There is nothing worse than being faced with impromptu after-work plans. Well of course the plans themselves are often very nice indeed but if you’ve been in the same clothes and makeup since 7am, the thoughts of going out without a bit of a ‘freshening up’ can be unappealing. That’s why it’s always handy to keep a few office beauty essentials in your desk drawer both for sorting out appearance problems during the day and vamping yourself up for after-work partying!
Your problem?
If your face is a bit on the shiny side by 3pm, Bloom Facial Blotting Tissues, $8, will do the trick. If your foundation is holding up well and you just want to sort our your eye makeup, something like Almay Oil Free Eye Makeup Remover Pads, $19.95, are a mess-free way to create a fresh canvas to attack with eyeliner and mascara. If, however, your makeup hasn’t lasted beyond lunchtime, it’s often better to just start from scratch. One of the handiest inventions of recent years, instant cleansing wipes (good quality ones that is) will get rid of makeup and grime in one fell swoop. While they’re not really ideal for everyday use, they’re a godsend to have on standby and when traveling. Payot 3-in-1 Cleansing Wipes, $29, are an alcohol-free option and tone the skin as well as cleaning it.
A spot zapper is useful too as blemishes always seem to know when you have a big day or night ahead. A tinted treatment such as Clearasil Tinted Pimple Treatment Cream, $9.45, will get to work on the offending item straight away, without covering the area in a gunky cream that shouts, ‘Hey, I have a spot’!
Hair raising!
Hair can also fall prey to all sorts of disasters during the day. Keep a small hairbrush such as Hairs & Graces Pad Brush, $14.95, in the drawer for a quick fix up. A hair gel or styling wax like Rusk Being Undressed Hair Gloss, $ 7.95, is great for adding a bit of definition. If an attack of the frizzies hits, it’s good to have a smoothing gloss serum like Sebastian Laminate Drops, $38, to hand. It’ll last for ages too, as you only need the smallest amount to smooth out the most severe frizz.
Nail it
If there’s a chipping crisis where nail polish is concerned, the expert advice is to start afresh. Don’t try to patch up chips with a blob of polish. It can end up looking thick and obvious and in many cases will just make it all worse. Handy spill proof, pre-soaked pads like Mavala Nail Polish Remover Pads, $7.95, make swift work of removing old polish. If you have neither the time nor inclination to start the whole job over again, just use a dollop of hand cream (rub it in around the cuticles too) and then use a good nail buffer to buff nails to a healthy shine in seconds.
What else?
Keep a bronzer or glittering body lotion in your office drawer too, so even if you’re heading out in your work clothes, you can feel a bit glammed up. A spray one such as Modelco Airbrush Shimmer (which comes as part of mini kit), $38, is even faster and easier to use than a cream version.
Other basics you should keep in your desk include a lip balm to sort out chapped and dry lips such as Blistex Daily Conditioning Therapy, $4.95, and a couple of non-makeup related miracle workers. Scholl’s Party Feet Invisible Gel Blister Plasters, $12.95, can help to make even the most uncomfortable shoes bearable while the ingenious Tapeits, $19.95, are a bit of a lifesaver for fashion disasters. Essentially, they are little individual strips of double-sided tape which can keep necklines, bra straps and even rogue shoe straps in check.
You’ll be ready for anything!
