50 Ways to Speed Up Your Beauty Routine

Whether you're wrestling a toddler through airport security or running from lunchtime yoga to your next meeting, pocket-sized packets are the answer to a busy woman's prayers -- and savvy skincare companies know it. No matter how frantic your schedule, you can now treat yourself to a top-notch skincare routine via moist towelette. This rapidly expanding category covers everything from cleansers to self-tanners to two-step glycolic peels. Who needs a spa when you've got your favorite tote?

No time to reapply sunscreen? No worries. Dr. Dennis Gross™ Skincare has you covered -- with single-application, SPF 30 towelettes, that is. They're also loaded with anti-oxidant ingredients like green tea, so you're repairing old sun damage while preventing new damage from occurring. What a bright idea.

For those who yearn for a sun-kissed glow, but without all the wrinkles and cancer, self-tanners are a blessing. The downside is that they can be messy and time-consuming to apply. Until now. The market has recently exploded with self-tanning towelettes for ladies on the run -- perfect for giving yourself a quick pre-tan before a sun-soaked vacation.

Overwhelmed by options? Our first prize goes to Dr. Dennis Gross™ Skincare Alpha Beta® Glow Pads. These beauties are packed with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids that penetrate the skin to exfoliate, tighten pores, eliminate blackheads and help fade existing sunspots for an even, streak-free glow. All without breaking a sweat.

For those days when you're too exhausted to wash off your makeup, M-A-C brings you the best thing ever: Wipes. (Yep, that's the real name of the product.) Wipes are makeup-remover towelettes formulated with a gentle, sugar-based, micro-exfoliant that breaks down even the most stubborn waterproof makeup in a few easy swipes. The best part is that they're also loaded with vitamin E and other nourishing ingredients, so you don't need to wash your face afterwards. Sweet dreams, busy bee.

Facial treatments like glycolic peels can sound pretty luxurious, conjuring images of expensive spas in exotic locations. But if you don't have the time or money for a spa getaway, you can still rock the soft, radiant skin of a celebrity thanks to the microdelivery triple-acid brightening peel from philosophy. Just swipe the towelette over your face once a week, and watch your skin become smoother and brighter -- no reservations necessary.

Take a few minutes to make a list of your most time-consuming, annoying beauty chores. Shaving legs and bikini line? Check. Dealing with your manicure (or lack thereof)? Check. Even applying mascara can feel like one thing too many when you're really pressed for time. Fortunately, there are some simple, relatively affordable ways to reduce the time you spend on beauty chores. All it takes is claiming a couple of hours for yourself every six weeks or so, and you can kiss the daily drudge goodbye.

Read on to learn about the beauty procedures that will change your life (and your schedule) forever.

Imagine waking up every morning with endlessly long, incredibly lush, perfectly curled eyelashes. Now imagine going to bed every night without having to deal with flaky, black smudges all over your face, fingers and washcloth. Nice, right? Welcome to the miracle of eyelash extensions. With proper care (no oil-based products, no rubbing, etc.), they last for four to eight weeks, falling out along with your natural lashes, which are constantly growing. They're a little spendy (think $250 for the initial set, plus $100 per touch-up), but they're perfect for anyone seeking to channel her inner Brigitte Bardot without batting an eye.

You're not just a busy woman, you're an active one, too. You weed the garden, wash dishes, fix your bike, tap-tap-tap on your keyboard...and the shellac manicure is your new best friend. It lasts for weeks without a scratch, and even looks shiny the whole time. The best part is that the shellac doesn't destroy your nails. It goes on like regular polish, glides off after a soak in acetone and comes in a dazzling array of shades. Manicures without compromise? You've got that nailed.

If you're serious about shaving time off your beauty routine, ditch the razor forever and opt for laser hair removal. This FDA-approved, permanent procedure actually destroys your hair follicles, ensuring silky smooth, hairless skin for the rest of your life.

It's not cheap, and it takes multiple (think six or more) once-a-month sessions to zap all your hair for good. But when you add up how much time and money you spend in a single year on your body hair, you'll find that it's more than worth it.

If you're not ready to spring for laser hair removal, waxing is the next best thing. It takes about half an hour to do both legs, and you're completely hair free for at least two weeks afterwards. As your hair grows back in, you'll find that it's softer, lighter and more sparse, which means that it's not as noticeable as, say, third-day shaving stubble. At the end of four weeks, you're ready for another round. Pretty smooth, huh?

Note Your first wax will be about as painful as ripping off a Band-Aid. However, if you keep it up regularly, it hurts less and less each time.