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10 best beauty multitaskers to save you time and space

No time? No problem. The little marvels double up to save our precious time, money and sanity

Christopher Cunniff
Monday 06 May 2019 08:38 BST
If you're not a morning person and would never get up early to get ready, you need one of these
If you're not a morning person and would never get up early to get ready, you need one of these

The ferocity of putting oneself together post waking up has many a tick box to fill in before leaving the house.

Bleary eyed we slam around our bedroom in the morning hoping that we’ve done enough to make sure our face tries to defy gravity, but also ensure our slap doesn’t slide off in the rain.

Luckily, our friends in the beauty-sphere cater for those of us that congratulate ourselves for merely getting out of bed in the morning.

Cutting time and mayhem in half – and rightly so – the perpetually busy, wonderfully lazy and economically sound among us are will all welcome this roundup with open arms.

Needless to say, spinning skincare plates not only saves time, but also cash.

If you want some extra nap time or fancy a few extra pennies at the bottom of your bag, these should sort you out.

Babe balm natural beauty balm: £18, Bybi

There are so many wonderful things to say about this that it’s hard to know where to begin. Babe balm is primarily a concentrated moisture boost. Use it on the lips, dry areas of the skin to touch up or even as a nighttime mask to wake up to super juicy skin with the help of its organic and natural concoction. Shea butter, olive squalene and vitamin c are all here for a good old party.

One other little titbit is to use this gem as a highlighter. The orange gel transforms to a wonderful light reflective sheen when applied to all the right places.

Also, the packaging is made from sugar cane meaning it’s entirely compostable. So if it doesn’t get another recycled life, then you don’t need to feel guilty. Babe balm really is one of those products the industry should take note of. A little goes a long way and it won’t break the bank either. A well deserved top place.

Buy now

Leahlani skincare bless beauty balm: £53, Naturismo

When we asked our user to sniff this, they replied joyously: “It smells like my gran!”. It’s the sweetest and most original smelling nana we’d ever meet that’s for sure.

Off the shores of Hawaii come the gorgeous Leahlan, a range of intoxicating organic produce and this bless balm in particular wears several hats. Use as an emulsifying second cleanse. Others would argue to use it as a first cleanse, but the ingredients are so delicious you won’t want to wash them off. Or use it as a moisturiser with just the tiniest amount, or apply to super dry areas like cuticles, ends of hair or around the mouth for targeted comfort.

A mix of raw organic honey, argan oil and blue tansy do the lot from soothing and strengthening while also aromatherapeutic, with the inclusion of an array of essential oils.

Not just for nanas.

Buy now

Disciple CBD miracle drops: From £30, Disciple London

The power of CBD is on everyone’s lips this season. Literally. It’s reported that skin is a natural haven for cannabis extracts, quickly being received by the body, interacting with receptors in the brain and boosting skin as a result. Not only does it help with inflammation and blemish prone faces but this is also a wonder for the emotional side of us, helping with aches and pains, insomnia and anxiety. And good brains equals good beauty.

Use it topically or underneath the tongue. Even drop it in a drink if you’re not a fan of the taste.

A small step for some all round serenity in a world that can sometimes not know the meaning of it. This comes in different strengths too and Disciple has a wonderful guide on its site to help you get it right for you.

Buy now

Soleil Toujours perpetual radiance eye glow and illuminator SPF 15: £70, Space NK

SPF is your best friend. But have you ever noticed an argument between you both ensues when applied near the eye area? Particularly sensitive ones amongst us get that annoying sting with SPF actives, then watery eyes are all too common.

This wonder pen from Soleil Toujours is not just an SPF made for the eyes but it’s also an Instagram filter for dark circles or puffiness. There’s also jojoba oil and sunflower seed oils to help alleviate tightness.

The pastel pink formula transforms tired peepers into brightened beauties. We must stipulate this is not a concealer. There certainly isn’t enough coverage to classify it as that. However if you’re a no make-up make-up type, or want to bling up those bags, this is the perfect accoutrement to add to your kit with its creaseless formula.

Buy now

Drunk Elephant slaai slaai make-up-melting butter cleanser: £29, Cult Beauty

Fresh off the Drunk Elephant block is slaai: a kiwi and strawberry seed blended cleansing balm. We’re not sure we know anyone who doesn’t have a bit of the brand in their cupboard, but if you’re new then this is a great place to start.

There’s a handy scoop with a cleverly designed magnet securing it to the lid, so you’re not rummaging around aimlessly. Apply to dry skin, massage, emulsify and take off. Not only does this work as a behemoth of a make-up remover but also a soothing cleanse with wonderful moisturising properties to boot. Thanks to its mix of marula, baobab and Kalahari melon oils. Leaves the face feeling much more nourished than traditional cleansers.

To add to this, you’ll get a bamboo booster: granules of fine bamboo and charcoal in a small shaker that you can add once a week to turn this into a traditional exfoliator. Easily one of the best cleansers around at the moment.

Buy now

MGC derma CBD BB concealer repair cream: £60, Look Fantastic

CBD makes another appearance in our list in the form of in this glorious CC cream from MGC. As well as having all the bells and whistles of cannabidiol thrown in there, this triples up as a moisturiser and low coverage foundation all in one.

The whipped, beige cream seems like it’s going to be rather unintuitive when opening, however it glides on marvellously. We noticed it was quite matte to start with but settled to a lovely dewy finish throughout the day: no cracking or caking here. It works best on fair to medium skin. Only downside is the one shade. Boo. More please!

It is a tad thick so don’t be alarmed, just experiment with what works for you. If you have particularly dry skin, or are just totally extra, try mixing an oil with this like maracuja or marula to help it blend seamlessly.

It’s a great choice for low maintenance guys and gals who want coverage without the faff, as well as some SPF action to boot.

Buy now

Mother Dirt AO+ mist: £36.99, Amazon

A rather interesting entry on our list is Mother Dirt’s AO mist. With research from the engineers at MIT, this is all about maximising harmony, pretty much anywhere on the body. Once upon a time there was a good bacteria called AOB, acting as a peacekeeper for our skin, turning ammonia and sweat into beneficial by-products... We’ve grown out of producing natural AOB due to our wonderful modern lives, so now we have to spray it on. Enter Mother Dirt.

This is a terrific product, literally able to be used head to toe, where basically it turns usual nasties into good stuff.

Skin is more even, regardless of where it is. Oily skin is taught a lesson and dry skin can benefit too. Follow the instructions carefully via the handy pamphlet that it comes with, otherwise it’ll just go off and you’ll be wondering what went wrong. Keep it in the fridge and use it as a very last step after any other products, wherever takes your fancy to bring some clarity and calm to usually misbehaving areas of the body.

Buy now

Cover FX water cloud primer: £30, Space NK

Primers aren’t just for getting your make-up to stick. There’s a plethora of goodies out there with a multitude of benefits. Cult brand Cover FX has the perfect product for skin in need of a cooling pick me up. Especially now the sun is out to play.

This mousse textured treat is a moisturising marvel as well as keeping skin safe from blue light pollution in particular. Yes, it’s been shown that having your schnozz wedged firmly up to your lappers all day does your face a disservice as well as your brain.

This also has a gorgeous cooling effect when applied to the skin. Perfect for summer days when you’re drying out and need a boost but also a cool down. Sounds paradoxical but give it a go, you’ll be surprised.

If you’re after some extra protection, moisture, cooling alongside it being a slick make-up setter, what’s not to love?

Buy now

Lixirskin good day skin shaker: £36, Cult Beauty

To say Colette Haydon’s own line was anticipated would be an understatement. She’s worked with everyone in the biz, so knows a thing or two about what works. Lixirskin’s entire line is a multitasking circus of fun; each product having a few uses. This however is a new addition, mainly functioning as a filler and de puffer all at once.

The small but mighty mixture when shaken reveals a pearlescent formula, with a juicy cocktail of hyaluronans that keep cells happy to lift and fill. The bi-phasic formula kicks in with a second stage oxygen booster shaking off tiredness. There’s also a subtle glow thanks to the pearly finish.

Work this into skin, particularly under the eyes, for an energising boost. You can also apply throughout the day if you need a pick me up. Even over your make-up. Sold.

Buy now

The verdict: Beauty multitaskers

Babe balm had to come out on top for not just its multitasking duties, but the packaging and ethical nature just means there is nothing bad to say about it. Mother Dirt's AO+mist is an intriguing addition to the market, helping anyone with any skin type. Disciple's miracle drops are leading the CBD way. No nonsense calm. We’ll all have some of that.

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