Your 15 minute makeup transformation to take you from your office to your New Year’s Eve party

We’ve all been there: a meeting or conference call that takes longer than it should, leaving you to get ready for happy hour drinks in ten minutes. And with the festive season upon us, the chances of us going from office to cocktails or a dinner party is even higher.

And even if you can’t get a last minute appointment at your favourite salon for a fresh blowout and a quick touchup, there are some tweaks you can make to your makeup right at your desk. Here, six ways you can transform your makeup in less than fifteen minutes:

Photo: Instagram/ imjennim

Estimated time taken: 5 minutes

After a long day at work, it’s likely your makeup doesn’t look completely like what it did at eight in the morning. Whether you have dry or oily skin, refresh your makeup with a few spritzes of a hydrating face mist like Saturday Skin’s Daily Dew Hydrating Essence Mist, $48 for 130ml. Packed with fruit extracts, this antioxidant-rich mist gives an instant hydration boost to your skin.

If your skin is dry, all you have to do is dab at areas where makeup might have cracked and sank into fine lines, and your makeup looks good as new. Or if you have oily skin, it rebalances moisture levels and revives makeup that might have become dull due to oxidation.

ALSO READ: OUR BEAUTY EDITORS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THESE LAUNCHES IN 2019

Estimated time taken: 5 minutes

It’s also good to keep a stick foundation or concealer on hand so you can easily slick on more product where you need extra coverage for flawless complexion.

We love Clé de Peau Beauté Concealer, $105, which is pigment packed and has a creamy texture which glides over skin and blends seamlessly.

ALSO READ: THE BEST STORAGE IDEAS TO SHOWCASE YOUR BEAUTY STASH

Estimated time taken: 3 minutes

Who doesn’t love a good wing-tipped liner? Whether you’re going for a subtle flick that lifts your features or a graphic stroke to make a bold statement, the wing-tipped liner look is one of the easiest way to transform your makeup almost instantly. We like K-Palette’s Real Strong Waterproof Eyeliner, $21.90. Made of jet-black pigments, the effect is dramatic with every stroke and the formula also repels sweat and humidity for budge-proof wear of up to 24 hours.

And thanks to its unique delivery mechanism, the eyeliner fluid flows out evenly and smoothly. To keep your hand stable, rest your elbow on your table so that the application is smooth.

And keep some q-tips on hand in case you need to clean up unevenness during application. Practice makes perfect, so once you get the hang of it, this should take you under five minutes to master the art of the perfect eyeliner.

ALSO READ: OUR BEAUTY EDITORS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THESE LAUNCHES IN 2019

Estimated time taken: 3 minutes

Another way to draw attention to your eyes is to be generous with mascara. For maximum impact, prime your lashes with a thickening base like Dior’s Diorshow Maximizer 3D, $54. Apply directly onto bare lashes, wait about 30 seconds for it to set before following with your regular mascara.

It features a revolutionary air-whipped texture that coats each individual lash to increase lash density without weighing them down. Plus, it also contains conditioning ingredients to keep lashes supple.

ALSO READ: THE BEST STORAGE IDEAS TO SHOWCASE YOUR BEAUTY STASH

Estimated time taken: 3 minutes

As for mascara, try Marc Jacobs Beauty Velvet Noir Major Volume Mascara, $44. It maximises lash volume and intensity, thanks to the weightless formula which contains super concentrated black pigments. The applicator also has a unique hourglass shape which reaches tiny lashes at the corners of the eye for all-out drama.

ALSO READ: OUR BEAUTY EDITORS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THESE LAUNCHES IN 2019

Estimated time taken: 1 minute

What’s a night of merrymaking if there’s no glitter involved? Regardless of whether you’re going all out or just adding a touch of sparkle, nothing represents the festive season better than glimmering lids. For easy blending, try a cream textured one like Hourglass Scattered Light Glitter Eyeshadow, $48.

Made of multi-faceted pearl pigments that reflect light differently at every angle, it glides across lids seamlessly and sets into a velvety powder finish that has a prismatic finish. Dab onto the centre of your lids for added dimension or onto the inner corners of your eyes to brighten your overall look.

ALSO READ: THE BEST STORAGE IDEAS TO SHOWCASE YOUR BEAUTY STASH

Estimated time taken: 2 minutes

If a smoky eye look doesn’t make transform your makeup from day to night, we don’t know what else does. Which is why we always carry one or two Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick Eye Colour, $49 each, in our purse. Not only are they convenient to carry around, every Caviar Stick has a creamy texture that glides easily onto lids—just apply near the lash line and blend with your fingertips.

Plus, once the formula sets, it is guaranteed to stay put all night long so you don’t have to worry about smudging, fading or creasing. Laura Mercier’s Caviar Stick Eye Colours come in a wide range of colours and are available in either matte and shimmer finishes so you’ll definitely find something that suits you.

ALSO READ: OUR BEAUTY EDITORS ARE EXCITED ABOUT THESE LAUNCHES IN 2019

Estimated Time Taken: 1 minute

One of the easiest way to switch up your looks, a single swipe of a new lip colour and your entire look is updated. Trade your neutral lipstick in for a classic red lip for instant glamour even if you’re pressed for time. Try Clarins Joli Rouge Velvet in 742 Joli Rouge, $40.

Even though it gives a velvety matte finish, the texture is lightweight and conditioning, thanks to nourishing butters. This shade is also a neutral red that works for most skin tones.

ALSO READ: THE BEST STORAGE IDEAS TO SHOWCASE YOUR BEAUTY STASH