You know, it is so easy to make things hard for ourselves. I realized this the other day when I riffled yet again through my too-small basket of makeup, set aside the bronzer I am NOT using any more to find the one I AM using. Repeated this with mascara and blush. What a waste of time and effort! I’m not ready to throw out the old makeup but I will probably never wear it again. So I put it in an old makeup bag under the sink and one day soon will find a new home, but in the meantime, now I have only the makeup I actually wear every day out on the counter.

Makeup made easy

Time per day gained? Probably just a couple minutes at most. The chance to get myself ready every morning without clenching my teeth in frustration? Priceless!

Here are two other ways to make easier to look great:

Plan your day. Take a moment to run through the various activities your day will bring. You may want to tuck a collapsible tote into your bag or a more dangly pair of earrings or a wrap.

Add beauty and tranquility to your morning routine. After you’ve gotten rid of that dried-out crusty old mascara and the crumbled blush, put the ones you use in a pretty pouch or on a tray in the order you use them in.

And one day when you have more time, I beg you — take an hour (or, okay, two) to reorganize your closet. That evening gown in a dry cleaning bag right in the middle of the closet? Move it somewhere else! Put your best, most stylish pieces front and center and wear them. Grandpa’s silk smoking jacket, that evening gown, your off-season top, and those empty dry-cleaning bags — get them out! You’ll thank me, I promise.

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