It's Thursday at 5:56 p.m. You look haggard, feel exhausted, and have a 6:30 social engagement. What do you do? If you live within walking distance from work, you probably hit home for a quick dress-down-and-make-up session. If you call the suburbs home, however, or live in a major US city, there's no time for such luxuries--you'll have to drag your bedraggled workself straight from desk to drinks. In New York City, where everyone commutes to Manhattan from an outlying borough, this potentially unsightly scenario unfolds before every happy hour, hot date, or business dinner. That's why it's crucial to keep certain makeup essentials in your desk. Here, the five products that will save your face before it hits the town:
1. Smooth away those dark circles and make your blemishes disappear with the Tarte Eraser smooth concealer ($19). Vitamin E, safflower oil, chamomile, arnica, aloe, and other wholesome ingredients promise to address any beauty issue plaguing your 9-to-5 face.
2. Quickly skim this Becca Soft Touch Blush ($29) across your cheekbones to brighten your look. The extra-soft matte finish is perfect for evening events.
3. Reapplying mascara without first washing your face will only lead to clumping, but you can retouch your eyes with Tarte Indelible Wink liquid liner and shadow set ($22). Play it safe for a business dinner with a dark, straight line, or catch your date's eye with a smudged, sexified look.
4. Yes, this teeny-tiny Black Plastic Pocket Comb (2 for $1) is an office must-have. No one likes public grooming, but a quick run-through with this subtle little thing will smooth your texture and detangle any stress-caused knots.
5. A dime-sized dab of Citre Shine miracle anti-frizz serum ($4.43) will leave your hair shiny, smooth, and smelling wonderful.
6 pm, and you're done! Now, just rub your wrists against a magazine perfume add, pop a breath mint, and hit the town!
