Main featured image via Rixo

Some days start off in a rush – whether you’ve overslept, are late for the bus, or you’re working away at home in your Stormzy t-shirt and bed hair (just me?) when you realise you have a smart Zoom to attend (in my job this is often a legendary hair stylist or make-up expert, so this is not ideal). Equally, you might just be generally quick and casual with your make-up – and all power to you. We are definitely on for mastering that five-minute face-the-world face. After all that time when we didn’t see anyone at all, it’s easy to get out of the habit of a quick turnaround.

So what do you reach for as you’re running out the door, on the bus or about to hit “Join Meeting” button? We all have our emergency instant wake-up calls – here are some of mine …

1 Lip to Cheek

Mascara or lipstick first? They’re two things that can make you feel more “dressed” and instantly brighten up your face. For me lipstick is always first. The N°1 de Chanel lip and cheek tints are outrageously beautiful – I recommend the red one to anyone who’s always wanted to wear red lipstick but has stayed safe with pinks. The colour is balmy, subtle and buildable, you only need a tiny bit each time, plus you dab the excess onto cheeks for a healthy-looking glow. Fast, fabulous make-up, €45. Another option is Charlotte Tilbury Lip & Cheek Glow – the little golden compact is in the on-the-go make-up bags of several beauty writers, including mine and Louise McSharry’s (we did a make-up bag spill at an event recently) – the colour is very subtle but very flattering and definitely on-the-bus type make-up. €39.

2 Hair fix

Dry shampoo is a last-minute saviour for many, especially if your hair tends to get greasy or dull – it depends on your hair type. I’d be more likely to reach for a hair oil to smooth hair out a bit, or Sam McKnight’s Cool Girl Texture Spray, in an attempt to make dishevelled look artful and intended (from €11.30, www.cultbeauty.com). The Dyson Coralle is the next best thing to a pro blowdry, and was a saviour during lockdown for smoothing and waving hair, fast. My key tip for this month is using the new Olaplex No9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum on towel-dried hair then leaving hair to air-dry – you get lovely soft waves without any effort at all. €27.50 at www.thebeautykit.com. 

3 Skin Glow

Frequently getting ready in a very short time, I tend to clean and prep skin rather than pile on a load of make-up – a glow-getting moisturiser (Sunday Riley Ice is a favourite) plus concealer seems to work better than a rushed full cover-up attempt. There are loads of great primers around now that make your skin look glowier and healthier in a second. I’m especially into YSL Nu Bare Skin Tint at the moment – it gives just a bit of the sheerest cover and just makes your skin look better. Plus it’s a light 30ml tube so ideal for taking in your travel bag too. In my opinion it’s the best thing YSL Beauty have done in years. €32, at Brown Thomas and Arnotts. Other options are Vieve Skin Nova (€35) and Luna Airbrush 3 in 1 Primer, Highlighter and Tint, €22.

4 News Flash

Clarins Beauty Flash Balm was the original and best quick-fix, first created 40 years ago and now reformulated. If your skin is tired or a bit dry, this is an instant reviver – the original and best, and now even better, featuring the latest version of Clarins’ plant-based anti-pollution complex (plus a new look). €40, at pharmacies nationwide. There’s now a Beauty Flash Balm Peel and Resculpting Flash Roller tool to use alongside it.

5 Fast & Luxurious

The Westman Atelier range (at Brown Thomas Dundrum) offers a glamorous (and vegan) route to getting ready fast or on the go: everything is small and neat with magnetised lids and you just swipe on and go. Baby Cheeks Blush Stick (€52) for example is so easy to dab on with its soft, glowy and melt-in texture. Meanwhile, the brand-new Bonne Brow Defining Pencil has both colour and a spoolie to fill and shape. €40.