The easy & fast skincare routine for when you're running late Time is precious, but skincare is more so

There are mornings, especially after months of having your alarm switched off, when waking up is more complicated than we think. During REM sleep, we snooze that horrible alarm without even realizing it and wake up with a start, twenty minutes before the time when we’re supposed to already be up and functioning in class or at the office. Skincare is sacred, but on those particular mornings it suddenly feels incredibly skippable. That’s exactly when you need an easy, fast routine with as few steps as possible, designed to save your face when time is running out.

The easy & fast skincare routine for when you’re running late

Cleansing? Not necessary.

The first rule of running-late mornings is: skip everything that can be skipped. If we did a good cleanse the night before, in the morning there’s not necessarily any need to put your skin through another full skincare session. A simple rinse with water, even better if it’s cool so it wakes us up a little more, can be enough. In fact, for those with particularly dry or sensitive skin, skipping cleansing in the morning can help avoid putting additional stress on the skin barrier. If, on the other hand, you’re one of those people who wakes up with an already shiny T-zone, this is one step you shouldn’t skip.

Hydration: non-negotiable.

To avoid ending up with shriveled skin ten minutes after leaving the house, you absolutely need to put something hydrating on. But, again, just the bare minimum: no endless layering of toner, essence, serum, moisturizer and everything else. When we’re running late, the goal is one single product, such as a lightweight moisturizer or a milky toner containing humectant and soothing ingredients. The important thing is to choose a texture that absorbs quickly, especially if we’re going to put on make-up afterward. Needless to say, this is definitely not the time to experiment with new products: since we don’t know how they’ll react with everything we apply afterward, the last thing we want is to end up taking off all our make-up because the cream we just tried started to pill underneath our foundation.

SPF: you already know.

We can cut a few steps, but when it comes to sun protection, there are no compromises. SPF is the one step that, even on mornings when we’ve already put one shoe on while looking for the other, should stay in the routine.

Make-up: only if and where needed

At this point, it’s simply a matter of choices, but above all, of how much time is left. Obviously, forget about the perfect base: when we’re running late, make-up needs to be strategic. Concealer only where needed, a touch of blush or bronzer to add some color to the face, and mascara, which alone can already make the eyes look a little more awake. For the lips, a lip stain with a watery formula that you really can’t mess up: one quick swipe and you’re done. And then remember that trains, subways and trams are places where you can get a thousand things done, including finishing a more elaborate make-up look. Save your time.