"Six clever ways I cut my beauty routine in half."

There’s one thing I value above everything: sleep. If I’m well rested, I’m more energised, productive and happy throughout my day. But I also know that investing some time into getting ready in the mornings helps me look and feel great, too.

So how can you create beauty routine that doesn’t compromise on beauty sleep? Here are six tips to help you save time in the mornings.

1. Make a schedule for your hair routine.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s crazy to book in a time just to wash and style my hair, but it’s the beauty equivalent of writing up a ‘To Do’ list – if you’ve planned out what you’ve got to do, you’re far more likely to get it done. Simple.

In the past, I was a culprit of “I’ll just wash my hair tomorrow”-itis and always managed to push it out by a few days. On those days where my hair was closer to grease than chic, I noticed that my disposition was slightly less perky and I was slightly less productive.

Now, I schedule time on pre-determined nights to wash my hair. I only wash my hair twice a week — Sunday nights, to get myself ready for the working week, and Thursday nights, to have fresh hair for the weekend.

On the first and second days after washing, I can count on my hair being clean enough to wear down. By the third and fourth days, I’ll throw it up in a sleek ponytail or a bun. Waking up knowing exactly what I’m doing with my hair that day saves so much time and effort in the mornings, ensuring I get out the door on time every time.

And Natalia has a lot of hair to look after. Image: Supplied. 

2. Keep a backup supply of dry shampoo

As much as I’d like to say that my hair-schedule is foolproof, some days my hair just can’t get it together. On those days, there’s dry shampoo. A little spray of this miracle worker on my oily roots that I quickly work into my scalp using my fingertips, and I’m good to go.

3. Invest in Micellar water

Holding down a solid skincare routine will keep your face looking clean and fresh all week long. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to use seven different products to do it, though. Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water is a one-step skincare product that acts as both a makeup remover and cleanser, which you simply apply using a cotton pad and gently wipe over your face. I generally use it to clean the makeup off my face at night, but it’s also a godsend on the mornings where I barely have enough time to breathe. Quick, simple and convenient, what else could a girl want?

Garnier’s Micellar Cleansing Water is a one-step skincare product. Image: Supplied.

4. Line up all the makeup you need for the next morning the night before.

The golden rule to a quick and easy beauty regime is preparation. I’ve had mornings where I’ve gotten off to a flying start, having gone to the gym, come home and showered, made breakfast and packed my bag, only to drop the ball when my mascara goes missing. I go from cool, calm and collected to panic mode in 2.5 seconds, and then launch a search and rescue mission for the missing product that turns my bedroom into a bombsite.

After being sick of wading through the emotional and physical aftermath of these morning meltdowns, I’ve learnt to line up all the products I need for the next morning in my bathroom the night before, mitigating the risk of having something go wrong. If your bathroom is shared territory, have a designated draw, makeup bag or toiletries basket that you can pop your products in and grab quickly the next morning.

5. Simplify your base with BB cream

Much like Micellar water, BB cream is another champion of my beloved two-in-one beauty philosophy. Acting as both a foundation and moisturiser, it takes all the time and hassle out of feeding my skin the nutrients that it needs and making me look as flawless as Beyoncé (well, almost). Choose one with SPF and you’ve also protected your face from sun damage. High fives all round.

When used in combination, micellar water and BB cream condense a comprehensive skincare and makeup regime down to two easy steps that take less than two minutes to do. Winning.

A bold lip is always a winner. Image: iStock. 

6. Use a bold lip as the hero of your makeup look.

Whenever I wear a bright lipstick, whether it be at work or out on the town, I tend to get far more compliments than when I’m bare-lipped. Whether that’s the work of the lipstick itself, or just the fact that I feel fabulous wearing it, it’s my one makeup go-to that always makes me look and feel polished as soon as I rub my lips together.

I’m all about maximising my effort-for-effect ratio, so wearing a bold lip is a brilliant way to trick people into thinking I’ve put in a tonne of effort into my makeup that morning, when really I’ve only used two or three products. Using a bright lip colour will make your eyes pop, your smile sparkle and take your everyday look from drab to fab – and I guarantee you that no one will notice the fact that you’re otherwise mostly makeup-free.

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

What are some of your best beauty tips and tricks?