As the semester begins to get busier and our work piles up, sometimes the last thing we want to think about is our appearance! However, we go to St. Olaf, and we all know that there is somewhat of an expectation to always look presentable. So, when the going gets rough we must become creative and find short cuts to being pretty. That is why this article is dedicated to being a little lazy but never less than beautiful.
Dilemma #1
It is getting to be that time of the night – 1 a.m. hits, you still have three chapters to read, and you still haven’t showered! Seeing as getting some sleep sounds much more lucrative than sudsing up, sometimes a short cut is necessary. On those skip days, dry shampoo is my best friend. Many lines carry it in some form nowadays, but my favorite is “Clean Remix” by Matrix (you can usually find it for less than $20 at a salon or cosmetic store like Ulta). This dry shampoo is an aerosol spray that instantly absorbs oil and adds a fresh, clean scent to your hair. When you don’t have time to wash, here is my trick: Spray your hair, blow-dry upside down for a second and voila! [The cheap alternative: baby powder]
Dilemma #2
It is time for that 8 a.m., and you over-sleep again. Having 10 minutes to get ready is a challenge in itself. Save yourself three of those precious minutes by NOT washing your face. Cleansing facial cloths are an instant solution and a must! Not only do they save you time in the morning if needed, but they are also an awesome pick-me-up when the mid-day oil spill sets in. My favorite is the cleansing clothes by Biore. They usually run around $10 and can be found at most drugstores, so make a Target run soon!
Dilemma #3
You dash to class, coffee in one hand and a yogurt in the other hand. Halfway through class you realize that you forgot to brush your teeth, and, of course, it is a Monday, so you can’t make it back to your dorm all day! Chewing gum helps, sure, but it leaves your mouth feeling sugary and only lasts a little bit. I carry Colgate “Wisps” in my backpack for the emergency dental hygiene moment. These mini toothbrushes are disposable and come with a little bit of toothpaste on them. All you need to do is brush. BONUS: they are also great to keep in your purse on date night! (Around $10 in drugstores)
Dilemma #4
Ok, we all know that there is one class we look forward to everyday because of the cutie sitting next to us (check out this week’s Campus Cutie!). Looking good for that class sometimes becomes more important than preparing for the class itself, but on test day, that just can’t be true. Here is my #1 beauty trick. If you have to pick one cosmetic, make it lip stain. Polished lips instantly make you look put together. Pick a fresh color; something too dark is sometimes off-putting. Lip stains, unlike a stick, aren’t sticky or even very noticeable at all. It gives you that natural “I’m not even trying” look. I have always had a great track record with N.Y.C “Smootch-proof” lip stain. The best part? If you happen to snag a kiss with this stuff on, it doesn’t rub off!
Dilemma #5
Not having time to iron is not necessarily a beauty dilemma, but it definitely happens to enough of us that it is worth mentioning. I often want to wear a shirt that I washed the day before, dried and then threw back in my laundry basket sans folding. The result is a wrinkled mess. My solution and life-saver is Downy Wrinkle-Release. It literally is a miracle. A few sprays and a shake of the garment and wrinkles disappear before you can even think of heating up an iron. Downy even makes travel size containers of this stuff that you can bring anywhere.
Here’s to a gorgeous time crunch and flawless time savers!
*Photo credits: Google images
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