving them lift, and curl.
-Courtney Buhler, Founder and lead lash artist of SugarlashPRO: an award winning, fully accredited eyebrow and eyelash extension academy.
Yep, the lash lift is an absolute game-changer. It lasts for ages, involves minimal maintenance and gives you a gorgeous, ‘wide-awake ‘ look. On average, it’ll set you back around $90-$150. If you want to cut down your makeup routine even further, you can have your lashes tinted as well. We guarantee you won’t have to wear any mascara for months!
Clear + Brilliant
If you’re anything like me, the majority of your beauty routine probably revolves around perfecting your base. But imagine how much time you would save if your skin was already flawless before you even opened your makeup bag! Enter, the Clear + Brilliant treatment. It’s essentially a ‘mini Fraxel‘ laser treatment that promises to improve your skin’s tone, texture and pore appearance. I tried the treatment at the new Clear Complexions clinic in Mosman. It was pretty much pain-free (apart from a slight warm tickle) and took only 30 minutes. For a couple of hours afterward, my skin looked sunburnt. Then, for the next few days it was slightly dry and flaky (this is normal). But after that subsided? I was left with pretty much the best skin of my life! It was smooth, even and as the name suggests, clear and brilliant! Used longer term, the treatment also treats pigmentation and ageing concerns.
Related: This Is When You Should Start Using “Anti-Ageing”.
Eyebrow tint
In my opinion, your eyebrows can absolutely make or break your beauty look. There’s no point having a perfect smoky eye or a flawless glow if your brows are a hot mess, right? Even science agrees with me on this, as a recent study shows that the eyebrows are the most recognisable part of someone’s face. But even if you’re a beauty pro (and let’s face it, most of us aren’t) you can actually make them look worse by overfilling them. And once you go overboard, trying to make them look somewhat normal again can be a very time-consuming process. The solution? A brow tint! The service is extremely cheap (it costs around $15 at most salons), but goes a looooong way. Your beautician simply swipes some semi-permanent vegetable dye over your brows, leaves it on for 5-10 minutes and voila! You’ll still have your natural eyebrow shape, but they’ll look much fuller and more polished. They’ll last 3-4 weeks and will mean you won’t have to fill them in yourself at home. Win! For extra ‘on fleek’ brows, consider pairing them with an eyebrow shape (via wax, threading or sugaring).
Omnilux
So, your Clear + Brilliant treatment will leave you with clear, even skin. But what about the all important glow? Look no further than an Omnilux treatment. The light-therapy treatment is completely pain-free, non-invasive and has zero downtime. It’s also an extremely relaxing treatment! As you lie under the warm, bright LED light for 20 minutes, it feels like you’re chilling on the beach. As for the results? Think of it like a facial on steroids! Immediately after, my skin looked hydrated, plump and ridiculously glowing! Yep, you can say goodbye to your illuminating and highlighting products after this treatment: it does all the hard work for you!
Keratin treatment
Let’s not forget about one of the most time-consuming parts of getting ready each day — doing your hair. Whether your hair is curly or straight, it’s safe to assume your hair regime involves wrestling with your hair dryer. Enter, the keratin treatment. Performed in salons all over Australia, the treatment promises to smooth out frizzy, unmanageable locks. So, how does it work?
Keratin treatments fill in the porosity of your hair, as overly-porous hair causes tangles, frizz, and breakage. Your hair is made up of keratin, so the treatment is putting the protein back into the hair, which is often lost due to age and chemical services.
-International hairstylist Abraham Sprinkle via InStyle.
Basically, it’s the perfect treatment coming up to summer when the humidity puts frizz into overdrive! Prices range between $250-$400 and results last between two to five months. Sure, it may not be cheapest treatment on the market. But the time you’ll save trying to force your hair into submission each day? Priceless!
