HOW TO LOOK BETTER QUICKLY

Here are some simple hacks for how to look better quickly. I’m talking 3 minutes or less people! I also share a bit of food for thought on why you should bother if you plan to stay home all day.

So, you want to look better quickly? Yep – me too. I usually don’t have much time to get myself ready. Regardless of what’s keeping you from taking the time to fully primp, these simple guidelines will work for just about everyone. They’ll take you from frumpy and dumpy to ready to face the world in as little as 3 minutes!

Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Get my full disclosure here.

Looking back in front of me, in the mirror a grin.
Through eyes of love I see. I’m only looking at a friend.
Stevie Ray Vaughan

WHY I NEED TO LOOK BETTER QUICKLY

Some days, while I’m sipping on that first delicious cup of coffee, I start putting around the house and get involved in some sort of project. One thing leads to another, and the day begins to slip away from me. Then maybe I need to run an errand or there’s a knock at the door. Or maybe I just pass by a mirror. I look down and I’m a wreck. No bra. Unbrushed hair in an ugly bun with a scrunchie that looks like it’s from the 80’s. Pajamas on. Stinky breath. Absolutely not presentable. I’ve even pretended not to be home when there was a knock on the door before.

Oh – and of course there are the days when the kids are in grumpy or needy moods and you don’t have the time you need to do your usual morning routine. I know I’m in that boat often. I came up with these guidelines out of this very necessity.

WHY YOU SHOULD TAKE THE TIME TO LOOK BETTER – QUICKLY

Here’s the problem. Often times I’m feeling quite accomplished and on my game taking care of things. But when I look in the mirror, it knocks me down a notch. Instead of feeling like I’m on top of things, I wonder who that is looking back at me! I don’t like how that makes me feel.

Also, no matter how loving and loyal your husband/boyfriend/significant other is, they’re still human. Of course they love us just the way we are. And of course they know how cute we look when we get dolled up to go out. But if they’re in the work force, they’re looking at people all day the way the present themselves to go out. Then they come home and see you (or me) the way we look when we aren’t leaving the house. Research has proven that men are naturally visual beings. I think taking the few minutes to look better – just a few very simple steps – can help you stay on your game as a woman and help keep that spark alive in your relationship.

Each of us has a different threshold for looking in the mirror and feeling good. I’m not saying you need makeup or a certain hairstyle or certain clothes. I’m just suggesting that, whatever it is that makes you feel pulled together, you dedicate that time to yourself so you can feel good the rest of the day. You are beautiful just the way you are. But you’re more beautiful if your brush your teeth, brush your hair, and change out of your jammies.

Here are the steps I take to look better quickly. You can even do these with a whiny kid hanging off your leg – I promise. I know from experience.

PERSONAL HYGIENE

Take a moment to brush your teeth and wash your face. Even if nobody is around to smell your breath – don’t put it off until later. This may not make you look better, but it will make you smell better!
Then make sure you moisturize. Hydrated skin looks so much better than dry skin.
Don’t forget the sunblock! You should be wearing it on your face every. single. day.

GET DRESSED

Time to throw on some clothes. If you don’t already own stretchy comfy clothes that feel like jammies, I highly recommend you invest in some. You will get tons of use out of them. Yes – the stereotype about the homemaker in the black leggings or yoga pants is true. I’m okay with that. Whatever you put on, just make sure it doesn’t smell, doesn’t have major stains or holes, and it is comfortable enough that you won’t be counting the minutes until you can rip it off and get back into your pajamas. Also, make sure you tame the girls and put on a bra. It’s amazing how getting dressed can make you look better.

MAKEUP

If you are somebody who wears makeup on a semi-regular basis, you may want to throw a little on. These are my bare necessities:

Mascara – top and bottom lashes. Make sure you curl ’em if your lashes are straight like mine.
Brows – I usually use a powder, but I have one pencil that I reserve for when I’m in a pinch and need to fill my brows in quickly. It always amazes me how when my brows are on point I feel like I got a mini face lift!
Eyeshadow – if you’re feeling fancy, you can quickly swipe a little medium toned eyeshadow into your crease to define your eyes. Go a touch darker than your skin color, but not so dark that anyone would be sure you were wearing it. If you go too dark, you’ll have to blend and possibly wear even more makeup to complete the look.

The key here is to wear little enough makeup that the rest of your face doesn’t look bare being natural. If you go too dark or too crazy, it will leave other parts of your face looking underdone.

HAIR

Finally, you need to do something really quick and easy with your hair. Of course I live by using dry shampoo! My favorite is by SEBASTIAN. But instead of using it once my hair is already a greasy mess, I prefer to use it as a preventative measure when possible. If you use it before your hair is a greasy mess it ends up feeling less gunky later on.

It’s best if you know what you’re go-to style is so you can execute it quickly. If your hair is really short that may involve a spray bottle. Or maybe you need a flat iron or curling iron just for a few touch ups.

If your hair is medium length or longer, I highly recommend the messy bun. I would like to officially thank the person who made the messy bun a thing. I think it’s super cute, and I love how easy it is to do.

If you don’t already have a messy bun that you love, check out my video at the bottom of this post. I tell you all about the one I love!! It’s so quick and easy.

Hats are also fine, but are better suited for if you’re going out. I’m not one to keep a hat on when I’m home all day.

HOW I LOOK BETTER QUICKLY

Here’s my before and after.

The finished product certainly isn’t runway ready, but I certainly look better than I do in that scary before picture! I’ve got to be honest – it’s really hard for me to put that before picture out here on the internet for anyone and everyone to see. I sure do feel better when I look in the mirror and see the girl on the right as opposed to that hot mess on the left who had just rolled out of bed!

WHEN YOU HAVE TO RUN OUT

The steps above for how to look better are for anytime. But if you have to run out of the house, remember that there are very few things that a good pair of sunglasses and a swipe of lipstick can’t fix. Just remember not to go too bold with the lipstick, or the rest of your face will look naked. The goal is to keep people wondering if your lips are naturally that beautiful. My favorite lipstick is matte so it doesn’t transfer much when you kiss the kids, it’s by MAC so it has a good non-drying formula, and the color looks good on just about everyone. You can find it HERE