It's five minutes before your alarm is set to go off, but you're already awake and feeling well rested. You leisurely do your makeup and make a healthy breakfast ... before birds braid your hair and you head to work on your traffic-free commute. Yes, you're dreaming. Here's something closer to reality: You hit snooze approximately 1000 times before begrudgingly rolling out of bed and deciding if makeup or breakfast is more important. We feel you.
That's where these multi-tasking products come in. They're the lifesavers that will help you turn from a messy-haired, cranky ogre into a flawless land mermaid in just a few minutes. They seriously cut down your getting-ready time, so you can spend more time sleeping/eating and less time primping -- without sacrificing function or beauty.
Photo 2/12
A Sunscreen That Corrects Dark Spots
Consistency is key when it comes to seeing results from your skin-care routine -- especially when you're dealing with issues like dark spots. But on those mornings where puppy snuggles kept you under the covers long past your alarm, you're probably more concerned with looking presentable (i.e. putting on makeup) than going through the entire rigmarole of your skin care routine -- if you even have one. Cut down the steps of your A.M. routine with Dermalogica Pure Light SPF 50, $62.
The superlight, non-chalky formula protects your skin from the sun. It also contains red algae, brown algae and other botanical extracts that help exfoliate your skin and reduce discoloration, and hyaluronic acid keeps your skin hydrated. Now that's a true triple threat.
There's likely a method to your beauty product madness: You want to be able to get the most amazing look you can, with as few steps and products as possible. And that's why Phace Bioactive Soothing Face Cream + Primer SPF 46, $86, is the ultimate beauty product for lazy girls.
It's a triumvirate of moisturizer, sunscreen and primer. (Before you knock primer as unnecessary, consider this: What's the point of putting on makeup if it's just going to slide off your face by lunchtime?). It's packed with a smorgasbord of good-for-skin ingredients, including lactic acid, vitamin E and hyaluronic acid for hydration, niacinamide for brightness and superoxide dismutase, an enzyme that helps prevent free-radical damage and soothes irritated skin.
Volumizers and mousses can make hair sticky and crunchy -- but not this Oribe Imperial Blowout Transformative Styling Crème, $68. It leaves hair luxuriously soft with tons of body and has the added benefit of heat protection. It starts off as a cream that melts into a moisturizing oil that treats damage and helps prevent it, because the formula allows your brush to comb through with less breakage. From there, it turns into a powder that helps your style last longer. (Read: You'll have even less work to do tomorrow.)
Alterna Caviar CC Cream for Hair 10-in-1 Complete Correction, $39, works on both wet and dry hair. The easy-to-apply, non-greasy formula contains vitamin C to ward off hair-damaging free radicals, along with caviar extract that makes hair supersoft and shiny. It drastically cuts down on frizz and protects against heat damage and breakage, while providing a light hold to keep your style in place. Use it post-blow-dry or on second-day hair to add polish, sheen and texture.
