7 Multi-Use Products For People With Zero Time

We all know the far too familiar feeling – telling ourselves that we’ll wake up early and create the perfect face of makeup, but when the alarm goes off in the morning, it’s just a completely different story. Trust me, I love nothing more than an out-there makeup look on the weekend, but when it comes to my mid-week routine, time is of the essence. I’ve become a master at shaving the minutes off my get ready time and that’s down to multi-use products – beauty gems that can be used on lips, cheeks, face, legs and anywhere else really. Plus, having more multi-use products means less space is needed to store them all – ideal for if you’re frantically doing your makeup on the tram, train or at your desk. Feeling convinced? Check out our BEAUTY BAY round up of multi-use products below.

Trust me when I say that this little bottle is never leaving my makeup bag… ever. I need a lifetime supply of it because it’s just that good. The Rays For Days Natural Bronzer Serum has so many uses and is literally a life-giver to your skin. Mix it in with your moisturiser or foundation for a natural, all-over bronzed glow, use on the cheeks as a bronzer or highlighter or as a tan enhancer on the rest of your body. It’s the perfect balance of glowy but not glittery, and makes you look like you’ve just spent a day on the beach. Infused with Kakadu plum (which holds the highest natural source of Vitamin C) it also helps to protect your skin from pollutants and free radicals. Heaven in a bottle.

Suva Beauty Hydra FX liners are the secret to making you look like you’ve put a lot more effort into your makeup look than you actually have. These innovative water-activated beauty paints give a solid slick of coloured liner in seconds. Perfect for nailing the bright eye trend, these liners are super easy to apply, quick-drying and look amazing. Not just reserved for creating bright wings, these cake liners can also be applied to lashes, as a full block of colour on the eye, and can be used as face and body paint for fancy dress and festivals. My personal fave is Acid Trip thanks to its UV glow and neon vibe. Once you’ve tried one, you’ll want them all.

Liquid Crystals are one of our latest By BEAUTY BAY launches and there’s a reason why they keep selling out. These sparkly liquid eyeshadows have more uses than just what it says on the tin. The super pigmented, creamy formula can be used all over the lid for a full eyeshadow look, blended out for a more subtle glittery vibe, and can even be used as face and body highlighter for an out of this world glow. The cute packaging and crystal-inspired names make them some of the prettiest, and hardworking products in your beauty bag.

Linda Hallberg Cosmetics are known for being good quality, forward-thinking and multi-tasking. One of our faves is the Fantasticks – a soft, creamy stick that can be used on the lips and cheeks. We love a monochromatic makeup look and these lip and cheek tints make that so easy, no matter how little time you have. The hydrating, glossy texture comes in a range of shades that give your lips and cheeks a luminous glow and can be layered for more intense colour payoff. Oh, and they’re SPF 15 as well – even better!

Perhaps one of the biggest MUA not-so-secret secrets is this coveted French beauty fave. The Embryolisse Lait Crème Concentre is traditionally used as a moisturiser which helps to soothe and soften most skin types, thanks to it’s rich formula that is packed with fatty acids and vitamins that work to protect the skin. But this wonder tube has so many different uses to help shorten your routine. This fuss-free formula can be used as a primer, makeup remover, cleanser, treatment mask, and you can even mix it with your foundation for a more sheer and hydrating finish. It doesn’t leave your skin feeling greasy, but instead it’s dewy and fresh. In the words of Karlie Kloss, ‘Embryolisse is where it’s at’.

Having so many different skincare ingredients with lots of benefits can sometimes be a little overwhelming. So when there’s a product that can sort a multitude of sins, we’re on board. The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid is a chemical exfoliant that works wonders on your skin. Not only does it slough away dead skin cells to reveal a fresh, more even-toned complexion, it can be used on the rest of the body with different benefits. For example, it can be used to break down and get rid of dodgy fake tan patches (and yes, we’ve all been there and some of us still suffer regularly). Dry skin patches? Swipe some glycolic acid over drier areas such as your knees and ankles to help refresh and renew the skin, or to prevent ingrown hairs.

Most of the time your beauty routine takes is often made up of you hunting around the depths of your makeup bag to find the right brush to match the product you’re using. This problem is easily solved… Enter the beautyblender. You must have been hiding under a beauty rock if you haven’t heard of this unique wonder sponge that has so many different uses. A common misconception most people have about Beautyblenders is that they’re just used for blending your foundation. Granted, they do this, but they can also be used for applying highlighter, blush, contour and powder too. Try it out and you’ll never turn back.