Beauty must-haves to get you ready faster in the morning

First, go lighter when you paint your nails. A few thin coats of polish takes a lot less time
to dry than one really thick one. Second, a couple of drops over the top with a quick- drying formula like Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure Dry & Go Drops helps set the wet paint. The dropper means you’re not brushing over the top of your freshly painted nails, so you won’t risk ruining your manicure.

Cleansers that have built-in moisturisers or hydrating oils are the latest must-have for your shower and solve that age-old problem of not having enough time or energy to lather on a body moisturiser after your shower. We love Alpha Keri Supple Skin Shower & Body Oil.

If white stains from your deodorant often cause a last-minute outfit crisis before you leave the house, switch to an anti-mark one like Dove Invisible Dry Roll On, which won’t leave unsightly telltale white signs.

You don’t always need to do a full face of foundation. Instead, a product such as a CC or BB cream that evens out your skin tone will be enough to make you look fresh. Plus, they blend easily on your skin using just your fingers and can also offer added skin care benefits, such as SPF protection. Our pick for best coverage: Physicians Formula Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin CC Colour + Correction Cream.

Letting your hair air-dry instead of having a daily appointment with your dryer not only saves you a huge amount of time, but it can help save your hair from heat damage. Use a moisturising shampoo and conditioner to help hydrate and smooth the cuticle. Then, the trick to preventing your hair from turning into a frizzy mess is choosing the right anti-frizz products for your hair type. For fine hair, you need a lightweight product like Matrix Biolage Cleansing Conditioner Leave-In Treatment for Fine Hair that won’t weigh your fine hair down, such as a leave-in conditioner that’s in a spritz bottle. TOP TIP: Only spray from your mid-lengths to your ends.

For thick hair, a heavier styling product such as a leave-in conditioning cream, mousse and nourishing oils such as argan can help keep your hair soft and will make sure frizz stays at bay. Try John Frieda Frizz Ease Dream Curls Air-Dry Waves.

If you have curly hair, try a thicker product such as a cream or balm that’s specifically formulated for curly hair. We like Make Curly Cream.

Want to know how busy mum Rachael Finch cuts corners in her routine? These are her time-saving beauty tips.

For more beauty hacks from New Idea, head over to newidea.com.au

Main image credit: @mirandakerr