15 instant makeovers

What does all covetable hair have in common? Shine. Unfortunately, "the elements are not on our side when it comes to having shiny hair," says hairstylist Bridget Brager. "We have to fight chemical processing, sun damage, chlorine, and weather." But don't despair! Instant luster is within your grasp. Simply spritz hair with a thermal protector, such as John Frieda Full Repair Style Revival Heat-Activated Styling Spray, blow-dry, and finish with a shine serum (Brager loves Sachajuan Shine Serum).

Didn't get ten hours of sleep last night? Don't worry—rest isn't the only remedy for dark circles and puffy eyes. Start with a depuffing gel (Garnier Skin Renew Anti-Puff Eye Roller Gel shrinks bags fast), then camouflage dark undereye circles by patting on a creamy concealer, like Neutrogena Healthy Skin Brightening Eye Perfector, and no one will be the wiser. Your bags will be sent packing.

We all want gleaming, Julia Roberts-esque pearly whites, but let's face it: Sometimes we want stain-inducing coffee, soda, and red wine more. To brighten teeth in a flash, brush with an instant whitener, like Luster Now Instant Whitening Toothpaste. It contains a mix of tiny blue-tinted particles and adhesive polymers that bond temporarily with your teeth, canceling out yellowness. It's a clutch refresher—especially on date night—and the effect lasts up to five hours. Just don't forget to smile.

Just about every makeover includes a hair-color update—and it doesn't have to be a total overhaul to have an electrifying effect. Subtle highlights can be as redefining as going from brunette to blonde.

Instead of layering on a boatload of foundation to cover up dull, tired skin, actually renew your skin. Try a facial peel, which chemically exfoliates, brightening skin and evening its tone with acids. Philosophy The Microdelivery Triple-Acid Brightening Peel is one of our favorites, leaving skin naturally luminous in no time.

A jolt of color on lips is an effortless way to breathe new life into any look. Makeup artist Susie Sobol suggests patting on a hot pink shade, like M.A.C.'s Girl About Town. "It has a great combination of cool and warm undertones that work for all skin tones," she says. "It's a bit Nicki Minaj without being...well, too Nicki Minaj." Bright lips can highlight flaky lips, though, so be sure to exfoliate first by brushing lips gently with a damp toothbrush or washcloth.

Most of us associate the word "blush" with pink, so peach can be a surprising, yet natural-looking, switch. At Gucci's spring 2013 show, makeup artist Pat McGrath dusted the shade on cheeks, starting at the apples and moving up along the cheekbones. We think Maybelline New York Dream Bouncy Blush in Peach Satin looks gorgeous on fair skin, while Chanel Joues Contraste Powder Blush in Espiègle works for medium and dark tones.

Properly groomed arches have a framing effect on the face and can make eyes look larger. "Shaping is definitely a good, cheap investment in your beauty routine that will make a big impact," Sobol says. Leave the plucking and shaping to the pros, but maintain them with a brow-grooming kit, such as Benefit Smokin' Eyes... Sexy Eye & Brow Makeover Kit (go a shade lighter than the darkest hairs, Sobol says).

Choosing a perfume to wear shouldn't be an afterthought—certain scents have a big influence on your mood. And if your mood needs a makeover, bypass the bar and head for the fragrance counter. "Citrusy fragrances are energizing," says Alan Hirsch, a neurologist and the director of the Smell and Taste Treatment and Research Foundation. "They stimulates the RAS, the part of the brain that makes you awake and alert," he says. Three of our favorites: Maison Francis Kurkdjian Aqua Universalis Forte, PureDKNY A Drop of Verbena Scent Spray, and Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin.

We weren't all born with full, lustrous, Kim Kardashian lashes—and actually, she wasn't, either. But we can buy them. Sobol recommends a crisscrossed version (we're fans of Shu Uemura Soft Cross False Eyelashes). "The pattern looks so natural, almost like they're weaved into your own," she says. First, curl your real lashes and apply mascara. Then, with a light hand, line the strip of falsies with dark lash glue, adding a drop more to the corners to prevent them from lifting up, Sobol says. When the glue is almost dry and feels tacky, place the fake lashes on top of your own, and use the ends of a pair of tweezers to push the strip onto your lids, as close to the lash lines as possible. Finish with a coat of mascara to fuse the layers.