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Time-Saving Routines for a Good Morning

Andrea Pyros
Posted on Jan 28, 2011

Though most adults are morning people, it doesn’t mean that mornings can’t still be tough, from missing keys to left-behind yoga gear to the occasional spilled latte. We all would appreciate a few extra minutes in the morning, to make sure we are facing the day looking pulled together.

Here’s how to make it work:

Plan Your Wardrobe

Christina Anderson, Online Fashion Editor at Lucky Magazine, makes the classic move of laying out her outfit the night before. “I do this because I have two kids and there is no time in the morning for sartorial wavering. The night before, I lay out everything—even my underwear and shoes—and steam whatever is wrinkled to make sure it’s ready to go.” We recommend that you plan a day ahead, and if possible, a week in advance. Check the weather forecast and consider your events for the week. If you can work a few key pieces throughout the week, all the better to simplify your routine. And this way, you won’t be stuck discovering you need dry cleaning last minute, or wishing you’d saved a great dress for a work party Thursday night when you already wore it to a meeting on Tuesday.

Think Beauty and Accessories

We’re big believers in experimenting with beauty and accessories to constantly keep looks interesting. Basic foundational wardrobe pieces like a black shift or jeans and a grey cashmere sweater can look completely different if you change up your accessories, makeup, and hair–and reworking the latter can take a lot less brainwork in the morning than putting together a whole new outfit.  Our friends in fashion have been known to wear the same dress or top a couple times a week–but when they’re sporting a sleek ponytail with scarlet red matte lips one day, and shimmery eyes with a bejeweled statement necklace the next, no one’s noticing the clothes.  If you like to dress to your mood, leave the last few minutes of your morning to play with some accessories and see how they take your look in the direction you want for the day.

5-Minute Makeup Routine

We spoke to Trae Bodge, makeup artist, author, and co-founder of Three Custom Color Specialists, who laid out a quick morning makeup routine. First, make sure that your makeup collection is up-to-date. Then, get your morning routine down:


Moisturize face and eye area (remember to use SPF), and let it dry for at least two minutes before applying makeup.  Use this time to throw on your clothes.
Expert Pick: Neutrogena Ageless Restoratives Anti-Oxidant Moisture


Use a creamy concealer, preferably a versatile one that can be used all over the face. Put it around the eyes, nose, and any other areas that require concealing.
Expert Pick: Three Custom Color Specialists Cream Concealer Foundation


Set with a translucent powder.
Expert Pick: Maybelline Mineral Powder Foundation, Translucent


Brighten cheeks and lips with a multi-functional tint.
Expert Pick: Any of 100% Pure peachy tints


Apply a neutral shadow from upper lashes to brow bone.
Expert Pick: Eye Shadow – Jemma Kidd “Elle” or “Vogue”


Run a soft liner pencil along the outer two-thirds of your lash line.
Expert Pick: Eye Liner – Clinique “Egyptian” or “Black Diamond”


Apply one or two coats of mascara.
Expert Pick: Mascara – Almay One Coat in “Black” or “Black/Brown”

 

Work your eye and lip color with your accessories and look for the day.  Grab your keys, phone, wallet, bag, and you’re out the door and set to conquer the world.  At least, until tomorrow morning.

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  • Caroline

    I really love these simple and easy to follow tips…LearnVest you make my day!

    • http://twitter.com/alexavontobel alexavontobel

      I needed this email this morning BEFORE I came to work! ha, thanks LearnVest, agree with Caroline, this made my day!

  • http://www.losingweightinthecity.com theodorable

    This adult is certainly NOT a morning person!

  • Christy Purington

    It’s really unfortunate that such a smart website panders to the fact that its readers are chicks. When I saw this article’s title, I was stoked. I thought there would be some intelligent, creative tips to starting the morning rightu2014like responding to the 5 most important emails in my inbox before my first cup of coffee, or balancing my checkbook before bed. Instead, LearnVest told me to “lay out [my] outfit” and offered 7 tips on applying makeup. Huh? If I was looking for that kind of advice, I would have headed to Glamour’s homepage, not what I thought was an innovative service helping me to plan my financial future. LV really missed the mark on this one. Treat your readers like the bright, driven women they are, please.

    • http://twitter.com/rburger11 Rachel Burger

      I agree completely. I think the majority of my morning isn’t putting on make up (really??)–it’s showering and eating breakfast. Plus, let’s be real. Who honestly plans their wardrobe a week in advance? Anybody?

  • mo

    Breakfast, anybody?

  • maguita74

    Are you kidding me? I am a woman and for me, even if this was a site exclusively for fashion and “girly” stuff, this is definitely dumb . My normal morning consist of shower, get dressed, apply basics like moisturizer, deodorant and perfume; bagging my lunch and head out. Sometimes, if I am lucky get breakfast at home. If not, get it on the go. Apply make up? Usually does not happen. And, please, put it as the main part of your day because God forbid people see you in your “natural” state is just dumb. Not all women are so concerned about this. I agree with ChristyP, go to Glamour or something. Here I am looking to get ideas for my money or more money related tips.

  • rp

    no bagged lunch, reusable bottle of water, or breakfast? come on, learnvest, you can do better.

  • David

    I’m with Christy and the others who felt that your morning routine was so much purile nonsense. At first I wasn’t sure whether I’d stumbled into the website for Cosmo or Junior Miss. What’s next, something on prom dresses or how to catch the eye of that cute guy in freshman English?

  • Katrina

    I too agree how dumb this is! Although I do check the weather every night to plan for tomorrow’s outfit. I’ll share some of my morning time saving tips and I hope the other readers do as well.n1) I prepare my coffee at night. As soon as I wake up it’s as simple as heading to the kitchen and pushing the on button (or timer for those with fancier units than mine)n2) I love eating a healthy breakfast. I’m a big fan of veggie scrambles so I chop the vegetables ahead of time. Also, I’ll make breakfast casseroles sometimes and I can just heat up a piece in the morning and go on my way.n3) Same goes for lunches. Cook bigger portions and space them throughout the week.n4) Leave 5 minutes earlier than needed for your commute. It’s a nice cushion for those mornings when you just can’t get out of the house. And if you’re early to work you can have a few minutes to yourself.n5) For those with decent enough hair try showering at night. A splash of water on my face in the morning wakes me up just fine.n6) It’s a cold winter in the midwest for me, so starting the car early has been a must. I run outside 5-10 minutes before I need to leave. That leaves me plenty of time to come back in the house to brush my teeth, fill my coffee cup and suit up for the cold outdoors. No shivering in the car and waiting to see out the windows necessary!nnI know some of these are pretty simple, but I hope they help someone!