I have always been considered high maintenance by friends and I do like a polished look but the truth is I am becoming "lower maintenance" as I get older. I do have my hair cut and coloured very regularly. All else I do myself. Brows, nails etc. I do wash my hair daily because it's wavy and needs to be styled, but with the shorter cut, it takes very little time. I moisturize my skin when I get out of the shower. Apply concealer, let that set, then add a very very light covering of a "mousse" foundation just to even out my skin tone. I use eyeliner, mascara and lipstick, and some days a sweep of blush if I need it. I seem to have good skin and as I get older i find the less is more approach seems to flatter my skin more.

My "grooming" has become such a natural part of my routine, that even today when I am home and not feeling well, I still quickly do my hair and pop some makeup on. Lol

Gigi, I would like to add about nail polish that the more often you deal with it, the faster the process can get, but for me, finding out about applying a top coat of "nail dryer" was a major revelation (I use Out the Door, but I know Sèche-Vite is very popular). It cuts the very wet stage of polish down a lot, starting the hardening sooner so you don't have to wait so long to do anything with your hands. You still do have to be a bit careful until it's fully dry, but it does make a *huge* diff.

Oh yeah, just wanted to chime in that a few things sometimes makes all the difference. Sometimes a "full face" seems very heavy on some people - I like the few things that I do use and that's that.

I suspect people think that I spend a lot more time on appearance because The Ex-Boy used to be surprised I was ready to go when I was!

Team polished. However, it doesn't take much time. 5 min for make-up. 3 min to blow dry. I have my nails and toes done every 3 weeks for a blissful hour and a half without being able to answer the phone. Heaven. Hair colored every 5 weeks and cut every 10 weeks. Again...impossible to answer the phone. Love that.

Ambergreen, is what you're talking about the same thing as a "quick-dry" top coat? I've seen those. Maybe I should try one. I held out on getting one because all the mani books I read said that they aren't as durable as a regular top coat. But maybe for the sake of getting the thing done, it would be worth it. And I can always put a "real" top coat on a couple of days later.

Lyn, that's a huge compliment from a boy, that he's shocked it doesn't take you too long to get ready. I will have to start experimenting tomorrow! Today after reading Mo's thread about her lip color, and my thread here, I curled my eyelashes (easier than mascara) and put on some lip gloss.

I've made many efforts in the past to elevate my style by paying more attention to hair and makeup. Since I have some makeup training, that was easy - though I managed to squash my routine down to a simple 3 minute makeup look. I often line my eyes with black liner (sometimes a cat eye) and wear lipstick (sometimes a bold red lip). I use pressed powder mineral foundation due to oily skin. I don't use mascara because my eyes tear up a lot when I use it.

Hair is a huge issue for me. I tried putting more effort but failed. I sported a pixie for over five years but I'm too much of a gimp to so my hair! Every hairstyle looked awful! Pixies are actually a lot more high maintenance for me in styling (due to the nature of my hair) and financially (frequent haircuts). I find what works best is getting straight bangs because my hair, at the bangs length naturally falls down straight and looks polished. I can just leave my hair down or do an easy updo and still look polished!

I consider myself low-maintenance in the hair and make-up dept. I am much more high-maintenance about clothing and my body. For example, I fret about my weight, always have. I do have a make-up routine that works for me though. I never go totally without make-up! I wear brow pencil, eyeliner and mascara every day, no matter what. And I am disciplined about my skin care routine. No foundation or concealers for me.

For you Gigi I recommend zeroing in on the features you like the most about yourself, and develop a simple routine around them. For me it was my eyes and skin. I am in a place of acceptance about my hair. It has its plusses and minuses. Plus -- nice natural color, no grey yet. Minus -- fine and thinning, difficult to style. So I stick to a simple blunt cut.

I love Ms.Mary's story about getting a professional consolation and then getting a routine down in 5 minutes! Giving me thoughts…

Oh and I do get a mani-pedi every two weeks, but I view that as almost a professional necessity as I work on my feet. The pretty colors and relaxation are the bonus.

I forgot about lips -- I only wear a lip shade when taking photos for YLF! I'm not kidding. My comb and lip gloss are next to my photo taking spot in my bedroom.

@CocoLion - That's funny you should mention the lip gloss by the photo taking spot - that's actually how I got into wearing lipstick, because of WiW's for YLF!

Gigi - the "normal" quick drying nail top-coats are not very good. I don't recommend them.
My favorite is the Seche-Vita top coat - amazingly fast and it leaves my nails super glossy!
However, Sephora's newest line of nail polish also has a wonderful top coat - my nail polish stays put for several weeks - and it also dries really fast! (I may be switching 'favorites!'

I have never been a big hair and makeup girl, so when I started wearing makeup again recently, it became very important for me to find a "go to" look that I can do every day in just a few minutes. I use Bare Minerals foundation and blush (and eye shadow, though I tend to skip that step most days), which takes me about 5 minutes to apply. I fill in my eyebrows, eyeliner on my top lid, and two coats of mascara on my top eyelashes. Then I do a quick lipstick (usually red) and I'm good to go. The whole thing takes about 10 minutes, 15 if I rush and my eyes end up uneven and I have to fix them. As for hair, I just have to invest a little extra time in it because I have a really inconsistent natural texture and it's often uncomfortable if I don't. I run over each section once with a straightener every other day (same day I wash my hair), just enough to make my hair smooth without completely killing the natural wave I have and love.

Some days, I DON'T feel like going through all the trouble, so I just don't. But on the days I take the little bit of extra time to do my makeup and hair, I feel just a little bit more polished and put together. It's not absolutely necessary for me, but it takes my look to another level, I think, and I feel amazing when I do. So for me, it's worth it 9 days out of 10. But if you really don't want to spend time on it, don't feel like you have to! Some women just DON'T like wearing makeup or fussing with their hair, and that's A-OK.

In my head I am a natural girl. In actuality I prefer blow-dried (and flatironed) hair, and makeup. My hair and makeup together take me 25 minutes. I've tried hard to make it less but I can't. I wear skin treatment, foundation, both cream and powder concealers, loose translucent powder, bronzer, blush, dark and light shades of eyeshadow, eye pencil, mascara, brow powder, and brow gel. And lipstick. (At least I've given up on lip pencil and lip gloss because I chew it all off anyway.) Whew. That's every day. But it's not to get a dramatic look or anything because when I mention makeup people act surprised that I'm wearing much at all. I get my roots and some highlights done every 8 weeks or so, and in the summer a mani-pedi every two weeks. Who knew I'd end up so girly!

Like I wrote in my other thread about wanting a more "grown up" look I do absolutely nothing when it comes to make-up. I've started a few tries, but I never got the hang of color and application. I don't even regularly wear mascara. I think one reason I never got into make-up is probably that my face can't take a lot before it looks like too much. I remember always looking awful when my friends decided to pretty me up as a teen. I do want to start putting a bit more effort in though, so I'm going to do some research in the next few months.

Marley, I have been thinking about repeating my makeup experience periodically and you have pushed me over the edge to make it an every-season event! I certainly don't want to trade my old rut for a new rut! So I will definitely be making an appointment for a fall refresher! Thanks!!

I think most people assume I'm low maintenance because of my general natural appearance and low key personality, but I do actually spend some time on makeup and hair. My hair is wavy, nearly curly and I prefer to "control" it with a big fat curling iron most days. Takes about 10 mins. I always try to wash it the night before because I like to let it air dry. I use Kiehls heat protector to offset the curling iron.

Makeup for me is foundation (Origins for me), very light blush (Bare Minerals "Clear"), Almay soft pencil eyeliner usually in a deep plum and brown mascara. I don't put on lip color unless I'm going outside and then it's Aveda or Alba in a natural tone (something you could nearly eat because I don't like chemicals on my lips). Maybe takes 3 -5 mins. Sometimes I add more for going out but not for daily wear.

Gigi, I can relate to being tired in the morning. That's also what used to keep me from wearing make-up.

I've managed to get my morning routine down to about five minutes. It's really, really quick:

• BB cream or foundation where I need it
• A bit of pressed powder on my shiny spots (during the work day I blot with a regular old brown paper towel from my office bathroom, rather than add more powder. I've also heard Starbucks napkins make great blotters, too)
• Cream blush on the apples of my cheeks
• A neutral cream eye shadow on my lids (one colour)
• Mascara
• I fill in my brows with a powder (I also tint/shape them five to six weeks), only where I need to
• Lipstick

What a great question, Gigi. Such an interesting thread. I think that my hair and makeup do up my style, but on a day-to-day basis, I don't tend to put that much time into either. There are many days when I don't really go anywhere due to illness, and on those days, I typically wear little or no makeup and wear my hair in a French twist, which takes no more than a minute or two. However, I've loved makeup since I was a teenager. If I'm going anywhere or feel the need to improve my mood, I wear very light, natural-looking makeup, including a bit of foundation if I need it anywhere, powder, eyeshadow, blush, mascara, and a touch of lip color. I have my routine down, and it takes five minutes or less. I backend my hair like Suz does with color and cut, and keep up with it almost always. There's definitely a time and money investment there, but that means my hair is easy and quick to care for on a daily basis.

I try to stay current with both my hair and makeup, not only to up my style, but also because being happy with both is such a mood enhancer for me. Getting into a rut is too easy for me, and I don't want that to happen. Luckily, I also have a hair stylist who is quick to say "Do you want to try something new?"

I recently realized my brows had started to fade. When I had them reshaped last week, I also asked for a lesson in using eyebrow powder. Ah! It's so much better than pencil. Again, once I got the hang of it, it takes very little time.

In the summer, I tend to get a few pedicures along the way. I can do them myself (and here I'll put in another plug for Sèche Vite), but I can usually get 5 weeks out of one, so it's nice to get them at the salon.

I think there are all kinds of options and possibilities. You just have to find what suits you best and makes you feel good.

Gigi, yes, the quick-dry top coats.

I never used to bother with regular top coats because applying and drying 4 layers of very wet polish in succession is just too high-maint for me. Maybe @Marley is right, though, about the quality of some of them out there. I've been happy enough with the Out the Door but I may not have as high expectations as others out of a mani. Maybe her reco of the Sephora version could be good to try.

I would be considered low maintenance on most days. I let my hair air dry unless I am going to a special event. I will blow dry and perhaps flat iron my hair for a wedding or dinner out. I get my hair cut every 3 months and in between I trim my own bangs. I do not colour my hair.

I take good care of my skin because I have very sensitive skin. I get rashes if someone looks at me funny.

I wore eyeshadow, mascara, eyeliner and lipgloss when I was working. Now I wear makeup when I am going to a special event. I go for a "no make up look". The rest of the time I go naked. I love makeup and watch lots of you tube videos. I don't wear it though.

I get a pedicure every month. I like pretty toes. Occasionally I get a manicure but never get polish on my nails. I prefer a natural look. I get my eyebrows threaded. I use to get them waxed.

You are so right. It is an investment in time and product. I decided to "up " my game for various reasons. The two most helpful things was to find a really good hairstylist and just lay it out for him : I don't like curling irons or even blow dryers. I don't like doing my hair and never have. I want it to fall in place. LOL ! He gave me an awesome cut that is pretty much wash and wear or I can just do a quick curl of the ends with the curling iron or I can wear it up....I am so happy I did it.

I also went to Sephora and met a wonderful young man who I told my story too.....some color, minimal......I don't want to spend a lot of time...blah, blah, blah. He immediately went to a shelf and handed me a blush and lip stain that I just LOVE. He said that I really needed color ( I know, I look very pasty and sallow ). I have always been horrible at picking colors for myself. Otherwise, I use a tinted BB cream/sunscreen, some mascara ( I have always used mascara ) and my beloved under eye concealer. I am also committed to keeping my nails in decedent shape and rubbing oil or cream on the cuticles every night.

Start small. You have to experiment to find what it right and what works in your life. But taking care of your skin, hair and nails is a great start.

Just so you know, many Sephora reps do make up lessons on the side, privately. ( At least here ). I think that it is completely worth it to pay for a 30 mins consult. This way they can also recommend drug store brands. Talk to a couple so that you feel comfortable with who you pick. There are two wonderful ones at our local store that have been angels to me.

I have met Adelfa in person and she has a very natural looking appearance. It does look like she has on make-up, but I would never guess she used that many products. I guess that means she's doing a good job!
I have been trying to go a little more natural with my hair and make-up, but truth is, I need to spend a little time on both for it to look right with my Classic style. The no-makeup look is fine, but actually not wearing any make-up just looks unfinished on me. I envy all the Natural gals out there who look better without make-up than with it!

I recently asked for a "wash and wear" hairstyle and I was so excited to be able to just run a comb through my wet hair and go. Well, that hasn't turned out so well! I suspect I need to either get it re-cut by someone who specializes in wavy hair, and/or just resign myself to giving my hair at least some direction with the hair dryer. I am feeling very frustrated about it actually.

About make-up, I feel really funny using color-colors in my make-up. I stick to taupe-y shades for my eyes, skip the cheeks and try to find the color closest to my gums (after I've just brushed my teeth) for a sheer lip balm. Anything outside of that color palette seems super garish to my eye, which is funny because I used to really cake on the make-up, and had eye shadows to go with all my clothes (and lipsticks, too)!

I'm surprised at how many of us on the forum are low maintenance! I'm glad I'm in good company.

Claire, I hadn't thought of not wearing makeup as looking "unfinished," but that's a nonjudgmental way to look at it. And I will say that with regard to hair problems, when I do a "whole face" with my makeup, even just to create a natural appearance, the not-so-perfect areas of my hair seem much less obvious. It's because the makeup makes my face much more of a focal point, to the point of minimizing the hair.

Isabel, I'm pasty too! I'm still experimenting with what my "daily makeup necessities" will be, but one will probably have to be blush if I don't want to look like I'm death warmed over.

Today I made do with curling my eyelashes and putting on some Burt's Bees tinted lip balm. I really should try to put on a touch of foundation to even out my skin tone. But I think step 1 is going to be just *remembering* to try to do some makeup every day! I had forgotten this morning already, until I checked in on the thread. Ha ha.

Claire regarding hair that is wash and go I have hair that is wavy, straight and has a mind of its own. I found a hair stylist 35 years ago who knows how to cut it. I use to live in the same city as her but now travel 3 hours to get my hair cut. People think I am crazy but when she has been away (for maternity leaves, travelling) I have had to go to someone else. My hair was a mess. I spent hours trying to get it to look good. I ended up growing all the layers out and wearing it in a blunt below shoulders look.

I found the best look for my hair. Below my shoulders (keeps the waves under control) and long layers. Bangs work best on my face. The bangs have to be cut in a curve. I am picky and so I cut them myself in between cuts.

The trick is finding a good hair stylist who knows how to cut your type of hair, listens to you and figuring out the right style.

I just gave myself a 10-minute pedicure last night, so I thought I'd chime in with what I do.

I used to give myself full hour-long pedicures every 2 weeks, but then kids came along and it just wasn't a priority anymore. Last year, I would go 6 weeks or longer and felt unkempt. This year, I decided to start using Sally Insta-Dry polish. I'd read once that Sally from Already Pretty kept some of those around for polishing her nails before leaving the house because they can dry while driving, so I've always had them but never really used them.

I also bought some CND Stickey base coat once, but I'm not sure why. Someone or something must've recommended it! I decided to try it in conjunction with the Insta-Dry.

I always, always use Seche Vite top coat. That has been my top coat of choice for at least a decade. I used to retouch every 3-5 days and my pedicures would easily last a month if I didn't tire of the color.

I wanted to report that this combo, of the Stickey base, Insta-Dry (I do 2 coats), and Seche Vite, takes maybe 5 minutes total (with the other 5 being polish removal, filing, cuticle neatening). I redid my pedi last night after 2 weeks but only because I wanted a different color. The polish still looked perfect.

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/brows.....rod2160007

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/brows.....rod1950037

http://www.ulta.com/ulta/brows.....rod6051231

I love this thread! I am definitely on Team Polished and have had a love affair with makeup since I was in kindergarten and got my first mini-lipstick sample from my Mom's Avon lady

That said, I am all for quick routines - I'm not into piling it on. I second Peri's advice about using the Bobbi Brown "ten step" routine - I carve off a few steps (e.g. full foundation) for day-to-day, and sharpen it up for a night out.
Hair-wise, I am pretty lax just due to time (and by "time" I mean I'm a lazy a** in the morning). However, I do stick to a simple cut that looks good air-dried and a bit more polished blow-dried with a round brush. I'm also a big fan of a sleek pony for bad hair days.

I love nail color but generally stick to the neutrals to keep it low maintenance and make chips less noticeable.
Love reading everyone else's routines too!

I've always been fairly low-maintenance when it comes to hair and makeup and I don't see that ever changing. I just don't have patience for much fussing unless it's a very special occasion. Heck, I barely ever even use my straightening iron on my hair anymore.

I am dedicated to regular salon visits (although I always end up stretching it out at least a week or two longer than I should, hence how my hair looks lately!). And my stylist and I like changing things up at least a little bit every time I'm there.

I don't tend to make big changes in makeup, but I have never been heavy-handed with it anyway. Tinted moisturizer, a quick sweep of blush (and maybe a little touch of bronzer), a quick touch up on eyebrows (I just started this in the last couple of months and I really like the effect!), a little smudge of eye pencil, maybe a touch of eyeshadow (I tend to go more minimal and leave that off in summer), mascara, lip stain, and done.

I wonder what a professional would do differently with my makeup routine? I haven't had a makeup specialist do anything to my face in years, and I have to say I wasn't thrilled with that experience -- she used a heavy base on my face that looked like a pale mask in a flash photograph. Ick! I remember trying to rub some of it off my face in the bathroom. Why do some people seem to think we need every bit of evidence we have skin texture eliminated from our faces? Maybe I'll try again, but not when I have anywhere special to be. That way I can go home and wash my face if I'm not happy with the results.

I go in waves where I pay more attention to one thing for a while, but I'm usually low-to-medium maintenance.

I have a quick 3-minute makeup routine in the morning. Foundation, coverup, Benefit Georgia (pressed powder that just makes my face look a little glowier), a little blush, some very light mascara, and lip color. I'm not sure any of it makes a huge difference and it's definitely a natural look, but it does make me feel more awake and polished. Of those, I think the three that make the biggest difference are probably the foundation, blush, and lip color, so those might be good places to start if you want to get into a regular makeup routine.

With hair, I probably should pay more attention, but I just hate the effort involved. To be honest, hairstyling just feels like the beauty equivalent of washing dishes by hand to me. A lot of tedious effort, and then you just need to do the same thing again anyway the next day.

In the past, I've put more effort into trying to make it look straight and sleek. But I started wearing it naturally curly a few years ago and really like how I can basically just wash, let air dry, and put a little product in and at least have it look like it's doing something, even if it's not really the most polished look in the world. And, frankly, messy curls probably suit me better than sleek, straight hair. Certainly better than in-between limp but frizzy hair, which was what it actually looked like most of the time. I probably should get cuts more regularly than I do. I try to go every 8 weeks, but it's sometimes much longer.

I usually paint my toenails in the summer. I generally use a quick-dry polish or topcoat so I don't have to wait for it to dry. Sally Hansen has a line of quick-dry polishes that I especially like because they have a flat brush, which gives me more control so it looks neater. I rarely paint my fingernails except for special occasions because I'm not a fan of not being able to touch anything (even quick-dry takes long enough to be annoying). Rarely do salon mani/pedis. They're nice, but I feel like it's hard to justify the cost, and I have limited patience for the small-talk-with-a-stranger part of beauty treatments anyway.

Well, I did manage to curl my eyelashes AGAIN this morning (three days in a row, wow!), and I also added blush today. The blush was a color that was similar to the color of shirt I was wearing, so it did seem to brighten up my face. And since it was a cream blush (some of you mentioned cream blushes as holding up well), I didn't have to worry about it coming off. I also put some lip color on (the blush is a two-in-one product), but I of course ate it off during lunch. I almost put on eyebrow powder, but my brows are pretty dark anyway. But seeing how Janet does it and has dark coloring like me, maybe I will try with a light hand tomorrow.

I went to the natural foods store to get some groceries today and picked up a quick-dry top coat. I'm not sure how good it will be, since it's a natural version, but I unfortunately can't do the Seche Vite because of my chemical sensitivities. Oh well! We'll try it and see what happens. If it doesn't work, I'm only out $7, and it was a very small bottle. But anything that can be done to shorten the mani/pedi time will be helpful, and I hadn't thought about switching to a quick-dry coat until so many of you mentioned it in this thread.

Aubergine, I had to laugh at your comparison of hairstyling to doing the dishes! Too funny. I don't probably view it as bad as that (because doing dishes is practically my absolute all-time most hated chore), but I can identify with the fact that hairstyling is too short-lived to be worth a lot of time and effort, at least in my current situation.

I was thinking about this post and remembered a funny cartoon I saw a year or so ago. It's probably still floating around somewhere.

Three pictures of the same woman.

Pic one...full glamour makeup. Caption "But honey, you look better without all that makeup."

Pic two...no makeup. "Are you feeling okay? You look tired...are you coming down with something?"

Pic three...light, natural makeup. "See, I told you you looked better without makeup on."

The thing is, it's really true. Everyone looks better with a little something. It's a personal decision whether or not that matters to you, and no judgement over that implied, but if it does matter, makeup is fantastic!

Peri, I laughed out loud at your story! It *is* true, though, what you say. In fact, not long ago I was bemoaning the fact that when I get out and about, usually to the mall, *everyone* else seems to be so much more beautiful than I am. And then one day it hit me that I was comparing myself to women who are wearing at least some makeup! Duh.

The other day I put on a little makeup before heading out to an appointment: a tiny bit of foundation applied with a sponge, a touch of blush, and either a bit of eyeliner or curled lashes. Well, as soon as I got to my appointment, the person commented on how good I was looking that day! So there you go.

Peri's post is spot-on and is true in my life. My own mother asks me if I am feeling okay when I wear no makeup; although I don't wear much, I wear just enough to even out my skin and slightly define features.

But I fear my hair is getting dated. I look at women with seemingly carefree hair, and yet it is "done" - I know full well their hair has been highlighted and that they have blow-outs. I don't know if I can go that high-maintenance, but I crave a more updated look for my hair. My hair isn't curly, but it isn't stick-straight without help, either, so it is difficult to look anything except "meh" when I go natural. Yet I don't think I can do blow-outs at home and the salon is too far away (and who can afford a professional every week or more?). My colour is getting a little mousy, yet I haven't fully committed to colour, either. I am stuck as to what to do, and will likely post pictures and agonize over this for weeks this fall before making a decision!