Hair and makeup shortcuts: 6 Beauty Panel tips for perfecting the lazy-girl morning routine

Date August 14, 2014

Let’s face it, as much as summer should be a restful few months, that’s rarely ever the case. Between work, heading to the beach and running errands on the weekends, there really isn’t much time to breathe, so taking our time with hair and makeup is essentially out of the question. However, thanks to endless celebrity beauty inspiration and summer festivals and events, the list of trends we want to try is longer than ever. So what’s a lazy girl to do? Fear not because we obviously have a solution (don’t we always?). This week we asked Beauty Panel to share their hair and makeup shortcuts and let us know how they achieve an effortless look that takes no time at all.

Challenge 73: What is your summer lazy girl look? See the answers now! »

When it comes to a summertime lazy beauty routine, a multifunctional product is the answer. My Beauty Box’s Ellie Somfelean and Twenty York Street’s Marilou Moles are both big believers in reaching for their go-to BB and CC creams for a lightweight and quick solution to skin care issues. Our newest member Ashley Pettigrew of Lions Lace Lattes is all about skipping the time-consuming basics (see ya, foundation) and opting for easy alternatives. Still unsure as to where to cut time? Gerry Xun of The Bunnie Hole leaves us with a few wise words (and tips!). The key to a quick makeup look is picking out your key feature, adding a pop of colour and then balancing the rest of your makeup with a few enhancing touches.

Have a beauty question you want to see the panel answer? Send it our way at [email protected]. Read on for the answers to this week’s challenge and for more goodness, get to know all contributors on our Beauty Panel hub page.

Ashley Pettigrew
Toronto | Lions Lace Lattes

When it’s summer and the weather heats up, the last thing I want to be doing is spending a lot of time on my makeup. I want to be outdoors enjoying the sun and warm weather. This summer, my go-to lazy look includes skipping foundation, and instead opting to use concealer and a bit of powder. I also skip contouring, but warm up my complexion with some bronzer. Lately I’ve also been reaching for long lasting cream eyeshadows for a quick wash of colour and skipping out on eyeliner.

For this look I used a little corrector under my eyes to disguise my dark circles, then brightened them up with concealer. Next, I applied some powder all over and then warmed up my complexion with a little bronzer. For blush, I went with one that has a bit of shimmer running through it, so there is no need to use a highlighter. For eyes I applied a cream shadow and then, instead of eyeliner, I used a pencil brush to apply an eyeshadow along the top and bottom lash line. I finished my eyes with a few coats of mascara. Finally, to make it seem like I put more effort into the look, I added a bright pink lip.

Products used: Bobbi Brown Corrector, Rimmel Wake Me Up Concealer, Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in “Dim Light,” Nars Bronzing Powder in “Laguna,” Milani Baked Blush in “Luminoso,” Maybelline Colour Tattoo in “Nude Compliment,” Nars Eyeshadow in “Galapagos” from the And God Created the Woman Palette, Make Up For Ever Aqua Smoky Extravagant Mascara, Bourjois Rouge Edition Velvet in “Pink Pong.”

Marilou Moles
Ottawa | Twenty York Street

I have to admit that this perhaps is the laziest but most irresistible ‘do for the season. What’s easier and more chic than a ponytail in a flash? Not only does it allow you to skip another shampoo session, but it’s also such a breeze to pull together.

Spritz a bit of volumizer and work it briskly through your strands. Place the ponytail high up for a more stylish hairstyle rather than a going-to-the-gym look.

To match the simplicity of things, I just bronzed my face and opted for light sheer pastel pink lips.

Products used: Organix Moroccan Sea Salt Spray, Body Shop BB Cream, Annabelle Bronzer BB Cream, Nyx Lipstick in “#509.”

Gerry Xun
Vancouver | The Bunnie Hole

It’s hot, it’s humid and it’s definitely not full-blown makeup season. During the warmer months it can be hard to feel motivated to put on much at all, but it doesn’t mean you should give up on the fun of wearing makeup. I love getting dolled up even on a lazy Sunday and here’s a quick look that you can do in 5 minutes and have it last all day.

Start off with a light foundation that is sweat-proof and water-resistant yet feels light and looks fresh on the skin. With a sheer coverage base on, pick a pop of colour to enhance your features. I love coordinating my lips and cheeks when it’s just too messy and time-consuming to go for a 3-shadow look. Here I’m using neon pink that’s applied very lightly on the cheeks paired with a bright lip gloss that has an approachable translucent finish. A light wash of a neutral matte brown goes all over the eyelid and then load up on a waterproof mascara. Lastly, since the eyes are so simple, frame eyes with well groomed brows using an eyebrow pencil. Remember that the key to a quick makeup look is picking out your key feature, adding a pop of colour and then balancing the rest of your makeup with a few enhancing touches.

Products used: M.A.C Face & Body Foundation, Nars Blush, Shu Uemura Petal Lash Mascara, Chella Eyebrow Pencil, Maybelline The Elixir

Ellie Somfelean
Montreal | My Beauty Box

To be honest I don’t have lazy days, I am always on the go. On my day off this past weekend, I participated in a huge yoga session here in Montreal and given that I had to get an early start and knew I’d be in a downward facing dog under the scorching sun, I had to simplify my beauty routine.

I like to go for multifunctional products like the It Cosmetic CC Cream, which has SPF 50, corrects and blurs imperfections and has anti-aging properties. It really is like your skin, but better. I applied two coats of Clarins waterproof mascara. It’s incredibly volumizing and makes my lashes look naturally long and luscious. I finished off with a moisturizing gloss from Fresh to keep my lips hydrated and complete that fresh faced look I was going for.

This has been my go to routine for summer days when I’m outside. It’s a five minute- three-product beauty routine that consists of multitasking products that help protect my skin and makes me look good.

Products used: It Cosmetic CC Cream, Clarins Truly Waterproof Mascara, Fresh Shine Lip Treatment.

Shayna Wiwierski
Winnipeg | A Pop of Colour

Summer makeup, to me, is all about taking it easy. So naturally, you go even easier when it’s a lazy summer day. My lazy summer days are usually Sundays; I hit the gym, and then do my errands that will have me set for the rest of the week (grocery shop, laundry, catch up on blog posts). So, since the day is rather low-key, I like to keep my makeup to a minimal.

I usually only stick with a handful of products: a BB cream for it’s lightweight, natural finish; a mascara to open up my eyes; a bronzer to highlight summer skin, and a few more. I don’t like going overboard with the makeup on Sundays and honestly just using that day to let my skin breathe. When it comes to summer, less is more.

Products used: DiorSkin Nude BB Cream, Garnier BB Cream Miracle Skin Perfector Eye Roll-On, Benefit The Fake-Up Concealer, Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara, Maybelline Face Studio Master Glaze

Laurelle Alexandra
Toronto | Paint Me Pretty

Summer can be quite challenging when it comes to maintaining a beauty routine. I personally get really lazy in the summer. So for these sweltering hot summer months, I like to keep it simple. I skip foundation entirely and stick only with a concealer. It gives me enough coverage and helps even out my skin tone. I then apply my translucent powder to help eliminate as much shine as I possible, followed with my bronzer (because you obviously have to look bronzed in the summer!). Adding some powder blush and a tint or stain to ensure my rosy cheeks will last all day in the heat. I don’t bother filling in my eyebrows and instead just wear a tiny bit of eyeliner and mascara. By keeping it simple, you can still look fresh and pretty with just a touch of makeup.

And of course when it’s hot I keep my blanket of hair off my neck. I stick to a cute ponytail with a fun headband for a little extra something. It’s cute and simple and still maintains the idea that you’ve put some effort into your look in the morning. Sometimes less is more. And in the summer, less is definitely more.

Products Used: Cover FX Concealer, Make Up For Ever Translucent Setting Powder, Benefit ‘Hoola’ Bronzer, NARS Blush, Cover Girl Lash Blast Mascara, Annabelle Black Khol Liner