The 13 Low-Effort Beauty Tips I Swear By

From a lifelong beauty addict...

Given the title of this publication, you might be under the illusion that fashion was my first love, when in fact, it was beauty. It was my Mum’s makeup bag that I’d riffle through, not her wardrobe, Spectacular nail polishes would populate my birthday list, and I’d read the Bobbi Brown Makeup Manual* every night before bed. You might even remember my first foray into blogging, ‘Vivianna Does Makeup’, the beauty blog I started back in 2010. It was ALWAYS beauty. And even though fashion has pipped it to the post somewhat in recent years, I still can’t let a tinted moisturiser launch pass me without giving it a go. It all started here on my 4th birthday…

This face. THIS FACE! My son makes the *exact* same face every time we try to get him to smile for a photo.

I might put a little more time into my OOTDS currently, but beauty still hums along in the background and over the years, I’ve developed a routine that can be compacted and slotted into the small pockets of time I now have. Written down, it sounds laborious, when in fact, it’s just a series of habits that I stack throughout my day to help me feel my best. A little ‘high maintenance to be low maintenance’, along with products that I just really love and use time and time (and time!) again. Look, I’ve used the same shampoo for 12 years, ok?*

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MAKEUP

Establish your essentials. I used to house a whole host of makeup in a large IKEA unit that I’d pick from every day. Now I have a small Space NK makeup bag* that I can throw in my tote, take with me to do in the car, or transport to wherever my little one is requesting my presence in the house. It’s quick and easy, and I do some sort of reiteration of it whenever I feel like wearing makeup.

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• TINTED MOISTURISER: I love the Sculpted by Aimee HydraTint* (I use shade 4) or NARS Tinted Moisturiser* (I use shade Alaska) for an optimal glow with a natural-looking amount of coverage.

• CONCEALER: I have only one go-to here - the Glossier Stretch Concealer in Light 2*. Nothing brightens and moisturises quite like it. I find everything else horrendously dry. For blemishes, the Estée Lauder Doublewear Stay-In-Place* is unrivalled (I use 2N).

• CHEEK PRODUCTS: Just try the Makeup By Mario Soft Sculpt Transforming Skin Enhancer* and thank me later (I use Light/Medium). Then, if I feel like I need blush, I’ll do either the MERIT Flush Balm in Beverly Hills* or the RHODE Pocket Blush in Freckle*.

• BROWS: For brows that don’t move, you need the Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Freeze*.

• EYES: There’s a high chance I’m wearing either nothing or the Armani Eye Tint in 20M* with a teenie tiny amount of the Beauty Pie Waterproof Mascara* on my lashes.

• LIPS: Here’s where I get experimental (note the sarcasm). Most days, I just sling on the Summer Fridays Lip Butter in Pink Sugar*, but if I want a little more definition, I’ll add in a liner, like the Glossier Lip Line in Graze* or MERIT Signature Lip Liner in Beverly Hills*. I just want it to look as natural as possible.

A small but perfectly formed collection.

Streamline your brushes. I used to own an amount of brushes that even a professional wouldn’t need. At one point, I had a brush belt!! Who did I think I was?! These days, I use just three brushes for my whole face. Less to pack and less to wash:

• Westman Atelier Blender Brush* - The price. I know. I bought this in June 2019, when the brand first launched in the U.K., and it still looks brand new, almost six years later. It doesn’t just move product around your face; it works like the warmth of your hands to really blend it in. I use it for any tinted moisturiser or foundation.

• Beauty Pie Pro Angled Cheek Brush* - This is what I use to apply that Makeup By Mario product - it looks like it’s been discontinued, but the slanted side of this double-ended one works the same way.

• Makeup By Mario EF2 Brush* - If I’m applying an eyeshadow - liquid, cream or powder - then I’m using this.

…and remember to deep clean them. The best part about a small brush collection. On a weekly-ish basis, I deep clean them with this* and leave them out to dry overnight.

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HAIR

Develop your own hair hack. I like to wear my hair wavy, in its natural texture, which means that it looks GREAT freshly washed, but it’s not so hot the day after. So I found a hack. Before bed, I’ll spray some dry shampoo* into the roots, split my hair into two and secure it into two braids before I go to bed. When I take them out in the morning, the waves are preserved, and once I’ve run some hair milk* over my frizzy scalp, it doesn’t look too bad. Minimal work for pretty ok day two hair. WIN.

A day two hair day 🙌

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NAILS

Get your nails professionally done. This isn’t so much of a hack, but more a habit I picked up when I was pregnant and couldn’t lean over my belly to do my own pedicure, that I haven’t been able to give up. Every three weeks I visit; one time I’ll just do hands, and then next, hands and feet (some places will do both at the same time, which feels like such a treat). I’m putting money back into the local economy, right? I like the ritual and peace of a salon visit. If you’re doing it at home, I love the Manicurist Set-Up*.

Oil every night. In my nightstand, I have a cuticle oil and hand cream - to be honest, I rotate brands - and I’ll apply them as I settle into bed every night before I pick up my Kindle. Soon enough, it just becomes something that you do without thinking.

A good mani just makes me FEEL things.

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BODY

A low-maintenance tan. Now, I’ll warn you, this doesn’t sound low-maintenance, but I can complete this routine in 10 minutes flat. Seriously. Most days in the shower, I’ll lather up with an exfoliating mitt - exfoliating step, TICK. Then every other day I’ll apply a light layer of the Tan-Luxe The Gradual* all over - ankles to neck. Then I’ll take a tanning spray - like this one* - and spray the tops of my feet and hands. As someone who just feels themselves more with a tan, it satisfies the need in the quickest, most efficient way.

Body oil ALL THE TIME. So I flip-flop; one day I tan, and the next day I oil. I’d say a body oil day is a little quicker, but each morning, fresh out of the shower, I’ll oil. My body is DRY, I’m riddled with psoriasis, and it’s not really a non-negotiable for me. Cream feels gross to me, and I prefer how quickly an oil absorbs into the skin. Give it 20 minutes or so to complete the rest of your routine, and you’ll be fine jumping straight into your clothes. I swear by this*.

The elite combination. Dry brush before applying body oil, and MY WORD YOU WILL FEEL GREAT. The dry brush is a recent addition to my routine, but it takes five minutes - pump your lymph nodes to open them and then brush directly towards your heart - and you just feel alive. And very, very smooth. I use this one*.

Me 🤝 fake tan.

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FACE

Tan every night. Given my feelings on fake tan, I like to tan my face pretty much every night. With the amount of cleansing I do, I find that it wears off quickly, so a drop of the Beauty Pie Bronze Drops* after my routine every evening keeps me topped up. I use less foundation, and my makeup routine feels less of a priority when there’s a bit of base bronze going on.

Lash extensions in a tube. Be warned, there is some pretty gnarly health stuff attached to most eyelash growth serums, but I take my chances and the Revitalish Eyelash Serum* (the sensitive one only, the OG gives me pink eye) is really unreal when used consistently. I apply it like an eyeliner every evening, and my lashes are longer than they’ve ever been before. Again, it negates the need for daily mascara for me.

Hairy girls, listen up. You need this in your life*. That is all.

The Revitalash effect 👌

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ONE FINAL TIP…

I operate a beauty self-care menu of sorts. I don’t do all these things every single day, but I do try to tick one off - just the one! - each night before bed. Not only is it a moment for myself, but it helps me keep on top of things beauty-wise without the need to dedicate whole evenings to a routine that can feel like a chore.

• Use my LED Mask before bed - I’ve used this one* for years, but have recently upgraded to the updated version* (I love the fact it hugs the face better, goes under the chin and has a power point that you can hook over your trousers). I do notice a difference in my general glow when I’m consistent with it. You can use the code ANNAEDIT for 10% off.

• Sit and marinate in a sheet mask. I just picked up these ones* - I’ll report back.

• …or a clarifying mask. I gave in to the Masque Vivant* hype and despite the absolute STINK of it, I was very, very impressed. I feel like the Fresh Umbrian Clay Mask* does a good job, too, for a fraction of the price.

• If I’m congested, I do this routine with my little facial reflexology tool*.

• I run myself a delightfully warm bath and throw four cups full of Epsom salts in (I buy them in bulk here). Heavenly.

• This step is tedious, so I really have to be in the mood, but I’d love to find my groove and use it more, because after 30 minutes under my sauna blanket*, I do find that I sleep like a baby. Again, the code ANNAEDIT gives you 10% off.

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