15-minute beauty fixes

If your lifestyle pushes you to the limit and there's never any time left over for ‘you', then our fast fixes are just what you need - we promise you'll look groomed and gorgeous in less than 15 minutes!

Speedy skin secrets

To start

Apply a nourishing reparative serum such as Elemental Herbology Cell Food, £37.68 (Space.NK), to help promote radiance.

The new Nivea Visage Natural Beauty Radiance Boosting Moisturiser, £8.79, is a great-value buy and its light-reflective particles will help give skin a youthful sheen.

Fill in lines, albeit temporarily, with Olay Regenerist 30 Second Wrinkle Filler, £24.50. Dot it on fine lines, such as those around the eyes or frown lines, for smoother-looking skin.

www.spacenk.co.uk; www.nivea.co.uk; www.olay.co.uk
 

Tinted moisturiser

Apply tinted moisturiser for sheer coverage with a healthy glow. Our favourites are the new Chanel HydraMax + Active Teinté, £30, Lancôme Aqua Fusion, £23.50, and Clinique Moisture Sheer Tint SPF15, £16.64.

Massage a little oil-based cleansing balm into your face and décolleté, then remove it using a muslin cloth soaked in warm water. The combination of the massage, cleanser and exfoliating cloth will leave you with a rosy glow, says Kristy Goodger, founder of Elemental Herbology.

www.chanel.co.uk; www.lancome.co.uk; www.clinique.co.uk

Mini facial

Give yourself a luxurious mini facial, says Sarah Chapman, celebrity facialist and founder of the Skinesis range. Use Sisley Express Flower Gel Mask, £64.50, all over for one minute and tissue off the excess.Then spritz with Chantecaille Eau de Rose de Mai, £39 (Space.NK) and apply a layer of Skinesis Dynamic Defence Moisturiser, with antioxidants, skin-nourishing oils and an SPF15, £41.11 (Space.NK).

Finally, a dab of blush, such as Benefit Benetint, £22.50, and a slick of gloss, such as Nars Lip Gloss in Frisky Summer, £17, will leave you looking fresh and youthful.

www.chantecaille.com; www.spacenk.co.uk; www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk;

www.narscosmetics.co.uk

Makeup faster class!

Trick: "Use your fingers to slick on clear lip gloss and apply a cream eyeshadow over your lids, blending softly to the browbones," says Janine Bird, head of artistry and education at Prescriptives.

Try: We like the summery Maybelline New York Dream Mousse Eyecolour in Divine Gold, £5.99. Follow with a coat of Prescriptives Lash Envy Mascara, £15.66, or Rimmel Glam'Eyes Lash Flirt, £6.99, to give definition.

www.maybelline.co.uk; www.prescriptives.co.uk; www.rimmellondon.com

Trick: To reduce dark circles and open up your eyes, Janine suggests tapping a tiny bit of concealer on the inside corner of your eyes and blending it in. Brush up your brows to make them look neat and groomed, add a touch of mascara to upper and lower lashes.

Try: Dab on a gloss, such as Lipstick Queen Shine in Gold Saint, £20 (Space.NK), on the centre of your lower lip.

"These quick tricks will lift your face, emphasising your two most important features - your lips and eyes," says international make-up artist Ruby Hammer.

www.spacenk.co.uk

Trick: If your make-up needs a quick refresh, Ruby Hammer advises spritzing on Jurlique Rosewater Balancing Mist, £14, as it makes skin look glowing and dewy. Alternatively, use a cream blusher in a subtle pink, says Max Factor make-up artist Caroline Barnes.

Try: She loves Max Factor Miracle Touch Creamy Blush in Soft Pink, £6.99, as it suits all skin tones and makes your complexion look instantly healthy. Apply it on the apples of your cheeks, where you would flush naturally.

www.jurlique.co.uk; www.maxfactor.co.uk

Trick: Sweep bronzer down from your temples and underneath your cheekbones, says Janine Bird, as this will give an instant lift to your eye area, warm up your complexion and add contour. She also suggests using an eyebrow pencil to fill in gaps in your brows and define the shape.

Try: Try Benefit Instant Brow Pencil, £12.50. For lips, use a lip pencil in a colour similar to your lips: fill the whole area then apply gloss. This gives well-defined lips that look fuller and will last longer. Also great is Huge Lips Skinny Hips Lip Gloss, £18 (Space.NK), which delivers a plumper pout and contains an extract of a plant that's reputedly appetite-suppressing!

www.benefitcosmetics.co.uk; www.spacenk.co.uk

Trick: You won't have time to apply perfect foundation, says Ruby Hammer, so look in the mirror and move your face up and down in the light. Use a concealer where shadows fall, such as around your nose, under your eyes and on your chin. Brush brows, then apply mascara.

Try: It's worth buying a multi-tasking product such as Ruby & Millie Cheek Colour Cream, £12, which you can use as a highlighter, a blusher and to add lip colour. You have ample time to achieve a polished, youthful look, says Caroline Barnes.

www.rubyandmillie.com

Trick: After your moisturiser has settled, she recommends using a primer to smooth the texture of your skin, blur any lines and help your make-up last longer.

Try: We like Laura Mercier Hydrating Foundation Primer, £26.43.

Trick: Apply your foundation with a brush to your T-zone and blend it outwards - this is the quickest way to get beautiful skin, says Caroline Barnes. Follow with translucent powder and powder blusher.

Next, choose an eyeshadow colour with two tones and use the lighter shade on the inside of your eyes and the darker on the outside to give the effect of wider eyes.

Try: Add kohl, such as Estée Lauder Double Wear Stay-in-Place Eye Pencil in Onyx, £14.68, to the outer corners in a V-shape to extend your eyes. Apply two coats of Max Factor Masterpiece Maxx Mascara, £9.78, for longer, fuller lashes.

Finish with a sheer lipstick or gloss. We like Bobbi Brown Shimmer Lip Gloss in Nougat, £13.70, and Estée Lauder Lipstick in Golden Goddess, £15.

www.esteelauder.co.uk; www.maxfactor.co.uk; www.bobbibrown.co.uk

Make skin glow

Get the look in minutes with these skin-enhancing products from L'Oréal Paris, www.loreal.co.uk

1. Derma Genesis Pore Minimising Serum, £15.99, helps smooth fine lines and reduces obvious pores, while the Pore Minimising Smoother, £14.99, plumps and refines skin, leaving a smooth finish.

2. For natural-looking coverage that feels lightweight, try Visible Lift Serum Inside Foundation, £13.99, which also has anti-ageing ingredients.

3. For sparkly eyes, we love Shadow Minerals in Gold, £8.99, then use radiance-boosting Glam Bronze Blusher Duo, £9.99, on cheeks.

4. A quick slick of Colour Riche Shine Gelee, £7.99, on your lips and you're good to go!

Express nails: Top tips

1. "Make sure your nails are clean - dirty nails look so unattractive," says top manicurist Andrea Fulerton. She then suggests you pop some lip balm, such as Dr Hauschka Lip Balm, £9.79, on cuticles to rehydrate them and make nails look healthier. As you rush out the door, rub in some hand cream to make hands softer and more youthful-looking.

2. File all your nails to the same length. "It's surprising how many people don't bother and it automatically stops your nails looking tatty," says Andrea.

3. Buff nails to get a high shine, then use a foundation primer, such as MAC Prep + Prime Face Protect SPF50, £19, on the back of your hands to smooth over lines.

4. Next, paint on a layer of a glossy top coat, such as Nails Inc Albert Bridge Treatment Top Coat, £11, or a nude polish, such as Revlon Nail Enamel in Sheer Mauve, £6.16, to freshen up nails. One coat will dry quickly, or use Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Speed Dry Drops, £6.95. Make this the last thing you do before you leave the house, after you've put on your coat, so your nails can dry on the move.

No time for hair? See our feature on Hair in a hurry - top tips for fast hair fixes whether you've got 10 minutes or only 30 seconds!

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