Tried and Tested Time-Saving Beauty Hacks

Time is of the essence!

I don't have a 9-to-5 type of job but I'm constantly working on several projects simultaneously, so having good time management skills is really important! I allocate time to myself every day to focus on taking care of my skin and general wellbeing. But often times, that "me" time is way less than I'd hope for.

If you're like me and wish there are more than 24 hours a day, then I believe you'd appreciate these tried and tested time-saving beauty hacks:

Say Hello to a Hair Turban by Aquis

Okay, blowdrying my long hair has always taken the longest time in the morning, so I've tried various things to tackle this time-consuming task. Recently, I came across something that is amazingly efficient at saving me precious time: The Aquis Hair Turban!

These turbans have replaced my hair towels. They're made of an innovative fabric called Aquitex, which is woven from ultrafine fibers with superior moisture-wicking capabilities. They're gentle on your hair so it doesn't cause your hair to frizz. What I really love about it is how well it stays, thanks to the thoughtful button loop closure design!

The turban has cut down my blowdrying time from 35 minutes to about 15 minutes! Now I spend the extra time on making myself a nice breakfast, picking out an outfit, or reading the news. Sometimes, I simply wake up 20 minutes later!

The hair turban stays on really well and allows me to carry on with other tasks. Photo by Ashley Gallerani.

Taking my time to pick out my outfit! Photo by Ashley Gallerani.

Use a Hair Brush Dryer

For as long as I can remember, I've been using Panasonic's hairdryer that comes with a brush head. It allows me to style my hair while blow-drying it at the same time, and nothing has been as easy and fast. If I can only bring one hair tool with me, this would be it.

Opt For Multi-Purpose Beauty Products

I love using skincare products that are designed to be multifunctional. Some examples include my favorite Milk Jelly Cleanser from Glossier, a makeup remover that doubles as a face wash, and Drybar's Triple Sec 3-in-1, a volumizer, texturizer, and dry shampoo all in one.

I've also started using Chanel's Lip Blush recently; it is a fabulous 2-in-1 lip and cheek blush, and I especially love the color No. 416 in Teasing Pink. And in the morning, I like to use face creams with SPF or foundations with SPF to avoid having to add another layer of sunscreen.

Utilize Your Sleep Time

Yes, you read that right! You can actually do a lot while you sleep without disturbing your rest. I don't always have time to go for a "deluxe pedicure" to beautify cracked heels, so I like to use these floral-shaped heel patch gel sheets by Lion that help moisturize my dry heels overnight! The way they've designed the sheets with four "petals" makes them stay on your heels very well!

I'm also a big fan of using sleeping masks that work like any other night cream. Erno Laszlo's Hydra-Therapy Memory Sleep Mask and the Ibuki Beauty Sleeping Mask by Shiseido are my two current go-to's.

Get Eyelash Extensions

I got eyelash extensions done in preparation for New York Fashion Week this season. I've gotten them done before, but it was this time during a really busy few days when I realized how convenient it has been for me. I was able to leave the house without needing to do a lot of eye makeup because the lashes give the illusion that I have eyeliner on already!