Look Sexy in Seconds

Okay, more like minutes. But still, the looks you see here can be pulled off in less time than it takes to boil water. Just follow these timesaving beauty tips for day and night.

Daytime: Soft and Glowy in 6 Minutes
The key is to make your complexion look smooth and even, since it’s what most people notice in broad daylight. Then stick with using the same rosy shade on your eyes, lips, and cheeks to help light up your face. And your hair? All you need is a bobby pin.

2-Minute Face Fix
Instead of applying layers and layers of foundation and blending, which can easily look overdone, just dot concealer over any red areas (like your T zone) or sallow spots (around the eyes). Tap with your finger to help the product melt onto your skin. Powder the rest of your face to even out everything; try a mineral powder that gives you an airbrushed effect with a shot of SPF to keep your skin protected outside. Try: DiorSkin Nude Fresh Glow Powder SPF 10, $42 and MAC Moisturecover Concealer, $15.50

1-Minute Eyebrow Enhancer
Sounds like a small thing, but neat and tidy brows really make a big difference in pulling your look together fast. To make sure you get a nice arch, hold a pencil on a diagonal over your brows (position the tip of the eraser at the base of brows), and tweeze any hairs that fall above and below the pencil. Flip it once you reach midway, and repeat on the other side. We like Tweezerman tweezers, $25.

2-Minute Rosy All Over
Warm the tip of a pink lipstick with a hair dryer for 5 seconds, then swipe it over your lips — the heat melts away any dry flakes and locks the color in place. The color doubles as your cream-based eye shadow and blush: Rub the softened tip over your lids and swirl on the apples of your cheeks, blending with your ring finger for a soft finish. Try Clinique Lipstick in Pink Goddess, $14. Swipe on mascara to finish, like Lancôme Black Carat Mascara, $23.

1-Minute Hair Trick
Okay, the hairstyle you see here only looks like it requires complicated maneuvers. It’s actually simple. Flip your head over, and massage your hair at the roots to bring out tons of natural body. Then twist back a section from your hairline, and bobby-pin it above your ear (or farther back) for an easy, pulled-together style. If you have some flyaways, they’ll only enhance the tousled effect.

Nighttime: Sexy and Smoldering in 7 Minutes
Wearing too much makeup at night is just trying too hard. Besides, no guy has ever thought I wish she were wearing more on her face. Instead, concentrate on using flattering shades that subtly define the features he loves most: your lips and eyes. Then create a quick tousled updo that’s even sexier when it’s coming slightly undone.

1-Minute Glistening Skin
Don’t waste a lot of time on the skin part of your routine; in dim lighting, you need just a swipe of pressed foundation over the T zone and cheeks to look sexy. If you moisten the makeup sponge with a drop of water, it’ll sink in faster for a dewy finish. Dust with translucent powder like Clarins Loose Powder, $34, to set everything in place for hours and minimize any sweat.

3-Minute Lush Lashes and Lids
Take the same powder from above and dust it on your lashes in between coats of mascara to add extra thickness. Next, dot the tip of your mascara wand in between lashes (like you’re dotting the letter i) and rub with a cotton swab to get the illusion of liner without actually having to take the time. Sweep on a dark eye shadow to finish on a sultry note — deep plums and lavenders flatter all skin tones. We like Prescriptives Eye Color Duo in Lily, $26.

2-Minute Nude Lips
Set off your eyes with nude-tone lips. To create a fuller effect, pencil the top half of your lips with a flesh-color liner, rub clear gloss on the bottom, then press your lips together. This transfers the liner perfectly (like a Xerox!) from top to bottom so your pout has more symmetry — and definition — to it. A good combo: Wet n Wild Lip Tint in Crystal Mint, $5.99 and Shiseido Lip Pencil in Anemone, $20.

1-Minute Tousled Updo
For some low-key glamour, rub the plates of your flatiron with a tiny bit of olive oil, then quickly run the iron down the front pieces of your hair — that’s where most people look, since they’re by your face — and pull up the rest into a messy bun. The olive oil adds a hint of shine but is lightweight enough not to weigh down hair or make it greasy. Conair Wet/Dry Straightener, $44.99 gets the job done in a flash.

HAVE TIME TO SPARE? SCORE SPARKLY STRANDS!
Add a pinch of loose gold eye shadow (try L’Oréal Paris HIP Shadow in Progressive, $12) to your bottle of hair detangler (like VO5 Detangle and Shine Leave-In Conditioner, $3.99). Shake it up, and spray it all over for a soft glimmer that won’t turn sticky.

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