By: Mackenzie Amore

We’ve all been there. We have a meeting in the morning, and we need to look our best. As we are pulling apart our closet and digging through our makeup case looking for our eyeshadow brush, rushing to get ready, but simply don’t feel put together, it is easy to feel a lack of confidence and frustration to begin the day. Therefore, to avoid this common stress, we have put together a look book of ideas to help you easily plan your next look for your day in the office! 

hair:

Let’s start with hair, as this is the one that causes the most frustration for me in the mornings. There are so many last-minute hairstyles that are my go-tos when I am running late, or do not have the time to perfectly style my hair. 

loose, lazy curls

The first is the loose, lazy curls. This is super easy if you are trying to tame some frizz, or you want to give off the illusion of spending lots of time on your hair. To achieve this look, I spend about 5 minutes just pulling bigger chunks of hair (about a quarter sized amount) and wrapping it around the barrel of my curling wand. This will give you beachy, wavy curls that look beautiful and put together. 

soft, low ponytail

Another one of my favorite styles is a soft, low ponytail. This is perfect for those days you have some fun statement earrings to show off, or you want your hair to appear styled, without the hassle of a curling wand or other heat tools. By tying your hair back, this helps also draw attention to your face and makeup, which could include a bold lip or eyeshadow. 

low bun

Lastly, a fantastic and definitely chic look that I wear the majority of the week, is a sleek low bun or a low bun. This look is fantastic for one you are in a rush! To achieve this style, simply part your hair down the middle and fasten it into a pony and loop it around into a bun. Simple as that. This look is perfect not only for ease, but it is adorable as can be and gives you the perfect corporate girl look! 

makeup:

Now into makeup. It can be easy to try to achieve a beautiful makeup look when you are rushing in the morning. Believe me. However, when it comes to makeup, having a few tips and tricks up your sleeve is crucial to ensuring a perfect look! 

skin care

My first tip of advice is to develop a skincare routine immediately. Before anything, having a quality and healthy skincare regimen will allow for rushed mornings to be much easier. When I am in a rush and don’t have time for a full face of foundation or contour, I skip that step, so having plump, clear skin is one of the ways that I ensure that I will have one less step in my skincare routine. One tip I will give, is to make sure to exfoliate and moisturize at night, so when you wake up in the morning, you will have clear, hydrated skin!

smokey eye

Now onto actual makeup. Having a few “go to” looks for the make-up side of things will help you have a plan of what you will do when it comes to your makeup in the morning. One of the best (and easier) looks to achieve is the neutral smokey eye look. This one consists of a blend of either nude browns/tans or whites/grays. Whichever route you choose, it is super easy to do as it is simply blending lighter in the corner of your eyelids into darker outwards. This look is so perfect for just about any occasion and super simple to achieve! 

colored lip & one tone eye

Another makeup tip I think is super helpful when you are looking to be professional, yet trying to move quickly in the morning is a colored lip and a one toned eyeshadow. This is usually my go-to when I am running late or don’t have a lot of time to get ready. Swiping on one color of eyeshadow with a colorful lip will help draw more attention to the lips and give you a put together look.

mascara

Lastly, if you are in a big rush and simply don’t have a second for any makeup, one of the best tips I follow is mascara and lip gloss. Putting a few swipes of quality, volumizing mascara and a touch of lipstick or gloss, will help give you more of a chic look, without spending more than two minutes to complete! 

attitude:

While attitude is not necessarily a beauty tip, it should be! When it comes to starting off your day looking and feeling confident and beautiful, it all comes down to how you are going to view the day! 

One tip of advice that I always follow is stating affirmations in the mirror to begin my day. These are short phrases to begin your day feeling confident and beautiful. Some of the affirmations that help me start my day with a good attitude are:

–I am going to have a good day.

–I am going to do great things today.

–I will not worry about things I cannot control.

–I am beautiful.

–I am confident.

–I will be positive today.

While you might feel silly stating these to yourself, believe me, they are so effective to making you feel good about yourself and the day ahead.

in conclusion:

Although a day in the office might be stressful and overwhelming when you are trying to look and feel your best, you are going to nail your day! With the help of these tips, you can feel a bit better about getting ready in the morning and looking fabulous. However, it all comes down to realizing no matter how you wear your hair or do your makeup, you are perfect just as you are!

xoxo