Look good even when you commute

Look as fresh as a princess on your next commute.

NEW YORK—What’s common between Manhattan and Manila is that one is constantly hopping over puddles, dashing for train doors before they close or being at the mercy of taxi drivers zigzagging across the metropolis.

With all the urban chaos, more often than not, the last thing you need is a face full of makeup.

But looking good and not feeling harassed while maneuvering through the city isn’t impossible. With a few commuter-friendly beauty strategies, arriving as if you’d just alighted from a stretch limousine is just a matter of technique and the right on-the-go attitude.

Pack both facial tissues and blotting tissues. In the past, I’ve noticed how certain beauty editors I’ve worked with darted through midday events looking baby-powder fresh. Their secret? No, they didn’t use baby powder on their face. They dabbed sweat with Kleenex and then blotted the excess shine with oil-control film.

Apply eyeliner and mascara at the last minute. As in when you arrive at your destination—in the ladies room of course and never in public. This way, if you need to dab and blot as mentioned above, you don’t run the risk of ruining your eye makeup or battling runny mascara and other unwanted streaks.

Refresh with a face mist. Makeup artists are known for toting huge canisters of Evian Brumisateur Facial Spray. I remain a big fan of the 10 drops L’Occitane Lavender Essential Oil, one part alcohol and four parts water homemade concoction in an atomizer, which also works as a hand sanitizer. Whichever you choose, the point is to find ways to stay refreshed in transit.

Be a ped-smart pedestrian. Teetering in heels and strappy sandals to and fro is stressful, no matter how allegedly “comfortable” these are at the store. The key to enjoying beautiful footwear is to prep your legs and feet for wearing them the whole day. This means wearing sneakers (with socks, so your peds stay soft) or flats (closed-toe, so your feet stay clean) en route, and then switching to your Janilyns upon reaching your destination.

Mariel Chua is the former beauty editor of Cosmopolitan, Seventeen, and Ok! Magazine. She is now based in New York City. Visit NyMinuteNow.com.

(Image courtesy of Empiremovies.com. Original article link here.)