Low-maintenance beauty hacks for 2022

Like many of us tied up in the rush of the modern world, I’ve caught myself saying one phrase more times than I can count. “I don’t have time,” has become something of a mantra for me, as if the white rabbit from Alice’s wonderland is constantly staring me down.

Maybe you feel the same. Maybe like me, you admire those people who seem to work 4 full-time jobs, have a soccer team of kids, dogs or other responsibilities and still never fail to look done up at the highest level.

But the truth is, the balance between everything we have to do and everything we want to do isn’t an even spread for everyone, and sometimes that zest just isn’t there to go sit at a salon for an entire day. This is more than okay. Adulthood is so much about exchanging one joy for another, and choosing to wind down instead of racing to beautify yourself isn’t something you ever need to feel guilty about –no matter how many times people tell you that if you aren’t committed to runway presentation you’re failing in some way. You’re not!

There are all kinds of self-love.

There is a way to merge the two worlds, and there are lots of little ways to capitalise on beauty tips that aren’t demanding of the most precious thing – time.

Here are 5 low-maintenance beauty tips to keep in your back pocket in 2022

1. Direct your energy to your crowning glory

 

You’ve heard it before – your hair is your crowning glory. If you’re going to use your beauty efforts somewhere, start at the top.

Make the time to get your hair done, and choose an option that will be easy to maintain, not just one that wooed you on social media and would require constant missions to the salon.

The more you have done, the more you have to maintain. Yes, this means you may have to give up bleaching, relaxing your hair or getting your curls straightened, but in the end enhancing your natural hair will save you so much time. Especially when it comes to regrowth, try to find a highlighting option that will flow like a river of good hair.

Rather spend the time on a style or shades that will last you longer, and follow up with all the necessary products you can use at home to keep your mane giving its best.

Tips: Hair accents (the baby clips, banana clips and braid jewels or beads can give your hair that little punch of effortlessness but enticing).

2. Don’t neglect your canvas

As for your skin – radiant, dewy and natural looks are what everyone is after. It’s a great breath of fresh air for everyone who’s over putting on a full face every day, but if we’re being honest, the ‘clean girl aesthetic’, as natural as it seems, is a little unrealistic for a lot of people.

This particular aesthetic has taken over the world like an overbearing advertisement for field-frolicking, but it is right about one thing – your skin needs more natural and routine love. What it gatekeeps though, is that people are still using products, just less.

Put the time in to do your skincare at least nightly. If you don’t want to do a 10-step process, then opt for the four golden rules. Wash your face, take off your makeup (my grandmother swore by this one and her skin glowed well into her 80s) use toner and moisturizer. This is also Zendaya’s skincare routine, and the results don’t lie.

The biggest rule of all, wear sunscreen like your life depends on it.

Of course, if your skin needs more attention, don’t ignore it and speak to an expert. The goal here is to allocate your time effectively to what desires that time the most.

All in all, the more your natural skin plays its part, the less products you’ll need to use, or want to, on a daily basis.

3. Choose your fighter makeup edition

If you’re not after an all-natural face, these are my top fighters for a low-maintenance makeup look:

1. A blurred lip goes a long way

@chloemorello Blurred lip tips 💄 #blurredlips #blottedlips #blottedlip #makeuptips #lipstickhacks 💋 wearing #saiebeauty ♬ Juicy – Doja Cat

We all know the difference just a bold lip can make without the extra pizazz. The stained or blurred lip trends are perfect to capitalise on for a lip that’s blushed with colour, without having to worry about a dramatic retouch.

2. Line your waterline with white eyeliner and highlight your inner corners

This will make you look 10 times more awake and creates the doe-eye look, perfect for daytime duties.

3. Bold eyelashes don’t need to fly 

An eyelash lift can last for up to six weeks so it’s a no-brainer for that “yes my eyelashes always understand the assignment” look. For mascara foxes, you can make your eyes bolder by moving the bristle side-to-side instead of up and down. Fake lashes are always fun, but sometimes having lashes that could fly you across the country don’t always work without all the extra glam. Hence, for your daily looks, keep a length that gives natural flutters.

 

4. Highlighter. Always.

The difference between a dull face and one that glows is our twinkling friend, highlighter. Add to the tip of your nose, cheekbones and cupid’s bow for that golden charm. Make sure your highlighter compliments your skin tone because after all, that’s what we’re enhancing.

4. Minimalist nails (that aren’t boring) meet feature rings

If you love having your nails done but time isn’t on your side, the best hack is to focus on pops of colour accents with minimalist polishes.

Keep the shape of your nail and opt for the rainbow French manicure (a 2022 favourite) or select one colour to top off your tips, complimented by a nude polish.

You can get away with a longer nail regrowth if you love putting on tips, and you can also easily do this nail look at home (especially if you’re going to go with one strong colour accent).

Have a little more fun and glaze your nails doughnut style if you like.

Lastly, rings are the subtle treasures that make all the difference. If you’re a maximalist, adorn your fingers with your favourite vibrant rings with a nail look that’s easy to keep up with.

5. Brushed brows triumph lining

As a teenager I learned the power of the eyebrow. Back then, everyone was obsessed with overlining and investing in very bold brows (the beauty world was still making contouring sound like you’d be committing an unforgiveable sin for not baking) but the looks I always liked were brows that understood they were eyebrows and not Nike’s logo.

A little brow gel and a brush upward can lift your entire face, as well as, soften it. The best part? it takes a fraction of time that excessive lining and correcting could never compete with. Not everyone’s brows will agree, but luckily many do.

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Feature Image: @zendaya/Instagram