Beauty On Auto-Pilot: How You Can Look Expensive Without Really Trying

There are days, when brushing your hair counts as a personal victory. When your serums sit untouched, your roots rebel, and your mirror reflects someone who feels a little dulled out. You miss the flawlessness, the confidence, the feeling of being put-together. But right now, that feels like a reach.

The comforting truth is that you're not lazy. You're just depleted. The brutal truth? A beauty routine that gets you back to yourself shouldn’t feel like another thing to survive. It should work with your energy, not against it.

So, this is your gentle guide to looking subtly expensive, even when you’re running on a 2% social battery and oat milk cappuccinos. I like to think of it as my love letter to all the broken pieces that need fixing.

Pick Your Non-Negotiable

You don’t need a 10-step routine. You need one thing that anchors you. It could be:

• Brushed up brows

• Tinted balm that looks like your lips but rosier (I catch myself re-applying Bobbi Brown's Extra Color Shine a dangerous amount)

• A spritz of your fanciest face mist that feels like a facial in LA (the CHANEL Hydra Beauty Essence Mist is a true skin treat)

Whatever it is, make it super accessible. Park it next to your toothbrush, your phone, your mug. Make the ritual so easy it feels like muscle memory.

Let Beauty Happen While You Breathe

The greatest thing I've discovered since getting into beauty is that I don’t have to carve out special time for a routine, in order to meet my beauty needs. Stack your rituals onto what you're already doing. This could look like:

• Gua sha while watching Netflix

• Eye patches during your morning e-mails (the Florence by Mills Floating Under The Eyes Depuffing Eye Gel Pads are my version of therapy)

• Hair oil that does its magic while you meal prep

Effortless isn’t lazy, it’s efficient.

Love a Multipurpose Moment

The holy grail of tired girl beauty =products that overachieve so you don’t have to. Some of my favourites:

• Lip + cheek tint for a natural flush in one swipe (Huda Beauty's Creamy Lip And Cheek Stain goes everywhere I go)

• Cleansing balm melts off makeup + doubles as a 60-second moisture mask (try it while brushing your teeth)

• All-in-one serum that does vitamin C, niacinamide, peptides and all the good stuff for bouncy skin and with no extra steps (I swear by d'you's Hustle) 

One product, two benefits, and zero thought required.

Make Hydration a Hot Girl Habit

Water is the original glow-up. And yes, it can be aesthetic.

• Sip from a cute tumbler (doesn't have to be a Stanley) like it’s a personality trait

• Add lemon, berries, or mint for main character energy

• Keep a box of herbal tea bags near you at all times—use it like a reset button (the San-Cha Tea Boutique Nettle Leaf Tea is a modern day beauty elixir)

Because a dewy face starts with strong habits.

Elevate the Bare Minimum

If you’re going to do less, make it feel intentional.

• Swap your pillowcase for silk, wake up like someone who drinks chlorophyll every morning, and twice on Sundays

• Use a tinted sunscreen that doubles as makeup (the Sulwhasoo UV Daily Tone Up Sunscreen is a godsend)

• Pick a shampoo that turns your shower into a spa steam room (the L'Occitane Volume & Strength Shampoo really does it for me)

Luxury doesn’t mean effort. It means choosing softness, even in survival mode.

So no, you don’t need a big comeback, and you don't need to push yourself. You just need a little reconnection. Your glow isn’t gone, it’s just resting. Let it return gently, with quiet rituals that remind you you’re still that girl. Even when you’re tired. Especially then.