Brilliant Mum-In-A-Hurry Make Up

I’m one of those people who tends to stick to the same beauty products for years – you know those older ladies you see, still wearing the blue mascara and pink shimmer lipstick that they wore in the 80s? That’ll be me, in forty years time. (I’m also going to wear quirky clothes just because I can – old people can get away with pretty much anything, can’t they?)

It takes so long to actually FIND the make up that really works for me, once I’ve found it (Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser, MAC concealer, YSL Touch Eclat), it takes a lot to convince me to switch my allegiances. So it’s really something when I come across products that I love so much that I switch allegiances and tell all my friends about them.

This happened to me three times recently. I came across three products that SERIOUSLY impressed me. Why? Because they help me look fantastic, fast. I don’t have time for products that look great when you apply and then fade quickly, and I don’t have time for products that are so tricky to apply that I’m late to wherever I’m going because of all the faffing.

So here goes, this is the make up that will change your life *

(*if you’re as superficial and make up obsessed as me, that is)

First up, Pretty Quik Instant Nail Polish Remover. If you haven’t tried this stuff (other brands are available – the Maybelline one is worth trying too) then you need to GET ON BOARD. Forget bottles of nail polish remover and cotton wool. This little wonder pot has a sponge inside it, soaked in polish remover. The sponge has a finger-shaped hole in the middle. You simply place each finger in the pot, twist a few times, and remove. Hey presto! You no longer have chipped, tatty looking nail polish! Granted, using the traditional method isn’t too labour intensive, but it’s a bit of a faff and using the Pretty Quik pot is SO FAST. It’s a serious game-changer.

GOOD FOR: Mums who never get around to removing their nail polish but hate the chipped nail look.

Next, the YSL Babydoll Eyeliner. I’ve been on a bit of a quest to find the perfect liquid eyeliner this year. The Clinique one was too wobbly-of-brush, the No 7 one was too firm-of-pen (and did this weird thing where it actually started to remove the liner if I went over the same bit twice. Not helpful) but this, my friends, this eyeliner is AMAZING. The YSL Babydoll Eyeliner is a brush rather than a pen, but it just applies the eyeliner like a dream. In around 4 seconds flat, I can do a straight line on each eye. No wobbly bits. Hooray!

GOOD FOR: Mums who need to apply make up quickly but still look brilliant.

Finally, I am LOVING the Smashbox Megatint lippy in Cerise. I’m fairly new the the red lip thing (I was utterly convinced for years that my faint acne scarring was more noticeable if I wore a red lip) and until now, I’ve been faithful to a MAC lippy. But this, this bad boy is in another league. Easy to apply, a strong colour and it lasts. Like, really lasts. I can apply first thing in the morning, drink tea and coffee, eat lunch and it’ll still be there. It’s magic. The only small downside to the Smashbox Megatint is that it feels quite drying on your lips but a bit of lip balm worn overnight soon sorts this out.

GOOD FOR: Mums who need that instant glam look but don’t have time to reapply multiple times in the day.

What are your secret weapons when it comes to looking good in a hurry? Please share!