Steps to a More Peaceful Morning

Image: Slightly Everything via Flickr

Now that you know how to take the stress out of your beauty routine, what about the rest of your morning? You could spend that extra hour sleeping, but why not do something fun? I've tried a variety of techniques to create a more peaceful morning, and I wanted to share some of my favorites.

Simplify Your Morning Shower Routine

Image: gfpeck via Flickr

Like many women, I am often cold. A hot shower is a special treat that I enjoy each morning. Although I'd love to remain in the warm water for hours, it's simply not pratical. Taking a shorter shower will earn you bonus points with your family and have a significant impact on the earth. Not to mention the lower utiliy bills!

Get a chic shower cap - If you have longer hair, it may be better to go a day or two between shampoos. Use a shower cap to keep your hair dry and stretch your style. When I straighten my hair, I won't wash it for two days. (Dry shampoo can buy you an extra day if you're in a hurry!) When I want to revive my curls, I'll use conditioner but not shampoo to avoid over-drying.

Simplify Your Morning Makeup Routine

Image: gwilmore via Flickr

Wash, tone, moisturize, foundation, light shadow, dark shadow, eyliner, mascara, concealer, blush, powder, lipliner, lipstick, and done! It's enough to make any girl dizzy. I don't know any modern woman who has time for such an elaborate routine — even makeup artists! Read on for my recommendations for a great daily look.

Simplify Your Morning Hair Routine

Image: o5com via Flickr

I used to get dressed up for school. I thought it was really important to look and feel my best each day, because I never knew what opportunities would present themselves. Perhaps this made sense when I was in the image-obsessed city of Los Angeles, but once I got a "real job" in Texas, my priorities started to change. Read on to learn how I cut my morning routine from 1-1.5 hours down to a mere 30 minutes.