How to look amazing every time you leave the house

The other day, I bumped into someone I haven't seen in years.  He and I worked together long ago and lost contact after I changed employers.  Luckily for me, because of where we crossed paths, I looked somewhat presentable. Although I wasn't looking my best, I was grateful for the timing.

If we had met again at the grocery store or a local take out, I would have been kicking myself for not taking a few minutes to get myself together before leaving the house.  The only reason why I care is because he and I would always talk about our desires to leave corporate america and one day work for ourselves.  Now that I'm living this reality, I wouldn't want to give off the impression that this new life is too much for me to handle.  Like, I'm so stressed out that I couldn't be bothered to run a comb through my hair or put on some gloss.

So, I've decided to recommit to looking presentable at all times.  A fun fact about me is that I met my husband of 10 years at the grocery store.  I, of all people, should know that you leave the house, you're likely to run into someone from your past, or maybe even your future.

The challenge for me is that leaving the house to complete errands feels like an interruption to my day.  So I just want to leave and return quickly.  I really don't want to invest time in my appearance when I don't plan on being out long.  But, looking polished should be a non-negotiable.

If you're like me and don't want to put a ton of effort, but still want to look your best on the everyday,  use the "piece de resistance" technique.

People who look 100% put together have their hair, skin, makeup, body and outfit on point at all times.  But, you can still look your best if you pick 1 or 2 of these areas to focus on and master.

For example, when my skin was constantly breaking out, I had to make sure I covered it with makeup before leaving the house, because it was always a distraction (to myself and others).  But, on the other hand,  when I used to get Dominican blowouts,  I appeared put together even with a bare face and basic clothing items.

By picking 1-2 focal points, it becomes easy to get presentable before quickly heading out the door. Here are some examples to illustrate:

If you have been investing a ton of energy to perfecting your glow, congratulations!  You've earned the honor of being able to walk out of the house and look amazing.  Rarely, do I see someone in real life who has well cared for skin.  When I used to travel frequently, I'd sometimes come across a woman with noteworthy skin.  Glowing skin makes you look healthy and thriving.  Even with a simple bun and a pair of jeans, you look great.  My skin isn't anywhere near that level yet, so I created a simple routine where I apply Murad's Blurring Sunscreen, then finish off by dusting my skin with MACs Mineral Skin Finish.   MSK gives the most gently every day glow for those occasions where you don't want to wear highlighter but still want skin that subtly reflects light.

If you prefer a more detailed look, may I suggest you master your signature face.  Basically this is your best makeup look that can be done in 10-15 minutes and highlights your best features.  Beauty Guru's call this your "Every Day Make Up Look." It looks like you've put in a ton of effort, but in reality, you can recreate it with your eyes closed.  

The easiest way to look put together is to wear something nice.  When you're dressed well, your hair can be simple.  I love how the model dressed down her amazing dress by wearing casual footwear and two simple braids.

 Speaking of dressing down, when you can't be bothered to wear a dress, put on a full face of makeup or do your hair, then reach for your accessories.  When you wear the right accessories with a simple outfit, you're telling the world that you still put thought and energy into how you look. When I work from home, if I throw on a couple of rings and a bracelet, I tend to be more productive.  Something about adding a couple of adornments immediately lifts my mood.  It's that same feeling we get after doing our nails.

No more excuse for leaving the house looking like we don't care about life.