Just Another Manic Monday? Life Hacks for the Tango Diva Always On the Go
Just another manic Monday, wish it was Sunday cos that’s my fun day no makeup day…
While I was busy frolicking in the approximately 2.5 inches of Fallen Snow that covered Madrid last night– surely waking up all my neighbors with my squeals of delight at 1:00am – instead of working on improving my morning routine
Ever have one of those days that the phone won’t stop ringing and you’re rushing about from meeting to meeting with zero time to get ready? Not to mention, you have nothing to wear and your hair is a mess. No, just me?
Living in a country as infamous for its “mañana” approach to time as it is for its matadors, the concept of “on time” is a funny thing in Spain.
No problem, as a perpetually late person, I have a few life hacks to turn your Manic Mondays into Marvolous Mondays.
1. PROBLEM: Nothing to Wear
SOLUTION: Minimalism is best—Adopt the “French Wardrobe”
—and the more years I continue living in Europe, I’ve adopted what’s known as the French Wardrobe or a uniform of sorts of carefully curated key pieces that work as a foundation to build a variety of different outfits in a snap. However with my own unique taste on it natch—I dare you to ask me how many pairs of black leggings or over-sized denim shirts I own—since I abhor wearing jeans or pantsyou will almost never catch wearing jeans or pants. I substitute the pants with aformentiend leggings or basic dresses and oversized shirts and sweaters, and in the Winter, I throw one of my many fave Frye boots, accessorize with bold scarves, purses—et voilà!—
BONUS: For someone whose idea of “retail therapy” is constantly purging my closet of clothes I haven’t worn recently—better to Reduce, Re-use and Recycle to others who can appreciate them
2. PROBLEM: No time for your full makeup routine
Solution: Like a House, Build Your Face on Solid Foundation [Tools]
Step One: The Tools
- 1. Searching for the secret to eternal youth? Let me let you in on a lil secret: Ponce de Leon may not have found it, but I’ll tell you what it is: Wear Sunblock. Invest.in.a.proper.high.SPF.sunblock. Wait, let me say that again. Be it cloudy or sunny—Apply sunblock, all day, e’ryday. Real Talk.
- 2. Living in Madrid—with its dry, cold climate in the winter, my sensitive skin really suffers—attempting to apply makeup on dry, peeling skin
is like trying to find meaning in a Pauly Shore movieMoisturize Divas! Coconut oil—besides being rich and nutricious for cookin, excellent for mouth pulling and an allout delicious substitute for all my vegan cooking needs—is my go to body mouisturizer of choice straight out of the shower. Tat’s right—rub it on H to T straight out the shower. Not only will the smell tide you over until summer comes—soon, right??—but whatever doesnt absorb into your skin, you can dab onto the tips of your hair. - 3. If the eyes are the window to the soul, consider your eyebrows beautiful curtains
and thanks to a makeup lesson from Calvin Klein I have learned how to focus on a few key things (well groomed lush brows, check, matte bronzer to give the allusion of chiseled cheekbones blahblah would be jealous of/only possesses and peachy cheeks and lips to emphasize my green peepers) speed makeup routine
Fave products
Good hydrating cream (madrid be cold!) “it’s the BALM!”
can do my
3. PROBLEM: Your hair is Miss Behaving
Solution: Thank Dios for Davines!
For those who know me, know that I have a penchant for rarely brushing my hair. Call it laziness, or call it having a hairstylist for a sister who lives by the motto: Embrace your natural hair texture, rather than fight it. I have naturally wavy hair, yet it’s rather fine.
“It’s like chapstick for your hair.” And let me tell you, it’s the BALM!
What’s your wardrobe makeup hair routine essentials?
