This story was originally published in January 2023, but we're resharing again as most of us head back to the office
Not to bring up the pandemic again, but during the great Zoom boom we all got well versed in the art of the quick change. A video call could be scheduled on short notice and we’d manage to pull ourselves together enough to look presentable by reaching for a hairbrush and a bright lip colour.
Doing the same for work or extracurricular activities is more of a challenge when you’re fully ensconced back in the office, out of arm's reach of our makeup collections.
Because I’m a control freak Virgo who hates being caught short, I’ve condensed my whole routine into seven beauty products I can keep in my work locker for emergencies. But unlike the hot-desking Ensemble team you have the luxury of your own desk, they won't take up too much real estate there either.
Tatcha Aburatorigami Blotting Papers, $20
No one can actually be bothered re-doing their whole face in the middle of the day so these nifty little sheets are ideal for when you just want to ]just dial down the shine a bit. Pat them onto any area that could do with a little mattifying and peel off and get the perverse enjoyment seeing just how much oil they absorb.
There are plenty of options to choose from, everything from Mecca’s $11 offering to the ridiculously luxe Hermes option weighing in at $70.
For the ultimate in utilitarian ingenuity, a colleague recently admitted when in a pinch they sometimes use rolling papers.
Kosas Revealer Concealer, $47
If you do need to add a little extra coverage to your skin during the day I find a tiny dab of concealer is often enough to tide you over. This Kosas option is very popular, for good reason.
It's made with a formula aimed at brightening and hydrating as well as offering creamy coverage. There’s both caffeine and hyaluronic acid on the ingredient list, together they make quick work of dull and sallow skin.
Emma Lewisham Illuminating Face & Body Oil, $92
This oil has been my saviour on the occasions where I’ve chucked on a dress and raced out the door to work only to catch a glance of my legs mid-morning and be confronted with a dry and scaly mess.
As well as being a really nourishing oil thanks to the inclusion of shea butter, macadamia seed oil and jojoba, it bronzes as well as hydrates. It looks intimidatingly pigmented on the first pump, but work it in well and you’ll be rewarded with the type of gleaming golden hour skin usually reserved for Love Island contestants.
Aesop Immediate Moisture Facial Hydrosol, $33
We’re always banging on about face mists because they really do solve most of the issues you run into during a workday. Humidity means you’ve reached your desk a sweaty mess? Try a refreshing mist. Foundation separating or settling into creases? A spritz will rehydrate the formula.
Totally fed up with the grind and losing the will to live? Spritz twice, take a deep breath in and count to 10.
Lady Jayne Salon Pro Rechargable Straightening Brush, $45
Admittedly a small extravagance, this cordless heated hair brush has proven indispensable since I was sent it by a PR person last year. Not much bigger than an iPhone, this brush has heated ceramic fin shaped bristles that make easy work of smoothing tresses that have gotten out of control thanks to humidity or stress induced hand scrunching. It takes up no room at all in my locker and very handily charges via USB cord.
Juliette Has A Gun - Not A Perfume EDP Mini, $63
There is something about a tiny spray of perfume before an important meeting that triggers a surge of confidence and signals you’re ready to go. Having a second full size bottle on hand is both cost prohibitive and too cumbersome to lug around with you, but you can purchase mini versions of most fragrances on their own or keep an eye out for promotions which offer them for free with other purchases.
Milk Makeup Lip & Cheek Blush, $41
A true multi-purpose stick that can add a bit of life back into dry lips or lifeless cheeks. I’m not a big eyeshadow person, but if I was I'd swipe this over my lids in a pinch as well.
