Fresh and flattering swaps to lighten up your beauty routine

Once upon a time, it was only natural that, after a long break, you'd get back to business like you never left. The return to our workspaces two and a half years into a pandemic, however, is uncharted territory — for both us and our beauty routines. 

Some of us exchanged our hair and makeup habits for elevated skincare regimens, and many grew accustomed to bare faces. Consequently, the subtle appeal of minimalist two-in-one products, tinted sunscreens and sleek Olaplex buns may still make a pre-pandemic full face of makeup and a done-up 'do seem foreign. But low-effort techniques can still deliver high-impact results. 

With the help of Canadian beauty experts, who chimed in over email, here are five fresh and foolproof ways to update your back-to-work beauty routines, from easy brows to messy buns turned workplace chic. 

If you went heavy on foundation coverage, try subtle skin that can breathe

After spending many a day makeup-free, slicking your face with heavy full-coverage foundation again may not sound ideal. To find a balance between natural-looking skin and a blemish-free canvas, try a no-makeup makeup look. "The key is using a base with minimal coverage, like a tinted moisturizer all over the face, and then going in with a concealer where additional coverage is needed, like under the eyes, around the nose and on any blemishes" said Alana Alper, one half of the hair and makeup artist duo the Alper Sisters. Her pro tip? "Hydrating your skin before is super important to achieve a flawless base as it helps your makeup apply best."

If you went for bold brows, try brushed-up brows

Gone are the days of blocky, bold, heavily filled-in brows. But, luckily, the current brushed-up brow trend is surprisingly easy to achieve. "The key to a bushy brow is a strong-hold brow gel," said Alana (but hair gel or hair spray will also work, she added). "Brush your brows up and lightly fill in any gaps if needed. Then, apply your gel while brushing your brow hairs in the desired direction." The quick technique will lightly tame and sculpt your natural brows. It looks effortless — and almost is.

If you loved a sharp cat eye, try a smoked-out liner

A signature cat eye will forever be classic, but we don't always have the time to create two perfectly sharp and symmetrical lines. Instead, a smoked-out liner proves to be a manageable alternative. "Start by wrapping a neutral-toned eyeshadow around the eye with a dense, pencil-shaped brush," said Matthew King, who's a Toronto-based freelance makeup artist and the assistant manager of content creation and consumer engagement at MAC Cosmetics Canada. "Don't worry about precision — keep it blended and diffused." Follow this up with an eye pencil near the upper and lower lashline. "Go for formulas that don't dry down super quickly and allow for some play time," he suggested. Then, soften the edges of the liner with the same pencil-shaped brush, keeping it darkest at the outer corner as you blend to near nothing inwards. "Finish off with your go-to mascara for an eye-defining look that won't take longer than five minutes," King said.

If you broke the bank on your routine, try multi-use products 

The price of a full face of makeup can rack up hundreds, but multi-use products can cut the cost of your routine and simplify it significantly. To replicate King's monochromatic look and to add a pop of colour to any minimal base, reach for a blendable lip product for multi-functional magic. "Apply a small dot of product on a clean fingertip, then tap and blend across cheeks and lips for a sheer veil of colour," King said. "A little goes a long way, so start slow," he added. "Keep the colour angled upwards on the cheekbones for a lifted effect, or bring it lower to the apples of the cheeks for a flushed look." Complete the look with a lip liner for extra definition. Two steps completed with one product? We'll take it. 

If you used heat on your hair, try a messy bun dressed up 

If you've been lacking the motivation to paint a full face of makeup, then hair styling may add to the list of already daunting tasks. Hair expert and second half of the Alper Sisters duo Maddie Alper explains how to easily create a messy bun that doubles as an office updo. "A messy bun is a great way to revamp your hair without having to wash it," Maddie said. "The natural oils will actually help you achieve the snatched look." Begin this style by saturating the roots with hairspray in sections and brushing the hair up into a high pony. "Spray the lengths and ends of your hair with dry shampoo or texture spray, giving your hair some body and grip and tie it into a simple braid and secure the end," she explained. Lastly, wrap the braid into a bun and pin to secure it. Pulling out pieces of hair near the ear and hairline, as Maddie recommends, can take your look from a sophisticated work-week bun to a casual Friday look. 

Lauren Knowles is a Bahamian born writer based in Toronto. A recent journalism and fashion studies graduate, she aims to create purposeful work through the lens of fashion and beauty.